JESUS, THE GREAT ACCOMPLISHER -- Tomorrow:
"And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled, in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight." (Colossians 1:20-22)
Devotion 9 of 32
"And, having made peace through the blood of His cross . . . "
The fourteen points, concerning the sacrifices under the Old Covenant, that were noted in the previous lesson are not merely interesting observations. In the various sacrifices, the Savior was not only set forth as doing these things, fulfilling types and shadows. It was also confirmed that the status of humanity REQUIRED this kind of sacrifice – this kind of death – this kind of blood! The reason for the types and shadows was the need for man to comprehend the kind of death that had to be accomplished in order for God to receive fallen humanity.
Like the lamb, the life that was sacrificed for us HAD to be one that was innocent, and characterized by seeming weakness – a life that was allowed to be ravaged by others. Like the female lamb, it HAD to be a life that was capable of reproducing – not one like Abraham when he was as good as dead. Like the he-lamb, it HAD to be a life with great potential for earthly progeny – like Adam in the beginning. Like the bullock, the life HAD to excel in strength, and be at the peak of that strength. Like the red heifer, the life COULD NOT have toiled in another purpose – the distracting yoke of sinful men COULD NOT have been upon him. Even as the slain goat, the life that was given MUST BE noted for strength and being able to navigate in high places. As the live goat, the sacrificed life MUST BE able to go where no other could go, presenting the atonement to God. Like the slain bird, the atoning life MUST BE one of unexcelled beauty and mobility. As the living bird, that life MUST BE able soar from the open field into the majestic heavens. Even as the turtledove, the life MUST BE able to migrate into the heavens and have a disposition that did not crave worldly attention. Like the ram, the life MUST BE noted for greatness of value and nourishment for the soul. And, like the burnt offering, this life WILL NOT BE allowed to return to the form in which it was offered to God.
This is the kind of blood that had to be shed! No other blood could atone for sin. No other blood could reconcile. No other blood could bring satisfaction to God. This is the kind of complication that sin introduced – a complication that could only be resolved by the coupling of mercy and truth, and the wedding of righteousness and peace (Psa 85:10). Only the shedding of Christ's blood could bring about such things. Only the willing forfeiture of His life could result in such effectual achievements.
There is nothing simplistic about the death of Christ Jesus – the shedding of His blood. That is precisely why various aspects of it were introduced through the Law over a period of 1,500 years. There is a sense in which Christ's death itself was a miracle. He had no sin, and death is the fruit of sin. Death had no claim upon Jesus, and thus it was utterly impossible for any man to take His life from Him. If He did not lay His life down, He could not possibly have died (John 10:17-18).
This is the kind of death that was required for peace to be "made." Jesus did not die as a martyr, or a soldier on the battle field – and His death must never be portrayed in a manner that leaves such an impression. His death is not like a man dying for his country.
In speaking to His disciples about their love for one another Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). He then told them they were actually His "friends" in prospect: "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:14). Technically – and this is the sense of our text – Christ died for us "when we were enemies" (Rom 5:10), not "friends." His death was necessitated by our enmity, not our friendship. The greatest love man can have is to lay down his life for his friends. But Jesus laid down His life for His enemies.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for providing a salvation for your enemies!