5. JESUS CHRIST: HIS SACRIFICE

Why did the eternal Son of God come into our world in the humble appearance of a slave? (See Med. 4). We can read about that in the biblical account of John 6,38: “I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want.”

His human appearance as “God’s humble slave” is however not the end of the story. It continues by telling us that he humbled himself even further as he willfully died the brutal death of a Roman convict: “And in human form (as a slave) he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross.” (Philippians 2,8)

It is a staggering and bewildering report. Why would God the Son come to our earth to eventually die the undeserved death of a criminal? The prophet Isaiah had already foretold this event 700 years before. He also interpreted it with the following words:

“But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed!

All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.

He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.

From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins-- that he was suffering their punishment?
He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal ...

But it was the LORD's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief.” (Isaiah 53,5-10)

The apostle Paul reflects on this brutal event with the following words: “God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5,21)

The apostle Peter points out that “Christ ... died for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners that he might bring us safely home to God.” (1 Peter 3,18)

As we have just read, the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ - Son of God and Son of Man - died for us ‘as a scapegoat’ to lead us back to God. But is his death the end of the story? Bear with me until next time!