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THE NATURE AND ENDS OF CHRIST’S DEATH
“SUFFERINGS, of whatever kind, are not in themselves joyous, but grievous:” nevertheless they may on some occasions become a source of joy and triumph. If, for instance, they be inflicted for righteousness’ sake, and we have the testimony of our conscience that we suffer for well-doing, we may then unfeignedly rejoice in them, as on other accounts, so especially because they render us conformable to our Lord and Saviour. This thought was suggested by St. Peter as a rich source of consolation to the persecuted Christians of his day: nor can we have any stronger incentive to patience and diligence in every part of our duty, than the consideration of what Christ has done and suffered for our sake.
The words before us lead us to contemplate,
I. The nature of Christ’s sufferings—
We speak not of their quality, as corporeal, or spiritual, but of their nature as described in the text. They were,
1. Penal—
[Some affirm that the sufferings of Christ were only to confirm his doctrine, and to set us an example: but these ends might have been equally answered by the sufferings of his Apostles [Note: If there was nothing penal in our Lord’s sufferings, his example was not near so bright as that of many of his disciples; since he neither met his sufferings with so much fortitude, nor endured them with such triumphant exultation, as many of his followers have since done. But if they were the penalty due to sin, his apparent inferiority is fully accounted for.]. But they were the punishment of sin: and the wrath of God due to sin, was the bitterest ingredient in them. We had merited the curse and condemnation of the law: and he, to deliver us from it, “became a curse for us [Note: Gal_3:10; Gal_3:13.].” “He suffered for sins;” and though his punishment was not precisely the same either in quality or duration, as ours would have been, yet was it equivalent to our demerit, and satisfactory to the justice of an offended God.]
2. Vicarious—
[It was not for any sin of his own that Jesus was cut off [Note: Dan_9:26.]: he was “a Lamb without spot or blemish [Note: 1Pe_1:19.],” as even his enemies, after the strictest scrutiny, were forced to confess [Note: Joh_18:38; Joh_19:6.]. He died, “the just for, and in the room of, the unjust [Note: Ὑ ð ὲ ñ , this imports substitution. See Rom_5:7. in the Greek.]:” the iniquities of all the human race were laid upon him [Note: Isa_53:6.]: he was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities, and the chastisement he endured was to effect our peace [Note: Isa_53:4.]. He, who was innocent, became a sin-offering for us, that we, who are guilty, might be made righteous in him [Note: 2Co_5:21.].]
3. Propitiatory—
[The death of Christ, like all the sacrifices under the Jewish law, was an atonement for sin. It is continually compared with the Jewish sacrifices in this view [Note: Heb. passim.]. We say not, that the Father hated us, and needed to have his wrath appeased by the interposition of his Son (for the very gift of Christ was the fruit of the Father’s love [Note: Joh_3:16.]); but we say, in concurrence with all the inspired writers, that when it was necessary for the honour of the Divine government that sin should be punished, either in the offender himself or in his surety, Christ became our surety, and by his own death made a true and proper atonement for our sins, and thus effected our reconciliation with God [Note: Eph_5:2 and 1Jn_2:2.]. On any other supposition than this, the whole Mosaic ritual was absurd, and the writings of the New Testament are altogether calculated to deceive us.]
From considering the nature of our Lord’s sufferings, let us proceed to notice,
II. The end of them—
His one great design was to bring us to God:
1. To a state of acceptance with him—
[We were “enemies to God in our minds by wicked works;” nor could we by any means reconcile ourselves to God: we could not by obedience; because the law required perfect obedience: which, having once transgressed the law, we could never afterwards pay: nor could we by suffering, because the penalty denounced against sin was eternal, and consequently, if once endured by us, could never be remitted. But, when it was impossible for us to restore ourselves to God’s favour, we were reconciled to him by Christ’s obedience unto death [Note: Col_1:21-22. Rom_5:10.]; and to effect this reconciliation was the very end for which he laid down his life [Note: Eph_2:16.].]
2. To the enjoyment of his presence in this world—
[The holy of holies was inaccessible to all except the high-priest; nor could even he enter into it except on the great day of annual expiation [Note: Heb_9:7-8.]. But at the very instant of our Lord’s death, while the Jews were worshipping in the temple, the vail was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the most holy place was opened to the view of all [Note: Mat_27:50-51.]. This was intended to declare, that from henceforth all might have the freest and most intimate access to God [Note: Eph_2:13; Eph_2:18.]. All are now made priests unto God [Note: Rev_1:6.]; and, in this new and living way, may come to his mercy-seat to behold his glory, and to enjoy his love [Note: Heb_10:19-22; Heb_12:18-24.].]
3. To the possession of his glory in the world to come—
[It was not only to save us from condemnation, but to exalt us to everlasting happiness, that Jesus died. The salvation which he procured for us, is a “salvation with eternal glory [Note: 2Ti_2:10.].” The robes in which the celestial spirits are arrayed, were washed in his blood [Note: Rev_7:14.]; and all the ransomed hosts unite in ascribing to him the felicity they enjoy [Note: Rev_5:9-10; Rev_5:12.]. Nothing short of this could answer the purposes of his love [Note: Joh_17:24.]; and the accomplishment of this was the ultimate end of all he suffered [Note: Heb_2:9-10.].]
Before we conclude this subject, let us contemplate—
1. How great is the love of Christ to our fallen race [Note: Who would do any thing like this for a fellow-creature? Rom_5:7-8. Neither Moses, Exo_32:32; nor St. Paul, Rom_9:3. thought of any thing like this. See the Discourse on Rom_9:1-5.]!
2. How cheerfully should we endure sufferings for his sake [Note: Compare ver. 14. with the text, and Heb_13:12-13 and Act_5:41.]!
3. How inexcusable will they be who continue still at a distance from their God [Note: Joh_15:22. à fortiori, and Heb_2:3.]!