Jesus' Cross

2/20/1993

What you are saying about the nature of the cross, that being the key to victory, and even the most difficult cross of all, the most terminal cross of all with Jesus, as we all know, became the ultimate victory, the atonement, all that He did previously in His life was good, was praiseworthy, it was worth emulating, it was encouraging to us, and yet apart from that ultimate cross where this tragic thing of Him gaining nothing from it. In fact, being cut-off from fellowship from His Father—that was where the atonement was found. That was where the price was paid for sin, and the absolute victory was finally won, was when there was nothing to be gained for Him. “This is my food, to do the Father’s will, and finish His work.” Oh, that’s great. I love that verse. I love that truth. I love experiencing that truth. But what if it wasn’t food, what if I didn’t gain anything from it, what if it wasn’t working. He didn’t say that on the cross, did He? “This is my food. This is wonderful. I’m doing this thing and it’s encouraging me, nourishing me, and I’m feeling the full fellowship of the Father, and I see his face smiling at me at this very moment.” It didn’t work that way. All the good things that He did—our Brother, our Friend, our Teacher, Our Rabboni, Jesus…all the good things that He did and the life that He lived that was so admirable, and so helpful to us…The real atonement, the real victory, the real…of it with no claims or demands whatsoever, and that became the place of the ultimate, awesome, mind-boggling permanent victory for all of mankind.

I want to read a few paragraphs here…As I move into what would be considered the next chapter, it’s a verse that is quoted in Galatians 4 about the Church, and so knowing that this is where this is going—it’s God’s victory in His Church—think about that as I read this. And it’s a passage you’re familiar with. But I want you to hear the absoluteness of the failure on this way of the cross, the ugliness, the lack of satisfaction on Jesus’ part in the way of the cross; the way the Father seemed to be treating Jesus in this process, it doesn’t sound much like food in this instance.

“Whose believe our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before Him, like a tender shoot, like a root out of dry ground.”

That certainly describes the world that Jesus grew up in. Dry ground.

“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him. Nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men.”

But that’s okay because, after all, it’s His food to do the Father’s will and to finish His work. That’s okay, because He had the Father’s fellowship and He heard audible voices every once in a while. He knew He was on the right track, and everything was great. So it was okay to be despised and rejected by men. He could handle that because He knew He was right and they were wrong. And God was just bringing Him angels to serve Him after the wilderness experience, and everything was cool because He had this special thing going with the Father. And it didn’t matter if people despised and rejected Him. I think that’s how we tend to feel, anyway.

“Surely He took our infirmities and carried our sorrows.”

Well, He could do that. After all, He was from the Father and there was something in it for Him, so He knew exactly what God wanted, He knew it all in advance, so it was easy for Him. Because He had the Father with Him through it all.

“Yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him. And by His wounds, we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep before His shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment, He was taken away. And who can speak of His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living. For the transgression of my people, He was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked. And with the rich in His death, though He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him, and cause Him to suffer, and through the Lord make His life a guilt offering.”

Now, notice what happens as He has lost everything…

“He will see His offspring and prolong his days. And the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand. And after the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge, my Righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will give Him a portion among the great and He will divide the spoils with the strong. Because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors, for He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. Sing, oh barren woman. You who never bore a child. Burst into song. Shout for joy. You who were never in labor. Because more are the children of the desolate woman, than of her who has a husband, says the Lord. Enlarge the place of your tent. Stretch your tent curtains wide. Do not hold back. Lengthen your cords. Strengthen your stakes. For you have spread out to the left and to the right. Your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. Do not be afraid. You will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace, you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood, for your Maker is your husband, the Lord Almighty is His name. The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He is called the God of all the Earth. The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit. A wife who married young only to be rejected, says your God. For a brief moment I abandoned you. But with deep compassion, I will bring you back. In a surge of anger, I hid my face from you for a moment. But with everlasting kindness, I will have compassion on you, says the Lord your Redeemer. To me, this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you. All your sons will be taught by the Lord. And great will be your children’s peace. In righteousness, you will be established. It is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc. Yet no weapon forged against you will prevail. And you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. And this is their vindication from me, declares the Lord. Come, all you who are thirsty. Come to the waters. Come, you who have no money. Come, buy and eat. Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread and your labor on what does not satisfy. Listen, listen to me and eat what is good and your soul will delight in the richest of fair. Give ear, and come to Me. Hear Me that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my unfailing kindness that I promised.”