Peter Misselbrook's Blog
Aug 10 2020 - Mark 15:1-47 – And the crucified him

The bluntness and brevity of Mark's phrase, "And they crucified him" (Mark 15:24), hits like the blow of hammer upon nail. The whole of this cruel and unjust act is summed up in just three words. This act which shakes the foundations of the cosmos and brings darkness at noon, which rends the curtain in the temple and reconciles humankind with God, all of this is described with a few strokes of a pen; "they crucified him". So very much is contained in so very few words.

Of course, there are many who have attempted to explain the meaning of Jesus’ death. Here are just a few of the many theories:

The Moral Influence Theory. By being willing to go to the cross, Jesus shows how much he loves us. His love should move us to love him in return. Such love will be characterised by obedience to his commandments and following Jesus in selfless service of others. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” John 14:28.

Christus Victor. The cross is the battleground between Christ and Satan; between God and the powers of darkness. It seems that the powers of darkness – human wickedness, injustice and corrupt political and religious powers – have won the day when Jesus is put to death. But by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus breaks their power and demonstrates that he is victor or conqueror. Justice and righteousness have the last word. By his risen power Jesus gives us victory over the powers of darkness – we also are more than conquerors. “Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Col 2:15).

Penal Substitution. God had declared that sin leads to death – “The wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23). At the cross, Jesus suffered the penalty that we deserve. He suffered and died for us – as our substitute. “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). The justice of God has been satisfied and our slate is wiped clean. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1).

New Creation. When God’s good creation rebelled against him, he warned that it would end in death. We live in a dying world. Jesus, in identifying himself fully with fallen humankind and a fallen creation, endures death – its death. His death is the end of that fallen creation and his resurrection is the beginning (or firstfruits) of the new creation. Those who come to trust in him have passed from death to life – judgment day occurred for them at the cross. They share in Jesus resurrection life and belong already to the new creation that will be fully manifest when Jesus returns and all things are made new.

All of our theories are imperfect attempts to get our minds around the cosmic significance of what was happening at the cross. As Jim Packer once remarked, such theories are often right in what they affirm but wrong in what they deny. They are partial pictures, each capturing one facet of something that defies our complete comprehension. It will take all of eternity for us to fathom the depths of what took place on that hillside.

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain –
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Heavenly Father, I am filled with wonder when I read that you so loved the world that you gave us your one and only Son. Lord Jesus, I am amazed that you should have loved me and given yourself for me. Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, I am filled with humble gratitude that you have come to me and given me a share in his resurrection life. Help me to bring the life of Christ to a dying world, even if that means sharing now in Christ’s sufferings.

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Aug 10 2019 - Isaiah 32:1-2; 35:1-10

Today we complete our first set of readings in Isaiah. We have looked at several of his prophecies which point forward to the day when God will send his Messiah – a king who will bring salvation to his people and blessing to all the world. Isaiah 32:1-2 describes what the reign of this king will be like. Many governments in this world are marked by corruption, injustice or just plain incompetence. The Messiah will reign in righteousness and those who have positions of leadership in his kingdom will exercise justice reflecting his own gracious rule.

Imagine what it is like to live in a hot, dry climate where winds often stir up sandstorms that make it difficult to see ahead or to move forwards. The Messiah and those who follow him will provide shelter from the wind and a place of refuge from the storm. They will be like life-giving streams of water in the desert and like a great standing rock that provides shade from the burning sun.

We who have come to trust in the Lord Jesus can readily identify with these pictures. Jesus is our refuge in whom we have come to take shelter. He is the one whose Spirit has supplied us with streams of living water. But these verses speak of how his people will then become the source of such blessings to others. Are we, the followers of the Lord Jesus, known as those to whom this weary storm-tossed world turns for refuge? How might we become such a people?

Isaiah 35:1-10 anticipates the latter part of Isaiah that we shall turn to later in the year. Isaiah has warned the people of Judah that if they continue in unfaithfulness then, like the northern kingdom of Israel, they too will be swept away into captivity. But God will not abandon them to captivity. After a period of chastening, he will return to them and will save them.

And that is what is pictured in this chapter. God will appear in glory to rescue his people from captivity. He will lead them through the desert and back to the Promised Land – as he had done years before in the time of Moses and the Exodus. A highway will be created on which God will go before his people, bringing them back to Zion with celebration and singing.

As we read this chapter, we recognise that this prophecy finds its fulfilment in the coming of the Lord Jesus. His arrival was heralded by John the Baptist who was, "A voice … calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord'." (Matthew 3:3). He is the Lord, come to give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, a voice to the dumb and to enable the lame to leap for joy like a deer. He came to give strength to trembling hands and courage to fearful hearts.  And he has created a way for us to return to the living God. He himself is that way; it has been opened to us through his atoning death and risen life. He calls us, his redeemed, to walk with him in the way of holiness until the day when we enter Zion with singing and everlasting joy will crown our heads.

Yes, Jesus fulfils this wonderful prophecy of Scripture and calls us to be strong and not to give in to fear. He who has redeemed us will protect us from all threats (35:9), and will bring us safe with him to glory. Furthermore, when he returns there will be perfect healing for his damaged creation. On that day we will have resurrection bodies made like his glorious body and the desert places of this world will burst into flower and abundant fertility. Eden will be restored.

Meanwhile we are called to walk with Christ in the way of holiness and, like John the Baptist, to call others to turn to the Lord in repentance and faith and to look with expectation to the day of his return, when all things shall be made new.

Father God, we thank you that you did not abandon us to the captivity of our sin and the prospect of death. Thank you that you came to us in the Lord Jesus to redeem us and to lead us back home to you. Fill us with joy and peace in believing and help us to follow Christ in the way of holiness and to call upon others to join our joyful procession on the king's highway to glory.

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Peter Misselbrook