Hebrews 2

Warning regarding neglect of gift of salvationverses 1-4

 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things

            which we have heard – lest at any time we should let them slip

FOR if the word spoken by angels was steadfast

            and every transgression and disobedience received

a just recompense of reward

How shall we escape – if we neglect so great salvation

            which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord

                        and was confirmed unto us by them that heard HIM

God also bearing them witness – both with sign and wonders

and divers miracles – and gifts of the Holy Ghost

according to HIS OWN will?

Place of man in God’s creationverses 5-9

 For to the angels has HE not put in subjection the world to come

whereof we speak

BUT one in a certain place testified saying

What is man – that YOU are mindful of him?

Or the son of man – that YOU visits him?

YOU made him a little lower than the angels

YOU crown him with glory and honor

and did set him over the works of YOUR hands

            YOU have put all things in subjection under his feet

FOR in that HE put all in subjection under him

HE left nothing that is not put under him

but now we see not yet all things put under him

But we see Jesus

WHO was made a little lower than the angels for the

suffering of death – crowned with glory and honor

            that HE by the grace of God should

                                                taste death for every man

Place of Christ in God’s salvation planverses 10-18

 For it became HIM – for WHOM are all things

and by WHOM are all things

in bringing many sons unto glory

to make the Captain of their salvation

                        perfect through sufferings

For both HE that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one

for which cause HE is not ashamed to call them brethren

saying

I will declare YOUR name to MY brethren

            in the midst of the church will I

sing praise to YOU

And again

I will put MY trust in HIM

And again

            Behold I and the children which God haS given ME

FORASMUCH then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood

HE also HIMSELF likewise took part of the same

that through death HE might destroy him that had the

            power of death – that is – the devil

And deliver them who through fear of death were all

their lifetime subject to bondage

FOR verily HE took not on HIM the nature of angels

but HE took on HIM the seed of Abraham

WHEREFORE in all things it behooved HIM to be made

like unto HIS brethren that HE might be a

merciful and faithful high priest

in things pertaining to God

            to make reconciliation

for the sins of the people

FOR in that HE HIMSELF has suffered being tempted

HE is able to succor them that are tempted 

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 1       Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. (3901 “slip” [pararrhueo] means be washed away, drift away, to disbelieve slowly, to give up a belief, to be careless to neglect, or flow by)

DEVOTION:  There are at least two different camps regarding salvation. Some believe in eternal security of the believer and others believe that a person who has said they are committed to Christ but then turns his back on Christ can lose their salvation.

These two camps have been fighting over which is right. Here in the book of Hebrews they both find grounds through their interpretation to believe as the think they should.

This verse is concerned with those who have heard the message of salvation through Christ alone and made a commitment to the message. It is thought that it is possible for them to drift away from this message. The author is warning them that they might not be in the truth.

So to neglect the message of salvation in an individual’s life could cause him/her to suffer judgment of God. Now there are two thought regarding this judgment. It could be a judgment that could cause a genuine believer to be saved yet so as by fire or someone who is not a genuine believer to spend eternity in hell.

The key is to not drift away. Those who are genuine believers need to have a goal of maturing in the faith. This means that each day there is a desire to learn more about what it means to serve the LORD faithfully. There will be days of a lack of growth but most will be those days of some growth in the LORD.

Remember is another key teaching of the Word of God is that the Holy Spirit witnesses with our spirit whether we are a believer or not.

CHALLENGE:  Listen to the Holy Spirit in your life. IF HE is not speaking there needs to be repentance and a commitment to Jesus Christ. 

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 9       But we see Jesus, WHO was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that HE by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (1089 “taste” [geuomai] means partake of, to experience, or to take nourishment)

DEVOTION:  When Jesus came to this earth as a baby in Bethlehem HE was in a limited human body. HE didn’t have a sin nature but he did have a human nature and human body. HE limited HIS omnipresence for this time period in HIS life. Remember that as God the Son HE had no beginning and no end. HE will always be eternal.

During this time period of about thirty-three years HE walked this earth as a human being with the limitations of needing sleep and food. HE was tempted by Satan just as we are yet without sin. HE was a sinless perfect sacrifice for our sins.

HE died on the cross for our sins. HE was raised on the third day. HE is presently sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven. HE has a place of glory and honor in heaven again.

HIS sacrifice was sufficient for every human being who has lived or who is living or who will be living in the future before HIS return in glory to this earth. God sent HIS Son Jesus Christ because of HIS love for humans. It was not in anger that HE sent HIM but in love.

The ones who are angry are humans. They in their sinful state don’t want anyone to tell them what to do. They want to be lazy in their actions. They want to be selfish in their actions. They want to do what they want to do when they want to do it and don’t Creator or created being interfering with their life of pleasure.

Those individuals have made a choice to reject the love of God through the sacrifice of HIS Son for their personal salvation. They will stand before God one day and bow their knee and receive judgment.

CHALLENGE: Our responsibility is to warn them of this problem in their life.

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:14       Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. (2673 “destroy” [katargeo] means 1 to render idle, unemployed, inactivate, inoperative. 1a to cause a person or thing to have no further efficiency. 1b to deprive of force, influence, power. 2 to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish. 2a to cease, to pass away, be done away. 2b to be severed from, separated from, discharged from, loosed from any one. 2c to terminate all intercourse with one. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])

DEVOTION:  We hear talk these days about people trying to destroy evidence.  Many people think that emails can be destroyed, but in reality, we find out much later that this data has not been destroyed (at least not the way that these people think that it has).  Truth is difficult to destroy!  On the other hand, it is possible to destroy relationships by wrong attitudes and by our sins.

There is coming a day when Satan and his angels will be destroyed by Almighty God.  That does not mean that Satan will no longer exist, but it does mean that his ability to influence people and have power over this world will come to an end.  We understand that Satan will be forever locked up in hell along with his followers (Revelation 20), and that the world systems which are now being run by him will forever cease.  How appropriate that Satan the destroyer would finally be destroyed!

This verse has several implications.  First, Jesus is superior to Satan.  The author of Hebrews is making the case for the superiority of Jesus in these first chapters.  He wants the people to know that, while things look like Satan is winning right now, Jesus will ultimately conquer all that Satan has established.  Second, there is no way that Jesus and Satan can be brothers (or co-equals).  There are cults today that teach that God created two offspring (Jesus and Satan), with Jesus being the “good” child and Satan being the “bad” child.  When one reads the Bible, there is no way that we can come to this conclusion.  It is important that we realize that Satan’s activity will come to an end, and that God’s plan is eternal.

CHALLENGE:  Do you have a friend or a relative who is caught up in a cult like Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormonism?  If so, contact them today and let them know that Jesus is superior to Satan, and that Jesus alone is the Son of God! (MW)

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 17       Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. (2433 “reconciliation” [hilaskomai] means propitiation, forgive, show mercy, to make atonement for, have pity, bring about forgiveness for, deal mercifully with, to pardon, to appease, or expiate)

DEVOTION:  When we think of God as a HOLY God, we realize that we cannot have a relationship with HIM because of this characteristic. HE has a solution to this problem. HE loves us enough to send HIS Son to die on the cross for our sins. It is not HIS anger that is the problem it is ours.

Jesus Christ had to be born as all others are born. HE was born of a virgin. HE had a human nature but not a sin nature when HE was born. HE was tempted in all points like as we are but without sin. HE was just like Adam in the Garden. Adam had a human nature but not a sin nature until he yielded to the temptation of Satan through his wife Eve.

So the temptations of Jesus were real and HIS victory over the temptations were real. HE is a merciful high priest because HE understands what we go through each day of our life. HE is also faithful to God because HE never gave in to the temptations.

It is because of HIS victory that HE can make atonement for our sin. Each person who repents of their sins can have access to this forgiveness because of HIS sacrifice. It is because of our anger toward God rather than HIS anger toward us that Christ came. HE loved us enough to provide a way to escape eternity in the lake of fire. It is available to all human beings but very few accept HIS offer of eternal life in heaven.

CHALLENGE: Our understanding of the love of God is limited but it is proven by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our pardon from sin. Praise the LORD for this provision.

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: 18       For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. (997 “succor” [boetheo] means to aid or relieve, to come to the rescue, run to help, or furnish aid)

DEVOTION:  God made man a little lower than the angels. HE created the angels before man. Man was created in the image of God for the purpose of worshiping God.

The author of Hebrews informs those who received this letter to not neglect the salvation that is provided by Jesus Christ. He stated that the provision of salvation was accompanied by signs, wonders, and divers miracles. It was also accompanied by gifts of the Holy Ghost. It was real and they were ignoring it.

Man was given the responsibility of caring for the earth that was created by God. The Psalm that is quoted refers to man but also to the coming Messiah. Christ is going to be the ultimate ruler of the world. HE conquered death. HE conquered the devil. HE tasted death for every man who will ever live. That means, that the offer of salvation to every human being is real. Most will reject the offer but Christ shed enough blood on the cross to cover the sins of everyone who has ever lived. Those that reject the offer will be without excuse on judgment day.

The key to understanding life here on this planet is that we are all going to suffer. Christ suffered when he came to this earth. We suffer daily living on this earth. One of the ways that we suffer is through constant temptation to go away from God.

Those who are outside of Christ yield to this temptation more regularly than those who have Christ’s strength to help them resist the temptations. However, we find that many Christians are yielding to temptation as often as their non-Christian counterpart. Why is this happening?

Sometimes we think that we should get a free ride because we have said a prayer or walked an aisle and thought that we had become a follower of God. Those who think this way are called people of license. They think they have a license to sin and God will forgive them.

Paul made it plain that we are not to practice sin because of this type of thinking. God doesn’t give us license to sin. HE wants us to sin less with the help of the Holy Spirit. Does that mean the temptations stop while we are here on this planet? NO!!!

Christ came into the world and was tempted in every way and yet never sinned. HE now is able to aid us in our temptations. Remember to call on HIM when temptation knocks at the door. HE is able. God is a God of a second chance and a third chance but HE doesn’t want us to think that we can sin and get away with it. HE does send consequences our way. Yield not to temptation!!! Call on HIM for help.

CHALLENGE: When temptation comes remember the death of Christ. Remember that HE is ready to give us a way to escape that temptation. Remember that HE is faithful. Remember that HE is merciful. Remember to praise HIS name!

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

Sing praiseverse 12

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Abrahamverse 16

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

Godverses 4, 9, 13, 17

God bearing witness to messageverse 4

Signs

Wonders

Divers miracles

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

HIS own willverse 4

Put angels in subjectionverse 5

Mindful of manverse 6

Grace of Godverse 9

HE who sanctifiesverse 11

God gave children verse 13

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

Lordverse 3

Salvation first spoken by Lordverse 3

Jesusverse 9

Made a little lower than the angelsverse 9

Suffering of deathverse 9

Crowned with glory and honorverse 9

Taste death for every manverse 9

Creatorverse 10

Captainverse 10

Call saved brethrenverse 11

Flesh and bloodverse 14

Seed of Abrahamverse 16

Like to HIS brethrenverse 17

Merciful and faithful high priestverse 17

Reconciliation for sinsverse 17

Temptedverse 18

Succor them that are temptedverse 18

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Holy Ghostverse 4

Gifts of the Holy Ghostverse 4

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Angelsverses 2, 5, 7

Angels in subjectionverse 5

Devilverse 14

Power of death given to devilverse 14

Nature of angelsverse 16

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Mindful of manverse 6

Man visited by Godverse 6

Made a little lower than the angelsverse 7

Crowned with glory and honorverse 7

Set over the works of God’s handsverse 7

All things in subjection under his feetverse 8

Flesh and bloodverse 14

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Slipverse 1

Transgressionverse 2

Disobedienceverse 2

Neglect so great salvationverse 3

Subject to bondageverse 15

Sinsverse 17

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

More earnest heed to what we heardverse 1

Salvationverses 3, 10

Confirmedverse 3

Sanctifiedverse 11

Trustverse 13

Childrenverse 13

Deliverance from power of deathverse 14

Deliverance from bondageverse 15

Reconciliationverse 17

Temptedverse 18

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Seed of Abrahamverse 16

Church (New Testament people of God)

Christ’s message confirmedverse 3

Call them brethrenverse 11

Churchverse 12

Last Things (Future Events)

Just recompense of rewardverse 2

World to comeverse 5

Deathverse 14

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QUOTES regarding passage

18 The sufferings Jesus endured enable him to help others. “He himself” (autos) is emphatic. Contrary to what might have been expected, he suffered. The verb peponthen (“suffered”) naturally applies to the cross, but the context shows that a wider reference is in mind. Throughout his earthly life Jesus suffered. Being what he is, temptation must have been far more distasteful for him than it is for us. The verb peirastheis (“tempted”) sometimes means “tested,” and here it might conceivably apply to the sufferings simply as trials to be endured. But the verb is more often used in the sense of “tempt.” The author is saying that Jesus can help the tempted because he has perfect sympathy with them. He too has been tempted and knows what temptation is. The words “he is able” are important and mean more than “he helps.” Only he who suffers can help in this way. Jesus went all the way for us. He was not only ready to suffer, but he actually did suffer. (Morris, L. (1981). Hebrews. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 30). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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In that (ἐν ᾡ [en hōi]). Literally, “In which” (=εν τουτῳ ἐν ᾡ [=en toutōi en hōi], in that in which), a causal idea, though in Rom. 14:22 ἐν ᾡ [en hōi] means “wherein.” Hath suffered (πεπονθεν [peponthen]). Second perfect active indicative of πασχω [paschō], permanent part of Christ’s experience. Being tempted (πειρασθεις [peirastheis]). First aorist passive participle of πειραζω [peirazō]. The temptation to escape the shame of the Cross was early and repeatedly presented to Christ, by Satan in the wilderness (Matt. 4:8–11), by Peter in the spirit of Satan (Matt. 16:22f.), in Gethsemane (Matt. 26:39), and caused intense suffering to Jesus (Luke 22:44; Heb. 5:8). He is able (δυναται [dunatai]). This word strikes the heart of it all. Christ’s power to help is due not merely to his deity as God’s Son, but also to his humanity without which he could not sympathize with us (Heb. 4:15). To succour (βοηθησαι [boēthēsai]). First aorist active infinitive of the old compound verb βοηθεω [boētheō] (βοη [boē], a cry, θεω [theō], to run), to run at a cry or call for help (Matt. 15:25). Them that are tempted (τοις πειραζομενοις [tois peirazomenois]). Dative plural of the articular participle (present passive) of πειραζω [peirazō]. These Jewish Christians were daily tempted to give up Christ, to apostatize from Christianity. Jesus understands himself (αὐτος [autos]) their predicament and is able to help them to be faithful. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Heb 2:18). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.) 

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His humanity enables Him to be a sympathetic High Priest to His people (vv. 17–18). Being pure spirits who have never suffered, the angels cannot identify with us in our weaknesses and needs. But Jesus can! While He was here on earth, Jesus was “made like unto His brethren” in that He experienced the sinless infirmities of human nature. He knew what it was to be a helpless baby, a growing child, a maturing adolescent. He knew the experiences of weariness, hunger, and thirst (John 4:6–8). He knew what it was to be despised and rejected, to be lied about and falsely accused. He experienced physical suffering and death. All of this was a part of His “training” for His heavenly ministry as High Priest.

If you want an example of a man who was not a merciful and faithful high priest, then read the account about Eli (1 Sam. 2:27–36). Here was a high priest who did not even lead his own sons into a faithful walk with God. Eli even accused brokenhearted Hannah of being drunk! (1 Sam. 1:9–18)

Jesus Christ is both merciful and faithful: He is merciful toward people and faithful toward God. He can never fail in His priestly ministries. He made the necessary sacrifice for our sins so that we might be reconciled to God. He did not need to make a sacrifice for Himself, because He is sinless.

But what happens when we who have been saved are tempted to sin? He stands ready to help us! He was tempted when He was on earth, but no temptation ever conquered Him. Because He has defeated every enemy, He is able to give us the grace that we need to overcome temptation. The word “succour” (Heb. 2:18) literally means “to run to the cry of a child.” It means “to bring help when it is needed.” Angels are able to serve us (Heb. 1:14), but they are not able to succour us in our times of temptation. Only Jesus Christ can do that, and He can do it because He became a man and suffered and died.

It might be good at this point to explain the difference between our Lord’s ministry as High Priest and His ministry as Advocate (1 John 2:1). As our High Priest, our Lord is able to give us grace to keep us from sinning when we are tempted. If we do sin, then He as our Advocate represents us before the throne of God and forgives us when we sincerely confess our sins to Him (1 John 1:5–2:2). Both of these ministries are involved in His present work of intercession; and it is this intercessory ministry that is the guarantee of our eternal salvation (note that in Heb. 7:25 it is “to the uttermost”—i.e., eternally—and not “from the uttermost”).

As you review this section, you cannot help but be amazed at the grace and wisdom of God. From a human point of view, it would seem foolish for God to become Man; yet it was this very act of grace that made possible our salvation and all that goes with it. When Jesus Christ became Man, He did not become inferior to the angels, for in His human body He accomplished something that angels could never accomplish. At the same time, He made it possible for us to share in His glory!

He is not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters.

Are we ashamed to call Him “Lord”? (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 284–285). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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2:18 tempted. The genuineness of Christ’s humanity is demonstrated by the fact that He was subject to temptation. By experiencing temptation, Jesus became fully capable of understanding and sympathizing with His human brethren (cf. 4:15). He felt the full force of temptation. Though we often yield to temptation before we feel its full force, Jesus resisted temptation even when the greatest enticement for yielding had become evident (cf. Lk 4:1–13). able to come to the aid … tempted. See notes on 4:15, 16; 1Co 10:13. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Heb 2:18). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers)

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Ver. 18. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, &c.] By Satan, at his entrance on his public ministry, and a little before his death; which was done, not by stirring up sin in him, for he had none, nor by putting any into him, which could not be done, nor could Satan get any advantage over him; he solicited him to one thing and another, but in vain; though these temptations were very troublesome, and disagreeable, and abhorrent to the pure and holy nature of Christ, and so must be reckoned among his sufferings, or things by which he suffered: and as afflictions are sometimes called temptations, in this sense also Christ suffered, being tempted, with outward poverty and meanness, with slight and neglect from his own relations, and with a general contempt and reproach among men: he was often tempted by the Jews with ensnaring questions; he was deserted by his followers, by his own disciples, yea, by his God and father; all which were great trials to him, and must be accounted as sufferings: and he also endured great pains of body, and anguish of mind, and at last death itself. And so he is able to succour them that are tempted; as all the saints, more or less, are, both with Satan’s temptations, and with afflictions in the world, which God suffers to befall them, on various accounts; partly on his own account, to shew his grace, power, and faithfulness in supporting under them, and in delivering out of them; and partly on his son’s account, that they might be like unto him, and he may have an opportunity of succouring them, and sympathizing with them; and also on their own account, to humble them, to try their faith, to excite them to prayer and watchfulness, and to keep them dependent on the power and grace of God: and these Christ succours, by having and shewing a fellow-feeling with them; by praying for them; by supporting them under temptations; by rebuking the tempter, and delivering out of them: and all this he is able to do; he must be able to succour them as he is God; and his conquering Satan is a convincing evidence to the saints of his ability; but here it intends his qualification, and fitness, and readiness to help in such circumstances, from the experience he himself has had of these things. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 387). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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FROM MY READING:

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

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Many scholars object to the rendering ‘propitiation’ for the Greek hilaskomai, because it conjures up ideas of placating an angry deity. But this is never in view in the New Testament usage where it is God himself who provides the propitiation (cf. Rom. 3:25) out of his deep love for mankind (Rom. 5:8). (D. Guthrie)

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As Lightfoot says, “when the NT writers speak at length on the subject of Divine wrath, the hostility is represented, not as on the part of God, but of men.” Through that which God has accomplished in Christ, by His death, man, on becoming regenerate, escapes the merited wrath of God. The making of this expiation [(b) above], with its effect in the mercy of God (a) is what is expressed in hilaskomai. (Vine, Unger & White)

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Luke 24

After Jesus rises from the dead, He appears to the number of his disciples.

INSIGHT

The most reasonable explanation for the empty tomb is the Resurrection. If, as some have claimed, Jesus had not been killed but only weakened by the crucifixion, the stone and the soldiers would have prevented His escape from the tomb. If Jesus’ friends had tried to steal the body, the stone and the soldiers likewise would have prevented them. Jesus’ enemies would not have taken the body, since a missing body would only encourage belief in His resurrection. The easiest way to quiet claims of His resurrection would have been to produce the body. This they could not do.

The angel said, “He is not here, for He is risen, as He said” (Matthew 28:6). Since Jesus predicted and experienced His own death, burial, and resurrection, we can trust Him with our lives. (Quiet Walk)

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THE CROSS AND THE LOVE OF GOD

God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
The most wonderful thing of all about the cross is that it reveals the love of God to us. It is not surprising that Paul should say to the Romans, “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
How do we see the love of God in the cross? Ah, says the modern man, I see it in this way, that though man rejected and murdered the Son of God, God in His love still says, “All right, I still forgive you. Though you have done that to My Son, I still forgive you.” Yes, that is part of it, but it is the smallest part of it. That is not the real love of God. God was not a passive spectator of the death of His Son. That is how the moderns put it—that God in heaven looked down upon it all, saw men killing His own Son, and said, “All right, I will still forgive you.” But it was not we who brought God’s Son to the cross. It was God. It was the predetermined counsel and foreknowledge of God.
If you really want to know what the love of God means, read what Paul wrote to the Romans: “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” (Romans 8:3). God condemned sin in the flesh of His own Son.
This is the love of God. Read again Isaiah 53, that wonderful prophecy of what happened on Calvary’s hill. You notice how he goes on repeating it: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows….it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief” (verses 4, 10). These are the terms. And they are nothing but a plain, factual description of what happened on the cross.
A Thought to Ponder
It was not we who brought God’s Son to the cross. It was God.

          (From The Cross, pp. 79-80, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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On a Hill Far Away
“And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha.” (John 19:17)
The Hebrew word golgotha and the Latin word calvarie actually mean “skull.” The Romans had selected a place of execution outside Jerusalem (Hebrews 13:12) but near the city (John 19:20), near a public highway (Matthew 27:39), and easily visible from some distance away (Mark 15:40). This has led many to speculate that it was on a hill, as in the first verse of the well-loved hymn “The Old Rugged Cross.”
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Truly His cross involved great suffering: “Christ also suffered for us….Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:21, 24). Likewise, it involved great shame: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13). But this suffering and shame was not in vain, for as we see in both passages above, it was on our behalf. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
However, God’s dearest and best, indeed God’s “only begotten Son” (John 3:16), was slain, not so much for “friends,” but for enemies! A world of lost sinners put Him on the cross. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Romans 5:8, 10). So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross.

               (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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