April 13 – LD 15, Day 5: The Curse of the Cross

Galatians 3:13 - “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:”

Many attempts were made to end the life of Jesus. These attempts, orchestrated by the devil started early on with the devil trying to destroy Jesus before He was born, and then shortly after His birth. But Jesus could not die in any other way than the way determined by God’s counsel. That way was the painful death on the cross.

There is no more painful death than a crucifixion. They tore off Jesus’ garments so that His bloody back was against the rough wood of the cross. They drove heavy nails through His hands and feet. Then, they set the cross on its end and allowed it to fall into the previously dug hole. What unbearable pain Jesus must have felt when the weight of His body tore the holes larger in His hands and feet. Then there was the difficulty of breathing, the fever, and the dehydration. This was only the visible, physical suffering.

The cross depicted shame and rejection. The person who was suspended on a tree was rejected by men, and he was rejected by God. He was suspended between earth and the heavens. All who walked past saw the shame of this death, a death reserved for terrible criminals. There hung God’s Holy Son associated with those criminals. He was publicly defamed, but silent with no words of protest. He bore our shame and guilt so that we could be exalted!