To fully understand the price of our salvation, we need to realize what it cost God. It is the cross that reveals to us the great mystery of God’s Love. My value is determined not by what I think of myself, but by the price that was paid for me. No matter how much I may feel like a speck of dust in the boundless Universe, and no matter how little I may value myself, a very high price was set for my life.
The law declares that the price of sin is death. That is how much my salvation costs. And to satisfy the requirements of the law, this exact price must be paid. Nothing else is accepted. The smallest sin, the most insignificant thought that violates God’s commandment, is evidence against me, and then the law takes effect. And there is nothing in my life with which I could replace my punishment. All my good deeds cannot justify me before the requirements of the law, for without shedding of blood there is no remission.
The essence is this: in order to live forever, I must keep the entire law from my earliest childhood and constantly obey its requirements. Not a single dark stain of even the most secret thought must defile my mind and character. Only in this case am I declared righteous and able to live forever. But if I have committed even one sin, then I must die that very death of the soul which is called the second death. (Revelation 20:14; 21:8)
The Bible distinguishes between the first and the second death. Everyone dies the first death—both the righteous and the wicked who lived before us and those who are now leaving this world for the “land of silence.” We will all cross this boundary. The only exceptions in the past were Enoch and the prophet Elijah, and in the future they will be those who are alive when they meet Jesus at the Second Coming.
We read in Revelation 20:6: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
The first death is the final result of every person’s life of probation. This condition is sometimes called sleep. And the price that was paid at Calvary does not free us from the power of the first death. We will all die. But there is one exception. 1 Corinthians 15:51: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.”
And so the life of our Savior approached the moment to which all the prophecies, all the religious festivals and traditions, and all the sacrifices pointed. The time was fulfilled. The Son of God had to make the decision to take upon Himself the sins of all humanity and bear the corresponding punishment. This guilt had already been partially laid upon Him, and His human nature shuddered at the thought of the coming trial. Jesus said to the disciples, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.” He was dying the death of the soul and enduring the torments that, in justice, the sinner should endure. When He came to Gethsemane, Christ asked the disciples to support Him in prayer, but they fell asleep, and He was left alone to make the most important decision. The “mysterious cup” that the Son of God was to drink trembled in His hand. Three times He pleaded with the Father to remove this trial, as though asking whether there might be another way of salvation. Could another religion be created in which such a price would not have to be paid, or could the law be changed so that He would not have to die such a death? But He knew that there was and would be no other way, and if He refused to drink this cup, humanity would be doomed, Satan would gain absolute power over fallen people, and no one would ever be able to save the sinner. And Christ had to choose. Three times He pleaded with the Father to change His plans, but He knew that there was only one way, that only Christ could walk it, and that unconditional Love for fallen people helped Him make the final decision—the Son of God would bear the punishment for the sins of humanity, He would drink this cup and satisfy the requirements of the law. With words of submission, Jesus fell exhausted to the ground, and His sweat was like drops of blood. An Angel was sent from Heaven to strengthen Christ in His decision.
Then came the betrayal, the flight of the disciples, Christ’s arrest, trial, humiliation, scourging, spitting, mockery, humiliation, interrogations, accusations, and sentence. The Innocent One must die the cruelest death as the worst criminal.
And now the hands that had done so much good are nailed to the cross, and the feet that had hastened to save people are pierced with nails. The heavy cross is raised and forcefully dropped into a hole in the ground. Unimaginable pain pierces the body of the Son of God. And the Innocent One is condemned by this world to an agonizing death. People showed the entire Universe how they regard unconditional Love, how they treat those who love, who desire to save and heal. But without realizing it, people lifted Christ above themselves in order to show everyone the One Who had overcome. And He pleads with the Father to forgive His murderers, for they do not understand what they are doing. What amazing Love!
The “mysterious cup” is brought to Jesus’ lips, and He begins to drink it. Christ is dying!!! All Heaven stood still in expectation. Every sound ceased. Would His human nature endure this trial?
In a frenzy, the enemy of souls calls upon Christ to doubt His decision and leave the cross. And the Lord could have done this. He could have come down from the cross, and then all the wicked would have believed that He was the Messiah, but that was not why He came. He came not to prove His power to Satan, but to save the fallen race from the power of Satan and sin.
But while hanging in agony, Jesus sees His mother and asks John to take care of her. What infinite Love!
No support, no hope—only darkness and suffering. And amid these taunts and reproaches, Jesus suddenly hears an amazing request: “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.” Who is this? The thief on the neighboring cross? What support! What a blessing! Here he is, the first sheaf of the great harvest! An affirmative answer is given immediately.
Minute after minute, hour after hour, Christ drank the cup of human sins, becoming sin itself, and God’s curse was upon Him. The words of Deuteronomy 21:23, “...he that is hanged is accursed of God,” were literally fulfilled.
Darkness descended into Christ’s soul. The light faded from His eyes. He saw nothing and could envision no prospects. The only thing the Lord understood at that time was that the price of sin is death, and His soul was slowly and painfully dying that same mysterious second death, in which there is no hope, no knowledge, no light, but only suffering and darkness. At that moment Christ saw nothing and did not envision for Himself the glorious triumph and celebration of victory. The only thing He felt was that He was forever separated from the Father and that there was no hope of receiving forgiveness from Him.
The sun refused to shine; darkness descended upon the Earth. It seemed that all nature was dying together with its Creator. Every sound ceased. The Son of Man drank the cup of all human abominations and iniquities.
Darkness enveloped Christ’s consciousness. He bore the payment for my sins, and when He had drunk the last drop of this cup, He cried out very loudly, “It is finished!!!” And having committed His spirit into the hands of the Father, Christ died, satisfying the requirements of the law that had sentenced me to eternal death. I am justified; the price for my sin has been paid. A new way has been opened to me, and I have been given hope for a better life. What great Love!
Homework 172
What interesting things did you learn in this lesson? Where was the great mystery of God’s Love revealed? Why is there no remission without the shedding of blood? What would have happened if the Son of God had refused to drink the cup of God’s wrath on the cross? How did the world treat unconditional Love? What has Christ’s death personally brought you? Please read John 3:16; 1 Peter 1:18–20; Romans 6:23; 3:21–26; Galatians 3:13–14; Hebrews 9:22; Leviticus 17:11; John 5:29; Galatians 4:4–5; Luke 22:37, 42–43; Ephesians 2:8–9 in the light of our lesson.