Not too long ago a book was published with the title: What was God doing on the Cross? It appears that two questions are being asked, not one.
First, “What was God doing on the cross?” Why was the God-man impaled on a Roman gibbet? Doesn't it seem shocking that God should be crucified?
Second, “What was God doing on the cross?” Once we've agreed that the God-man was on the cross, we wonder, “what was he doing there?” What was he accomplishing through the crucifixion of Jesus? To what end and for what purpose was Jesus, the God-man, suffering?
The problem is that there are growing numbers of Christians who are having an increasingly difficult time answering that question. The reason for this is threefold:
(1) a diminishing sense of God's holiness;
(2) a diminishing sense of mankind's sinfulness; and
(3) an inordinately increasing sense of self-worth.
Whereas I affirm the need for a proper self-image, I fear that many are fast becoming so impressed with themselves that they can't help but wonder why Jesus had to die for them at all! But when we look at the Scripture, we realize that the God-man, Jesus, was on the cross suffering the eternal penalty we deserved because of the infinity of God's holiness and the depths of our depravity.
Discover 10 Powerful Facts about Jesus on the Cross and the Crucifixion:
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These verses serve as a source of renewal for the mind and restoration for the heart by reinforcing the notion that, while human weakness is inevitable, God's strength is always available to uplift, guide, and empower us.
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