John 19:28-37
There is truly a difference to give something, or to have something taken from you. When we truly give something of our own volition it shows that we are in control. To have something taken from you shows that someone else is in control. This means you have been overpowered. On the flip side if you take something from someone you have overpowered them. When someone is executed their life is taken from them. When we look at Christ and the crucifixion we see the Sovereignty of God. Christ was in total control. Not for one second did He lose control.
The cross was not a surprise for Christ. He was the Lamb slain from before this world was created. This was God's plan, and nothing and no one can change, hinder, or stop God's plan. If someone could then God would no longer be God. In John 18:37 Christ told Pilate, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world." Pilate waxed bold in John 19:10, but Christ quickly put him in his place in John 19:11, "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above." This also applies to our lives in that we can trust God because He is in total control. Turn to Romans 8:28-39. What confidence we have in Christ! No one and nothing can take our lives from us until Christ says so. This doesn't mean that we tempt Christ by jumping off of a high rise building, or standing on a train track with a train bearing down on us, no, but we go on serving Christ where and how Christ would have us serve Him without fear of what man or satan may do to us. We can trust Christ.
"After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost," John 19:28-30. To give up the ghost means to die. Christ died when He had finished fulfilling Scripture. Keep in mind that crucifixion was meant to keep you alive so you would suffer much torment. Christ died way ahead of man's schedule. In looking back at verses 26-27 we see that Christ was in His right mind. Often those being crucified would end up out of their minds before they died. Christ did not whisper, nor was He gasping for air when He spoke from the cross. His speech was loud and plainly understood. This again proved that Christ was in total control.
"The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced," John 19:31-36. Even after Christ had died He was still in control. Let me add this here, if you do not view God as being sovereign, then you have a small view of God. If you think man or satan can alter, stop, or defeat God in any way then you have a small view of God, and you are on the verge of not believing in the God of the bible. These things were done so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
Did Christ go to the cross just to show the world that He was in total control? No. Did Christ go to the cross just to fulfill the Scriptures? No. Christ also went to the cross for total redemption. To redeem is to purchase. The redemptive price was the death of Christ. Israel had a sacrificial system. This system was a type and a picture of the One to come. This sacrificial system could never take away sins. Turn to Hebrews 10:1-12. Christ's payment on the cross secured total forgiveness for all whom Christ died for. There aren't any sins that were not covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. If Christ has saved you, all of your sins are paid for. All means past, present, and future. Christ atoned for your sins. He also took our sins upon Himself. This is known as the doctrine of imputation. While on the cross Christ took your sins upon Himself, and at the moment He saves you He places His righteousness upon you. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him," II Corinthians 5:21. The just for the unjust. The righteous for the wicked. The holy for the unholy. God chose to love the unlovable. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," Romans 5:8.
On the cross we see the greatest action of love and hatred, and we see this at the same time. We see Christ's love for His bride, the church. He gave Himself for His bride. He became sin for His bride. God punished that sin. God poured His wrath out upon Christ. If God hates sin then why doesn't He just do away with the sin? God also hates the sinner. "The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity," Psalm 5:5. "God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day," Psalm 7:11. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord," Romans 6:23.
We cannot work our way to forgiveness, no, we are forgiven because of the finished work of Christ on the cross. Some may say that they are trying; they are doing better and better; but the problem is that they have not trusted Christ to save them. Christ did not give His life and now we have to do our part. Our part is why Christ had to go to the cross to begin with. We are sinners and we have always been sinners and we have only been sinners. We are born in need of the Saviour.
What kind of people does Jesus Christ save? Look around at others around you. You see people just like you. How many of you were in the depths of sin? Some of you were drunkards; whores and whoremongers living and enjoying sexual sins; homosexuals; adulterers; thieves; murderers; drug addicts; etc. and the Lord saved you. You did not clean yourself up, no, when Christ saved you He cleaned you up. Christ radically transformed your life. All of this stems from His finished work on Calvary, and from His resurrection. We have hope because of Christ's work, which includes His resurrection. He had power to lay His life down, and He had power to raise it up again. One day all who the Lord has saved will be with Him for eternity. We look forward to this day. We even get a little home sick. Even so come Lord Jesus.
Are you saved according to the Scriptures? If so then Christ has paid your sin debt for eternity. If not then you will pay your sin debt for eternity in the torments of hell. It is wonderful knowing that the Lord has saved you, and that all of your sins are paid for. It is also comforting knowing that He is in total control. If you are not saved I beg you to cry out to Jesus Christ trusting Him alone to save you (Ephesians 2:8-9). "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out," John 6:37. Remember, Christ gave His life. To God be the glory.
