We know that the wages of sin is death. We know that Adam and Eve were warned that the day they ate of the fruit of the tree, which would be sin, they would die. We also understand that all have sinned and there was nothing we could do to resolve this problem—neither riches, nor works, nor our own self-righteousness could make us right with God. So by faith we understand and gratefully accept the finished work of our substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us.

But we wonder why such a cruel, painful, shameful, terrible death was necessary. Yes, we know that some of the Lord’s sufferings were prophesied in the Old Testament, so these scriptures had to be fulfilled. But since God wrote the Bible, He could easily have written it without these prophesies so that they would not have to touch our dear Lord Jesus. The Old Testament requirement of capital punishment was by stoning, but the Lord’s death was much more excruciating than that. Besides all of the abuses of shame, abandonment, and deception before and during His death, He suffered immeasurable physical pain. His back was “plowed” with long furrows; His face was disfigured more than any man’s; His beard hairs were ripped out; a crown of thorns was placed on and then beaten into His head; He was spat upon by an entire band of Roman soldiers; He died by crucifixion, with all that implies, as a common criminal between two criminals; and His clothing was divided between His executioners.

Greater love has no man than this—to die such a death, not only for friends but when we were enemies. Hallelujah, what a Savior! His obedience to His Father is unfathomable as is His love for us. May we revel in Him, who made such a sacrifice! May we praise, thank, worship, and obey Him.