1246. No Man Ever Died As Christ Died

No Man Ever Died As Christ Died

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom_5:8).

The centurion beholding the death of the Lord Jesus cried, "Surely this was the Son of God." It is true that we have never had, among men, a death comparable to the death of our Lord. Countless millions have lived and died. "And he died," has been the epitome of every man's biography, with the exception of Enoch and Elijah. In all of these who died, none ever died as died the Son of God.

1. The death of Jesus Christ was a prophesied death. He was a lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Four thousand years before He died, His death was proclaimed. First in Eden's Garden, and then in sermon, in story, in prophecy, in type, the death of the Lord Jesus was set forth in the ages past. Abraham foresaw His death, "as the ram was slain." The children of Israel set forth His death in the "slaughtered lamb." David prophesied His death in detail, in more than one prophetic Psalm. No death was ever prophesied as was the death of Christ. No death was ever anticipated as was His.

2. The death of Jesus Christ was a purposeful death. No other man ever died of his own accord and with a definite purposeful end in view, as that for which Christ died. The Lord Jesus Christ speaking of His Cross said, "I have power to lay My life down." He said again, "The Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep." He said again, "Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish."

Jesus Christ faced the Cross far back in eternity; during all the ages which preceded His birth He knew that the day of His death was hastening on. When He was born of a virgin, He was born with the Cross darkening His pathway. He took a body in order that He might die. From the cradle to the Cross His purpose was to die. None ever so died.

3. The death of Christ was a propitiatory death. He died as no one else ever died, the Just for the unjust. He was wounded for our transgressions. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him. He suffered in our stead. He bore the stripes which were rightly ours.

Some good men have died for their friends, but He died for His enemies. He died for those who despised and rejected Him. He died for the man who pierced His side; the man who drove the nails through His quivering flesh; the man who crowned Him with thorns. He died as none other ever died.

4. The death of Jesus Christ was a promising death. He died, we live; He suffered, we sing, His death was like the grain of wheat which falls in the ground and dies, only to spring forth and to bear grain. His death gave promise to us of eternal life. His death opened the gates of Glory and bade us enter in.

As we tarry at His Cross we catch glimpses of the Glory Land. It is the way of the Cross that leads Home.

In vision I stand on the hill lone and gray;

The old rugged Cross I can see,

And there on that Cross in the land far away,

Christ Jesus is dying for me.

And then, as 'mid darkness and dying, I stand,

A vision of Glory I see.

The Cross points the way to that bright golden strand,

And promises entrance to me.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR