0337. The Sufferings of Christ

The Sufferings of Christ

"And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

"But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled" (Act_3:17-18).

1. Peter conceded that the rulers and the common people acted in ignorance when they crucified the Lord Jesus. Christ conceded the same thing upon the Cross, when He said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The Jews were so filled with envy, and so maddened with false pride, that they did not stop to weigh the heinousness of their deeds. They did not realize that their every act was in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

2. Peter conceded that the death of Christ was a necessity, as foretold by the mouth of all the Prophets. Apart from the shedding of blood there could be no remission. The Cross was necessary for salvation. Therefore Jesus Christ Himself said: "The Son of Man must suffer and be killed." There was no alternative.

3. The fact that the Jews, in ignorance, crucified the Lord and the fact that the Prophets had clearly foretold the necessity of Christ’s death, did not in the least release the Jews from their responsibility. At Pentecost Peter acknowledged that Christ was delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. He also said: "Ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain."

Ignorance may lessen the depth of our guilt, but it does not remove the guilt.

4. Jesus Christ was crucified by the rulers and the people; crucified according to the faithful word of the Prophets; crucified as the Lamb of God "slain from before the foundation of the world," all in order that the lame man might be healed–all that we might live. He suffered that we might sing. Blessed be God, we have One in Whom we can place our faith, and through Whom we can be healed.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR