What is the solution for two parties to no longer be in enmity with each other? The only possible solution is to reconcile. But reconciliation is often initiated by first person toward another and is more inclined to settle the matter at personal cost. In this passage, we see God taking such posture of reconciliation toward mankind, even to the point of sacrificing His own Son, Jesus Christ. He ordains His Son to die on the cross on behalf of sinners, so that they would be reconciled to Himself. Reconciliation is made possible only through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ.
Christianity is based on historically verifiable facts. It is not a myth. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross as a substitute for sinners, His burial, and His resurrection prove that He was indeed the Son of God came to this world to save the sinners. His resurrection has been confirmed by many people throughout generations including secular scholars today. In this passage, we learn that a Christian is called to hold fast to this truth, because on this historically verifiable truth that his hope and faith in Christ sustains.
We finally come to the passage where the Greatest exchange took place. Our sins were put on Christ, He bore the wrath of God the Father and bought forgiveness in exchange. God the Father turned his face away from Jesus Christ so that He would not turn His face away from us, the sinners. This exchange took place between God the Father and God the Son. To save us, Jesus Christ had to die for our sins. We will be saved only when we believe that Jesus is the Son of God who came as a ransom for us.
When Jesus was crucified, people around Him watching said “if you’re the messiah then come down and save yourself”, but Jesus didn’t come down from the cross because of you and me. He went through the punishment that you and I justly deserved, so that we don’t have to be punished. If Jesus did not die for us then we would not have forgiveness of sins (the greatest need of the world). Crucifixion was a worst form of punishment and that’s exactly what Jesus went through. Jesus chose the worst life possible on this earth so that we would have the best life possible in Heaven with God for eternity… Christ is God’s Wisdom for us. He is the solution for every problem in this life.
We see an innocent man, a just man being accused and despised to be crucified. Even Pilate (a pagan) couldn’t find any fault in Christ. In this passage Mark tells us how Christ went through such accusation and was subjected to injustice only to exempt the rebels and sinners like us from the ultimate judgement of God. We deserved that just punishment of God for our sins but because He loves us, Christ took the blame on Himself, so that rebels like us could be set free.
“Do this in remembrance of me” are the words recited in churches today whenever the Lord’s supper is administered. Jesus says as we eat the broken bread (his body) and drink wine (his blood), we remember Christ’s death. And Christ death proclaims the extent to which God demonstrated His love for us. In this sermon, you will learn that the Lord’s supper is not just a mere ritual to be followed but there’s a higher view i.e it reminds us of His sacrificial love.
