The Cross of Christ
I've begun reading The Cross of Christ by John Stott (again) with one of the women from The Bible Talks.
There are many reasons that I love this book, not least for the clear outline of the meaning and impact of Jesus death. We see how our theology changes how we think and drives our actions.
Here is an excerpt from the first chapter (page 40):
Given this, how would you respond to the charge that Jesus was on a suicide mission?
There are many reasons that I love this book, not least for the clear outline of the meaning and impact of Jesus death. We see how our theology changes how we think and drives our actions.
Here is an excerpt from the first chapter (page 40):
The third and most important reason why he knew he would die was because of his own deliberate choice. He was determined to fulfil what was written of the Messiah, however painful it would be. This was neither fatalism nor a martyr complex. It was quite simply that he believed Old Testament Scripture to be his Father's revelation and that he was totally resolved to do his Father's will and finish his Father's work. besides, his suffering and death would not be purposeless. he had some 'to seek and to save what was lost' (Luke 19:10). It was for the salvation of sinners that he would die, giving his life as a ransom to set them free (Mark 10:45). So he set his face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem. Nothing would deter or deflect him. Hence the reiterated 'must' when he spoke of his death. The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected. Everything that was written about him must be fulfilled. he refused to appeal for angels to rescue him, because then the Scriptures would not be fulfilled which said that it must happen in this way. Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer before entering his glory? He felt under constraint, even under compulsion: 'I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am (RSV 'constrained', literally 'hemmed in') until it is completed!' (Luke 12:50).
So then, he knew he must die, it was not because he was the helpless victim either of evil forces arrayed against him, or of any inflexible fate decreed for him,. but because he freely embraced the purpose of his Father for the salvation of sinners, as it had been revealed in Scripture.
Given this, how would you respond to the charge that Jesus was on a suicide mission?
Labels: Cross of Christ, Reading, TBT
posted by Mandy at
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
2 Comments:
Great book - I read it for the first time last year. Very rich and nourishing.
By
Craig Schwarze, at Wednesday, March 07, 2007 4:07:00 pm
'Suicide mission' - interesting question. I guess it partly depends how you define suicide.
If it includes deliberately putting yourself in a position where you must die, then I guess one could call the incarnation a suicide mission. But we don't want to underplay either the choice and responsibility of the human agents involved in killing Jesus (it would be very strange to think of Pilate authorising some kind of euthanasia, for example!) or the action of God the father as distinct from that of the Son.
By
Ros, at Thursday, March 08, 2007 12:44:00 am
Post a Comment
<< Home