“And … there they crucified him.”
Nineteen hundred and ninety years ago outside of a city which long had been associated with world shocking events a scene unfolded perpetrated by evil men that caused even the heavens to turn black and hide the sun from their evil deeds. A man upon whose shoulders the sins of the whole world, the whole world for its entire life span, had been placed. Like the goat of sacrifice upon whose head the priest placed his hands confessing over him the sins of all Israel, our Lord bore our sins to Calvary. “He was made to be sin for us,” wrote the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church. “Who his ownself bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness,” states Peter (1Peter 2:24).
The events of that occasion not only caused the sky to become darkened, but it also shook the earth. It shook the life of men who witnessed it. It shook the strong hold of Satan. It shook the ages to come as well. It was the pivotal point for all eternity. If there had not been a Calvary, there would not be a church, there would not be rapture, and there would not be a New Jerusalem. The Old Testament sacrifices and shadows would have been in vain.
· Demand For Blood
The law of God demanded blood. The redeemer kinsman must pay the price of redemption to redeem his relatives from the bondage of servitude. The price for our redemption could not be paid in silver or gold. Our situation demanded more than money from the coffers of some rich uncle. Our condition was that of sin enslavement, a slave of Satan who was working his will in our life. There was more at stake than a body that could work for a master. There was an eternal soul which would live forever somewhere in eternity. This was the prize. This was what was enslaved. Satan wanted it as his own possession. He knows his eternal destiny is sealed which is the Lake of Fire. Another goat would not suffice. The gold of a thousand hills would not pay the price necessary to set the soul free. A thousand priests offering a thousand atonement sacrifices would not suffice to redeem fallen man. This had been done and none had been made perfect. The only satisfying condition was for the Priest of priests to offer Himself as the “Lamb slain from the foundations of the world.” “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from, your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1Peter 1:18,19).
“Without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12). Heaven’s demands were met. Satan’s bands were broken. The blood that was shed was spotless blood — blood without a trace of sin upon it. It was the blood of God!
The heavens became black, the birds hushed their singing, animals went to their roosting places, women and men wept around the cross, a soldier smote himself on the chest but in the palaces of heaven the angels shouted with triumph. For the Lord had triumphed over the enemy of all mankind. In a short while He would be coming from earth with His own blood to sprinkle upon the Mercy Seat of heaven to make an eternal atonement for the sins of mankind. In three days, He will have stormed the stronghold of Satan, taking from him the keys of death, and coming forth victor over death, hell, and the grave.
The New Testament writer stated, “That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14, 15).
John, the beloved apostle, was to see Him later while banned to the isle of Patmos and hear Him say, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Revelation 1:18).
· We Look Back
All the lambs slain, all the bloodshed, all the offerings made by the Old Testament priests could never perfect those who offered them. They merely pointed ahead to the coming One who could perfect them. Every Old Testament writer was always writing with a foresight. The reason for their offerings and writings were always future. Never could they look back with a feeling of accomplishment.
Now because of Calvary we, as the New Testament church, can look back with assurance that our work of faith is established, perfecting us in the will of God.
We look back to Calvary for healing from our sicknesses. Peter said, “by whose stripes ye were, healed” (2Peter 2:24). We do not await someone to come and bring us healing. It has been brought already! We were healed at Calvary.
Paul speaks in the past tense when he states, “We are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37). “I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Is it enough to say God “loved” us? Calvary has proven this. Now we can look forward to the joys of the precious promises of tomorrow because we have the foundation of yesterday settled.
We have received our degree in salvation; we do not need to return to school again. The Law — being our schoolmaster — has brought us to Christ and Calvary. Christ has answered sin’s demands and nailed our sins and transgressions to the tree with Himself. The slave master has been paid and our redemption purchased by the blood of the Lamb of God. And now with this assurance we await the summons from on high signaling the return of our blessed Lord who has since Calvary been in the heavens preparing for His bride the palaces of glory. This glorious day will not come too soon for the bride who awaits the call of the bridegroom calling her unto Him.
While the thoughts of our Lord’s suffering on Calvary stirs our hearts, the ignominious death that He died to set men free, the mocking, the scourging, the ridicule, the beatings and then the crucifixion — all alike are dark spots in the history of mankind. Yet, because of that day we are in the church. He brought triumph out of tragedy. He brought victory out of what seemed to be to others a person vanquished. He brought the church out of this chaos.
The bitter crushing of Gethsemane, the cruel furnace of Calvary brought forth the two wave-loaves of Pentecost (Leviticus 23:17).
Man, the handiwork of God’s creation, was made from the dirt. An unbeautiful, indiscernible blob of mud was turned into the beauty of creation. From the dust, man was formed. Men of science still marvel over the intricate design of the human body.
Through the suffering, the sweat, the tears, the beaten flesh, the pierced body, the swollen face, the bleeding sacrifice on a tree has come the church. The Bride. The beautiful bride whose adornment is fine linen, clean and white. The Bride who shall soon hear her Bridegroom call her unto His side. The tables of heaven will be spread as the marriage supper is prepared and the marriage of the Lamb takes place. Let us be glad and rejoice!
Nineteen hundred and ninety years ago He was crowned with a crown of thorns.
Soon, when all things are accomplished, the Bride at His side, He shall be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords.
With this in mind we say, “Thank God there was a Calvary!”
