THE MEANING OF THE CRUCIFIXION
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”” Galatians 3:13 NIV
In ancient Israel, being hung on a tree was a sign of divine judgment for sin and rebellion. To a jew looking outward, seeing a man hung on a tree meant that this person was already under God’s judgment.
The theological depth of this passage is not only a fulfillment of prophecy first to the jew and also the gentile, but a true display of what has been achieved in Christ at the cross for us.
If only those who sinned and received stern divine judgment were hung, then Christ who was sinless and blameless could only be hung in the place of a true sinner and rebel (selah).
This means, every sinner who believes wholeheartedly on the perfect man hung on a pole, with understanding of this context — such a man is ultimately free to identify himself with the hung up Savior.
Child of God, this is why the cross wasn’t just painful or humiliating. It was a scandal because It looked like God Himself had rejected Jesus. But it was our sins and rebellion he bore in his own body, we were the ones meant for the pole, but He took it for us. Praise Him forever and ever!
Prayer: My Father, I can never thank you enough for the indescribable gift that is Christ our Lord. I thank you for loving me while I was yet a sinner, and taking in your flesh the retribution I deserved. It is by your mercy that I am not consumed, may I live my life in perpetual worship and wonder of you, in Jesus name. Amen!
CI.
RELATED RESOURCES
• Deuteronomy 21:22
• Joshua 8:29
• 1 Peter 2:24
