Focus Scriptures: Psalm 22, Isaiah 54:4-6, Isaiah 12
Written by: Bishop Dr. Romeon Facey ┃April 5, 2023
Introduction
Crucifixion was an ancient practice carried out by empires such as Persians, Grecians, and Romans. It was one of the cruelest form of punishments used to defer people from committing anus crimes. Additionally, it was done to cause embarrassment and pain to those who broke the law. It is interesting that God prophesied crucifixion in Psalms 22 before it came into being. “For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” (Psalms 22:16)
The cross became a symbol of death and condemnation. Often criminals’ bodies would remain on the cross and vultures would eat their bodies. Their legs were broken so that they would die from asphyxiation.
Asphyxiation: the collapsing lungs, failing heart, dehydration, and the inability to get sufficient oxygen to the tissues essentially suffocate the victim.
The Death of Jesus Christ is Significant
It is ironic that the cross that was a symbol of death became the symbol of hope because of Jesus’ death. In some circles the cross is foolishness.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:1)
There are many people who died on the cross in the Roman empire. What made the death of Jesus Christ so significant?
- His death was prophesied about (Isaiah 53:12)
- Jesus is God incarnate – God becoming flesh. This would indicate to us that Jesus’ blood was divine (John 1: 14)
- Jesus died as an innocent man and was not a lawbreaker (John 19:4)
- Jesus dies as the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- Jesus died for his nation – the Jewish people (John 11:50)
- Jesus died to satisfy the maximum wrath of God that would be poured out on humanity (Romans 1:18)
- Jesus’s punishment on the cross was unlike any other human being. (Isaiah 52:14 NIV) Spitting was an expression of the deepest contempt and was a sign of scorn. They spat on Jesus until he was drenched in their spit. This was done in the halls of the high priest. (Matthew 26:68)
- The cross did not kill Jesus, he gave up the ghost. (Matthew 27:50) Jesus giving up the ghost fulfilled his utterance “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” (John 10:18) This shows us that his death is voluntary and not that the cross killed him. He laid down his own life.
- His death on the cross is an embodiment of the love of God. (2 Corinthians 5:19)
- His death on the cross transcends dispensation and shift us from BC to AD and from Law to Grace. (1 John 17)
- Jesus’s death on the cross unleashes God’s resurrection power in the Earth (Matthew 27:52-52)
- The cross elevated the name of Jesus as the only name given amongst men whereby we can be saved for his name was written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek on the cross declaring that only through that name one can have the atonement of sin. (John 19:19-22). Jesus’ name was translated and transliterated from the first century; those who argue about the name being changed have no merit. God wanted his name to be personal so that everyone would understand it in their own language and be able to say it.
- Jesus’s death on the cross was done in both the presence of Jews and Gentiles. (Matthew 27:35, Matthew 27:40) At the time the Jews were his enemies yet he was dying for them.
- Jesus’s death on the Christ unveiled the fact that he is the son of God. This was confessed by an unbelieving centurion who would become a believer. (Matthew 27:54)
- Jesus’s death on the cross eliminated the old Mosaic system of worship and usher us into true worship beyond the veil. (Matthew 27:51)
The veil was rent from top to bottom and not bottom to top. This indicates that it was not man’s doing but God’s doing.
The Benefits of the Cross
Jesus’s death on the cross brings us many benefits. It would take the skies as a scroll and the oceans as a fountain pen to write them all. Let’s focus on a few.
Atonement
The first benefit of the cross is the atonement, in particular substitutionary atonement. Isaiah 53:1 tells us that he was wounded for our transgressions.
The term atonement comes from the Hebrew word “Kippur” which means to cover, this connotates protection. Jesus’ blood on the cross covers our sins but also protect us from sin. His atonement is unique in the sense that it not only covers but cleanses. Through the finished work of the cross our sins are covered and cleansed.
Substitutionary atonement includes that he became our substitute, our Passover lamb, our scapegoat, and endured all the punishment on our behalf so that we can be free from the judgement of God and the power of sin. His work of atonement is so excellent that God remembers our sin no more. (Psalms 103:12)
Removes Iniquities
The second benefit of the cross is that it removes iniquities. Iniquities are associated with people who are lawbreakers. It is connected to those who hate God and those who know God and sin presumptuously.
God declares in his word that he will visit the iniquities to the third and fourth generations of those who hate him. (Exodus 20:5) In the bruising of Christ generational curses are removed because iniquities are connected to generational curses. When the prophet says that he is bruised for our iniquities he is showing us that Christ’s death removes curses. (Isaiah 53:5)
Removes Sickness (Isaiah 53:5)
There is different information concerning the meaning of Christ. Some believe that the Roman lash count was 468 while other believe that Christ only receive 39 stripes according to the Jewish law. (2 Corinthian 11:24) These lashes came from catenin whip that was made from bones, glass and iron hooks, and irons balls that wounded Jesus. His back was like a plowed field however the blood streaming from his back was medicine to every sickness in our body.
The prophet Isaiah says that by his wounds you are healed. Beholding of Christ liberates us from all diseases, apply your faith to this and recognize that you healing will become past tense. Peter says by his stripes you were healed. There are 39 strands to every disease known to man. Jesus has more wounds than diseases that exist. His blood removes your sicknesses.
The Cross displaces Principalities from their Thrones and brings everything in the Earth under the Rulership of Christ (Colossians 2:15)
The air is always considered to be Satan’s domain. He is called the prince and the power of the air in Ephesians 2. Jesus’s cross was raised up into the air fulfilling his words when he said “if I be lifted up, I’ll draw all men unto me” however at the cross at midday the whole Earth was covered in darkness portraying to us that there was a battle taking place at the cross between the prince of darkness and our Lord Jesus Christ. This was a battle for the ownership of the Earth and its resources.
Spoiling principalities is annotatively saying that he was taking back our possession from Satan’s strongmen. (Colossians 2:15) He was disarming principalities and taking away their legal authority and their power over humanity. Jesus’s death on the cross elevates us to a place of power and authority over principalities and power.
The Cross Restores Peace (Isaiah 53:5)
Jesus’s punishment at the cross unlocks our peace. This peace brings us back to complete harmony and fellowship with God. (Romans 5:1) This is saying that God is no longer our enemy, he is now our Lord, master, and friend.
The peace that the cross unlocks is spiritual. This manifests in three-fold:
- Peace with God
- Peace within one’s self
- Peace with others
This peace protects your emotions from demonic interference and gives you authority over satan so that he cannot manipulate you emotionally.
The Cross Erases our Debt (Colossian 2:14 NIV)
The cross erases the indebtedness that comes from the law or the written regulation. Without the cross we cannot fulfill God’s legal requirements. By nailing these bonds to the cross God is declaring that our debt is paid in full. We should no longer live as a bondsman but as a free man in Christ because our debts are paid in full.
WORD POWER: “THE BENEFITS OF THE CROSS”
