Sunday, May 2, 2010

On Sovereignty, Penal Substitution, And Love

I have been preaching through the gospel of Mark for over 4 months, and we have been pushing through the Passion narrative for almost half that period. We have finally arrived at the Trial before Pilate (C.f. Mark 15:1-15). As we have been pushing these texts, the LORD has shown me more and more the bitter-sweet intention of God in Cross.


Indeed, the intentional act of the Cross has shown to me that all the more, the love of the Cross (C.f. Mk. 8:31, 9:31, 10:33f, 10:41-45; 13:27f, 14:8, 14:13-21, 14:48f). Moreover, it has made the words of Isaiah all the richer. Indeed, the intention and purpose of the death of Christ remains literally and clearly and predicted even 750 years earlier:

"Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But he was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scouring we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that i led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth."

- Isaiah 53:4-7

1 comment:

Ched said...

Mark,

I like your thoughts about Mark, and about the Cross.

Where are you preaching?