Day 148

Of Christ the Mediator.

Chapter 8, Paragraph 4.

“…and did perfectly fulfill it, and underwent the punishment due to us, which we should have born and suffered,…“

Scripture Lookup

Galatians 3:13

Isaiah 53:6

1 Peter 3:18

Reflection

What do we deserve?

Wrath.

Tainted with sinful nature, there is nothing we can do on our own that is good. Every effort is marred from the beginning. Consumed with self, we spurn God’s rule. We deny His existence. The consequences of such transgression are severe, since they are an affront to an infinite Being. Anguish and torment for eternity. The just punishment for our sin. That is what we deserve.

What does Jesus deserve?

Praise.

Sin had no hold on Jesus. He perfectly fulfilled every aspect of God’s law. No word of His ever misspoken. No thought of His ever slipped. No step of His ever wayward.

If Jesus simply lived to show us what perfectly righteous living looked like, it would be awe-inspiring, but would lead to despair. We could never attain such a life, no matter how much we attempted to model His. But that was not the purpose of His coming! His fulfillment of the law enabled Him to be accepted as a sacrifice on our behalf. The punishment we deserve, that by rights should have been ours, He endured. He lay down His life and bore the wrath that otherwise we would have had to bear. Through His fulfilling the law and through His suffering our punishment, we now have access to God through Him alone. Such a life and sacrifice leads to awe and grateful praise. Thank you, Lord Jesus!

Questions to Consider

• How does Jesus’ life and sacrifice affect you?