operation rescue

Driving around Pismo Beach when Lisa and I were here in SLO interviewing for this position, I was struck by how many signs there are on the street-side of the off ramp that boldly proclaim, “DO NOT ENTER! WRONG WAY!” Danger signs. The good folks at Cal Trans (Thanks Gregg!) have placed those signs there to tell us that we are in danger if we proceed any further along that course of action.

We’ve been investigating Mark’s claim that this is the Great News about King Jesus, God’s Son. Last week we talked about the reason Jesus came: He came to save rebels. All of us are rebels and thus, we are in danger. While the first part of the Great News about King Jesus, God’s Son is really very bad about ourselves, the second half of the story is that God had not only set up warning signs like Cal Trans (which He’s done), but that He actually steps in to rescue rebels like you and me.

How does God rescue rebels? Mark tells us Jesus has to die. (Mark 8:31) The ‘must’ here means “necessary for great certain ends.” It’s not just that Jesus will die, but he’s saying it’s necessary for him to die! Jesus had to die! Jesus’ crucifixion was not accidental. Jesus’ crucifixion did not take Jesus by surprise. Jesus’ crucifixion was not for us to feel sorry for the pain he experienced. The cross is so important to Christian believers because it is the lifeboat by which we are saved. This is how Jesus rescues people!

The first thing we see about Jesus dying is that God was angry. (Mark 15:33) Darkness was a sign of God’s anger and judgment. For example, we’re told in the book of Exodus that God sent darkness over Egypt so Pharaoh knew God was punishing for not letting His people, the Israelites, leave Egypt. You might not like seeing that the God of the Bible gets angry, because for us anger is usually somewhat unpredictable, wild, associated with a quick temper. But God’s anger is different—it is his settled, controlled, personal hostility to all that is wicked and sinful. A righteous God has a right, even a need to be angry with all that is evil, wrong and rebellious.
Isn’t it Great News that evil matters to God!! God does not turn a blind eye to wrong in the world. Rebellion matters to God. What Hitler did to 6 million Jews matters to God, terrorism matter to God, Sept. 11 matters to God, school shootings matter to God, Parents abusing their kids matters to God, rape matters to God, Cheating matters to God, Lying matters to God, selfishness matters to God, Deceit matters to God, adultery and sexual sin matter to God, greed matters to God. Not only does evil and sin, or rebellion matter to God, but he has the power to punish rebellion. This darkness Mark records shows us God’s anger and his punishment of rebellion.

That’s why Mark tells us that Jesus was abandoned. (Mark 15:24) At the heart of Mark 15 is the message that while many people died from crucifixion, Jesus suffered like no one else. As God’s Son, who had known a relationship with God from eternity past, He was abruptly and totally separated from God’s love and fellowship on the cross. God is punishing His Son. What Jesus is saying here is, “God why have you rejected me? Why have you thrown me out?”

Why is Jesus being punished? Why would God do this to His son? So we can be rescued! You see, the Bible says that between us and God is what is called ‘the record that stood against us.” (Col 2:14) God can see every moment of our lives—every thought, word, or deed that we ever have or will commit. Our sin cuts us off from God; We face abandonment; We are utterly forsaken. But this is what happens on the cross. As Jesus hung on the cross there was no barrier between him and God. Jesus always perfectly obeyed God, He always pleased His Father. While on the cross, Jesus took my sin upon himself. Not only that, but through the cross Jesus transfers His perfect record of righteousness to us giving us, not only a clean slate, but a positive account of righteousness with God!

Because of this, we can now be accepted by God through His Son! God was angry. Jesus was abandoned. We can be accepted.