Lesson for the Lord’s Day
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. Galatians 3:13
The reference here is to Deuteronomy 21, where a person who had committed a crime deserving of death should be hanged on a tree. It is in tremendous thing that the only One Who never committed a crime deserving of death was hanged on a tree. Deuteronomy 21 is speaking of rebellious and disobedient sons. This too is a tremendous thing, that the only Son Who was never rebellious or disobedient was put to death.
As we pause to remember Him, let us consider how He became a curse. Of course, his becoming a curse was voluntary, because the curse that was placed upon mankind because of sin did not apply to Him, because He was without sin or sinfulness. Before Adam sinned he had experienced the wonders of an uncursed earth in that there was no animosity among the creatures and the ground brought forth plentifully. Adam’s environment was undoubtedly spectacular in many ways that we are not aware of. But because he sinned, Adam lost all that. The ground was cursed. And animals began to die.
As part of man’s torture and shameful abuse of the Saviour, the soldiers (our Gentile representatives) placed on His head a crown of thorns. This is significant, not just because of the suffering those thorns caused, but also because those thorns were part of the curse that was placed upon the ground.
Remember, He Who cursed the ground with thorns at the time of Adam’s fall knew that those same thorns would be placed on His brow at Golgotha. He bore our curse, Praise His holy Name! -Jim MacIntosh