The Mystery Of The Cross (Part 1)

In this first part of our study, we are to closely and diligently study together the RANSOM PRICE paid by our Lord Jesus during his first advent. It is obvious as Christians to have a close look or examination of the cross of our Lord Jesus. Through his death upon this cross, our Lord became the Saviour of the world, the whole human race as in Jn. 12:32 “And I, if be lifted up from the earth, will draw All men unto me”. The question now is who are these “all men”, when the Non-Christians claim non-inclusive in the arrangement? But is it only the world of Christians or the whole world of mankind? And is this “draw all men unto me” means to be taken to heaven? The answer to these is as explained in the next verse in Jn. 12 :33 “This He said, signifying what death he should die”, referring here to the cross, because one who dies on a cross, dies above the ground level, i.e. he is lifted up from the earth.
Now, how does Jesus draw “all men” to him through his death on the cross? This is the “mystery” that we have to understand in this study. Here, let us reflect our minds back to the beginning and to the message spoken by the angel at Jesus' birth in Lk. 2:10 “And the angel said … I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to ALL PEOPLE”. Two important things are involved “Good news” to “All people”. Again, who are meant by this “all people”? Matt. 1:21 says “and thou shall call his name Jesus; for he shall SAVE his people from their sins. Yes! Jesus was to be “THE SAVIOUR”. That is what the name “Jesus” means!
But what kind of Saviour; and who are these “His people” that he saves? Are they the Jews only? Is it the whole world of mankind or only those who believe in him now? The answers to these questions are found in the words of Jesus himself as in Mark 10:45 “The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto but to minister and to give his life a Ransom for many.” But what does “ransom” mean and to whom do the words “for many” apply to?
The words “for many” today have a usage and meaning of a large number; even a majority but not really signifying all. But did Jesus die “For many” and not really ALL? Some people may be confused here. Perhaps, this is why today many preach that Jesus died only for those who accept him and become Christians; and that the condition for Jesus to become one's Saviour is to personally accept him and become a Christian!
To understand what Jesus meant we must see what “for many” means in Biblical language. In Romans 5:19 “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” With this, you notice that 'many' really means 'ALL'. Thus Jesus' Ransom was actually for all as found recorded in 1 Timothy 2:5&6.
A Ransom for All! What is Ransom then? This is derived from the Greek word “ANTILUTRON” which in turn means “an equal corresponding price or value”. Then how can one man Jesus offer himself an equal corresponding price for all? An equal price would mean he could offer his life for only one other man, yet we read that he is the Saviour of the whole world. (1 John 4:14). The 'One Man' for 'All Men' is Jesus Christ for the whole world as in Acts 17:26 “And had made of ONE BLOOD all nations of men… “. All mankind are of one blood and have one Father ADAM. Even Eve came out of Adam. Thus we see that we all are related to each other and share a common 'ancestor' Adam.
Adam was all into human race; if he won the whole human race would have won and vice versa. Just like in any family, father typifies Adam and the mother, Eve and the children typify the “Children of Adam” the world of mankind. Thus in the family when the actions and efforts of the father are fruitful, the children are benefitted; but if not the bad results affect the children too, and the whole family. So too it was with Adam and the whole human race the family of mankind.
In Genesis 1:26 “And God said, let us make man in our own image, after our likeness…” Yes! Adam was created “in the image and likeness” of God. God is perfect, and created Adam as a perfect man and had life within him and was given the right to go on living, subject to some conditions and in chapter 2:16&17, he disobeyed and this attracted a punishment of death. Thus disobedience = sin (1 John 3:4). The punishment for sin = death (Romans 6:23).
The Scriptures reveal that it was Eve that was fooled by the Serpent (Satan) when she was alone in the Eden. The Serpent made her to eat the very forbidden tree. (Genesis 3:1). This deception upon Eve through the Serpent was the first lie hence Satan “the father of lies” (John 8:44). We read that Adam too ate the fruit in verse 6 but he was not deceived into eating like Eve (1 Timothy 2:14).
Now, if Adam was not deceived, why then did he eat of that fruit too? It was his deep love and attachment for Eve that caused him to think it impossible living without his beloved wife. Adam voluntarily gave up his life in what is today called suicide. He committed suicide for the sake of his wife, a now common practice in the land.
Then what happened? The Bible answers “For as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world and death by sin,… and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). So, having sinned and come under the death condemnation, Adam and Eve were expelled in that condition from the Garden of Eden. And in that condition they began to reproduce; meaning that Adam's children were not born perfect i.e. in the sin and death condemned condition which they inherited from their parents, (Psalm 51:5). This speaks of sin from birth or in other words an inherited condition. Thus the entire world through Father Adam and mother Eve are born into the condition of inherited sin and death condemnation.
What need be done to save this 'dead' race of mankind? There was this command in Exodus 21:23-25 “Thou shall give life to life…”. This implies thus: To save the whole race it required one man's life in sacrifice or exchange “A life for a life”. But in many countries of the world now we read of martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of their countries, would not there have been many willing to die to save the whole human race? Of course, there would have been many. Unfortunately, none of Adam's children was suitable for that exchange. Why? Because “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him” (Psalm 49:7). Meaning that, none of Adam's children was equal to the condition of perfection that Adam was in before he sinned.
As you can see, none of Adam's children can redeem the human race. It requires a Perfect Man to redeem Adam and the whole Human Race. Oh yes! Only GOD, Him alone! “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death…” (Hosea 13:14). How did God do this? By sending from Heaven the redeemer as in John 3:16. He gave His only begotten son to BECOME that redemption price.
Someone may ask, how can Jesus who was from Heaven, be equal to Adam of whom we read was made a little lower than the angels (Psalm 8:5). So, how could Jesus be an equal price or ransom for Adam, seeing that he came from Heaven; and was he not far superior to angels? Then how can he be the “life for a life” for Adam?
The answer to all these is in Hebrews 2:9 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death…” Jesus became or was made a Perfect Man like was Adam! He was born “Holy, harmless and undefiled and separate from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26). He became the second Adam 1 Corinthians 15:45; the second Perfect Man. “And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit”.
At first, Adam was made a little lower than the angels. Again, Jesus also made a little lower than the angels to equate. Thus the equal corresponding price for Adam was found. Yes, the 'life for a life' was found. That “the son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
But before conclusion, there is need to behold the great Saviour and the depth of his sacrifice. How was Jesus before he “became flesh”? The Bible answers in 2 Corinthians 8:9 “… that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor.” Imagine a heavenly subject with all the affluence of his father dropping so low in level to carry the cross of a sinful man and his race. And not only that, we read also of something else on him in Philippians 2:7 “But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant…”
The depth of this meaning hidden in the Scriptures is understood only by examining how large indeed is this world we live in and how many different kinds of creatures live in it. There is the Fish world, the Animal, Birds and Insects worlds. Now, let us look at the insect world, and take the species of the cockroach. Everybody hates cockroaches because they find them dirty, filthy and disgusting.
But the cockroach world itself is a busy and bustling world. They live and have their homes in dark dingy places. They have families little ones; there is work to do food to gather, and a busy life to live. Now imagine that this cockroach world needed a Saviour and a redeemer! And that someone from among mankind would be needed to volunteer to be changed into a cockroach and to spend many years among the cockroaches; and then in a very terrible way to die among those cockroaches for the redemption of the entire cockroach world. Remember, you are to be killed by these cockroaches themselves in whatever manner or method.
Just imagine the cockroach conditions, their food, and living areas! These make the thought absolutely and totally repulsive and revolting. WOULD YOU BE AVAILABLE FOR THEM? Just think of it! Yet, this is exactly how man in this current condition and in the ways of sin must seem and look to the heavenly beings and to Jesus. Yes! Just like cockroaches.
We read about the deliverance of the whole race and the divine transaction of the Ransom in 1 Corinthians 15:21 “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead”. This implies that through one man came the death sentence on all, and through one more man comes the deliverance of all. These two different men are as in verse 22 “For as in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive”.
Who are these 'ALL'? They are Adam's children the whole world of mankind. Today, they are called by different names such as: Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Jains, Christians, Atheists, Eckists, Amocs, Heathens etc, etc. Yes! Indeed this is the good news “of great joy which shall be unto all people.” So, all that is necessary to gain the blessings and benefit from the death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary is to be a child of Adam.
Thus, we have seen Jesus' death on the cross for ALL MANKIND “in Adam”. Jesus, through his death on the cross has, 'drawn all men unto Him' or Redeemed or Saved All Men from the death sentence and brought for all mankind through his blood the very real hope of resurrection from the dead in God's due time! BE BLESSED.