Tension in Him

The Bible paints a remarkable picture of God. I'll never know Him fully even on the other side of the Jordan River, but on Sunday I was struck again concerning the absolute tension that He must have felt in the core of His being before the great propitiation of His Son. How strong His justice and holiness must have cried out as His love and mercy screamed back. How His justice and holiness wanted their satisfaction as the blood of sheep and goats spilled and did nothing to satisfy.

Oftentimes we put the Son and Father at odds with each other. It is almost as if the Father was the mean one demanding a sacrifice that would satisfy while the Son, full of love and compassion, complied to set us free. No, the struggle is much more profound than this as Christ Himself longed for the satisfaction that His death would bring. He longed for the debt to be paid and for mercy and justice to embrace and lovingly kiss each other.

Oh the sigh of satisfaction when God the Father heard the words "It is finished," uttered from the most perfect of offerings. When He gave up His spirit and the Father knew that the sacrifice was perfect, the penalty paid, and the debt forgiven. Finally the struggle was over and soon He would have His Son back sitting as his right hand - the Champion of Heaven.

A remarkable picture indeed, and one that is unique to this thing we call Christianity.