There is a tendency in some corners of the Reformed community to diminish the full reality of the extent in which Jesus Christ, who being fully God, underwent the white-hot wrath of God’s judgment. Some with the best of intentions want to safeguard the unity of God’s being, think that it is logically impossible for the Son of God to suffer the unthinkable separation from the Father’s presence. Yet, God does not need us to defend his nature when it comes to the deep mystery of the Cross. We simply cannot fathom the depth of God’s love nor understand the wrath His Son endured. This does not make it irrational; it merely stretches the limits of our reason.
Paul Wells is a welcomed new voice in Reformed theology who underscores the wonder of this mystery in a recent book defending the traditional biblical doctrine of the atonement. Recently I was moved to tears and worship as I read this in his book, “Cross Words.” I commend them to the enrichment of your soul.
“How agonizing it must have been for the Son of God to feel the pain of divine rejection because of his identity with sinners in judgment! The abandonment of Christ corresponds to a descent into hell, as Christ knows full well that the Father only rejects the wicked. ‘He was suffering the pains of hell. What the Father wanted to say to the Son was this: Have you desired to suffer the passion of hell? Then you must do so fully aware that you are doing so.’ He tastes the bitterest anguish as looking to God in faith, love, and trust, he finds that he is not saved from the ordeal. His heart yearns for the communion and the glory he shared with the Father before the world was (John 17:5) and all the time he has ringing in his ears ‘Esau have I hated’! (Rom.9:13).
For three terrible hours Christ knew the pangs of hell as if he were a sinner under the lash of divine judgment. ‘This cry is like the lamentation of those who are abandoned for ever.’ Tormented by the astonishment of finding himself in hell without belonging there, Christ strains for heaven but is transfixed by the divine condemnation he undergoes…He descended into our hell to break its power. ‘Dying on the cross, forsaken by his Father…it was damnation- and damnation taken lovingly.’” (Paul Wells, Cross Words. Christian Focus Books: Scotland, 1996, p.163).
Commenting on this book, Peter Jones, says “Satisfying to your mind, this is also a text that will move you to tears and to praise.” I cannot agree more. Perhaps one reason our praise and worship is so shallow and cold at times, is because we do not ponder the depth of this profound truth of Christ’s suffering for us.
A prayer of St. Ambrose (390-397 A.D.)
O Lord, who has mercy upon all, take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of Thy Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore Thee, a heart to delight in Thee, to follow and to enjoy Thee, for Christ’s sake. Amen.
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