MORNING MANNA 4-3-21
“And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day”.- Luke 24:46
Some things don’t seem fair. We take special note of that when it comes to certain things in our personal lives. How much more it should then seem unfair when we think about what happen to Christ! His death was the greatest injustice ever. Yet we read “it behoved Christ to suffer”. The word “behoved” means must, ought, or should. But, why must the only perfect man who ever lived be made to suffer and die?
The answer is found in 1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit”. Never has there ever been a greater display of love than this. Christ willingly, lovingly, joyfully suffered and died in the sinner’s stead. Lest we be forever condemned Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice. He was rejected that we might be accepted. He paid the penalty that we deserve, otherwise we could never be reconciled to God.
But that is just part of the story – it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day”. Had He just died there would be no life for the sinner who is dead in his trespasses and sin. Just as He had to die He had to be raised from the dead to deliver us and provide eternal life. In this glorious fact we find blessed assurance.
Think about it. In the crucifixion we see God using the wrath of man to provide righteousness for man. That is amazing! The very worst thing man could do was used for the very best thing that could be done for man. For our good and His glory God gave heaven’s best for the worst on earth. And because He lives we too shall live. – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
Humble, Tx.
