My Crucified Savior

"It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save." Isaiah 63:1

This beautiful hymn about Jesus' death and resurrection is new to me, and perfect for meditating on during this Lenten season. I so appreciate the story line it draws from Christ's suffering and death and what it accomplished for us to how we can be spared from the same experience through our acceptance of His free gift of salvation. Truly, He is both willing and mighty to save.

Christ suffered willingly to pay for my sin.

But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
Acts 3:18

And He suffered alone. The sins of the world were on His back and for the briefest of moments, His Father turned His face away.

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, " ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" Matthew 27:46

Jesus had to die to pay the price for sin once for all. For thousands of years God's people were sacrificing animals to pay for their sin, but they had to do it year after year, and it still wasn't good enough.

For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Hebrews 10:1-4

It wasn't good enough because it's impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. So, God sent His sinless son to die in my place in order that I may be redeemed to God.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE." Galatians 3:13

After dying a painful death on a cross, He was buried. But that was not the end. Jesus had appeased the Creator and restored mankind, and God in His strength and power raised Him from the dead!

And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation (appeasement!)for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. I John 2:1-2

When they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead; and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people. Acts 13:29-31

Finally, God's plan to save His people was accomplished. God had been promising a Savior ever since Eve and Adam sinned in the garden of Eden. And this was a great promise kept - with Christ as Savior, our sin no longer separates us from God. Not only that, but we will escape the bondage of death and live eternally in a place that Jesus went ahead of us to prepare.

In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:2-3

We must rejoice in His love! Rejoice in His love that took Him to the cross, suffered for our sin, and rose again! Rejoice in His love that He will come again to take us home with Him.

Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. John 16:22


My Crucified Savior
Words by Fredrika Falck,
translated from Swedish to English by Claude Foss

My crucified Savior, despised and contemned,
Thou innocent victim for sinners condemned,
Thy garments are blood-stained, Thy spirit doth groan,
In agony prostrate, Thou suff’rest alone.

Thou weepest and moanest in conflict and prayer,
And writhest in agony, pain and despair;
In thirty years’ anguish our path Thou hast trod,
And diest at last to redeem us to God.

Our Savior thus finished God’s plan with our race,
And laid the foundation for pardon and grace.
And then rose triumphant, the conquering Lord,
Appeased the Creator and mankind restored.

Restored to the bliss that was lost in the fall,
Yea, greater, for Jesus prepared for us all
Eternal salvation and mansions above;
Come, poor, burdened sinners, rejoice in His love.

Yea, come, trembling sinner, come just as thou art,
Thy cares and thy sorrows to Jesus impart;
In Him seek salvation from death and the grave,
For Jesus is willing and mighty to save.