The Perfecting Nature of the Cross

     Today is Good Friday and we are challenged to look at upon the cross of Christ.  A good friend of mine asked me to look over the following Scripture and contemplate what it means to be made perfect by the cross.

Hebrews 5:7-10, During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.  Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

     I was intrigued by this phrase: once made perfect. in the Greek it is the word (teleioō) and it means: to complete, carry through, to bring to an end (goal) to accomplish. 

     We know Jesus was perfect by the fact that He was sinless, blameless, and without fault.  He was also 'made perfect' by carrying the cross and accomplishing the goal.  The goal set before Him was to restore relationship between God and man. 

Luke 13:32,  He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal." (NKJ says 'I shall be perfected')

John, 17:4, "I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do."

John 19:28, "Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Holy Bible says this about Hebrews 5:7-10:

Christ. In the days of his flesh, made himself subject to death: he hungered: he was a tempted, suffering, dying Jesus. Christ set an example, not only to pray, but to be fervent in prayer. How many dry prayers, how few wetted with tears, do we offer up to God!

He was strengthened to support the immense weight of suffering laid upon him. There is no real deliverance from death but to be carried through it. God the Father was able to save him from death. He could have prevented his dying, but he would not; for then the great design of his wisdom and grace must have been defeated. What would have become of us if God had saved Christ from dying?

The Jews reproachfully said, Let him deliver him now, if he will have him, Mt. 27:43 . But it was in kindness to us that the Father would not suffer that bitter cup to pass away from him; for then we must have drunk the dregs of it, and been miserable for ever. His human nature was ready to sink under the heavy load, and would have sunk, had he been quite forsaken in point of help and comfort from God; but he was heard in this, he was supported under the agonies of death.  The privilege of Christ: He was a Son; the only-begotten of the Father. One would have thought this might have exempted him from suffering, but it did not. Let none then who are the children of God by adoption expect an absolute freedom from suffering.

Christ has left us an example that we should learn humble obedience to the will of God, by all our afflictions. We need affliction, to teach us submission. He was raised and exalted, and to him was given the power of saving all sinners to the uttermost, who come unto God through him.

Hebrews 2:10, In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Hebrews 7:26-28, Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.  Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.  For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Christ made improvement by his sufferings. By his passive obedience, he learned active obedience.

Being made perfect for this great work, he is become the Author of eternal salvation to all that obey him. But are we of that number? This salvation is actually bestowed on none but those who obey Christ. It is not sufficient that we have some doctrinal knowledge of Christ, or that we make a profession of faith in him, but we must hearken to his word, and obey him. He is exalted to be a prince to rule us, as well as a Saviour to deliver us.

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     So I echo the question of Matthew Henry to you today; Are you of that number?  The number of persons who have made a conscience choice to obey Christ?  Not just have knowledge of, or profess faith in Him, but hear His words, look upon His Cross, lay down your life and obey Him?  

This is the will of the Father:   Ezekiel 33:11, Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?’

     Are you of that number? The number of those whom have turned and faced the saving power of the cross?  If you refuse, why?  Why will you not turn and instead die? 

     Thank You Jesus, for the sacrifice You have made.  Thank You for the saving power of the cross.  Thank You for accomplishing the goal set before You.  Thank You for Your humble obedience and for becoming perfect on Good Friday.  My Saviour, my Lord!