If love endured that ancient cross
How precious is my Savior’s blood
The beauty of heaven wrapped in my shame
The image of love upon death’s frame

Grace to Grace, Hillsong

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2:

In the book of Numbers we read that even on the doorstep of the Promised Land the people grumbled and complained. They grew impatient. Again and again they complained and spoke out against God, the Lord who brought them out of Egypt. In Numbers 21:5: they say “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

They did not see the salvation of God.

So the Lord sent fiery serpents in their midst. They bit the people and many died.

The people realised their folly and with it the source of their present trouble. They went to Moses and repented asking, in their humility, for him to intercede with God on their behalf.

Moses went to the Lord in prayer and was instructed by God to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole – and all who looked upon it would be saved!

In the Garden of Eden a serpent speaks out against the plan and providence of the Lord. With that first bite of the forbidden fruit the sly serpent of sin bit the soul and death entered the world into the world.

In Romans 5:12: we read that sin entered the world through one man – and that sin came to all and through sin death.

That poison was in the blood – from generation to generation – in our DNA.

In talking about His purpose as the Messiah, in the third chapter of John during His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus brings up the story of the bronze snake. He compares Himself to the snake in verse 14-18: “ Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

“Love endured that ancient cross…”

Jesus came and – to pardon our iniquity – He not only took our sin upon Him but rather became sin itself upon the Cross.

“The Beauty of Heaven wrapped in my shame…”

God stepped down from His throne – the Holy One of Heaven – and enrobed in frail and failing flesh He hung upon the Cross the very image of the snake who bit us. He was crucified for our transgressions as our transgression – as the very image of sin itself. All of our carnality pierced through – He shed His holiness in that moment – that moment where He cried out MY GOD, MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME!

(See also Psalm 22. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Messianic promise – His death bookended by the first and last lines of this Psalm!)

God separated Himself from Himself. Stripped of His holiness so that we may become whole. He was our weakness upon that cross – to become our strength. He was our infirmity – to become our healing. He was our poverty – to become our prosperity. He was our darkness – to become our light.

God separated Himself – His holiness – from Himself – and became our sin.

He became our sorrow so that He could become our joy. Our nakedness – to clothe us in righteousness. He became the burnt offering so that our ashes could make the clay of beauty.

The Beauty of Heaven hung upon that old rugged cross, clothed in my sin and shame – so that all who looked upon Him would be saved and have eternal life. He bore the wrath, condemnation and judgement that was for our account – the chastisement for our peace was upon Him. The trial, torment and terror of our sin fell upon His shoulders – He became the curse to become the Blessing (Numbers 6:22-27:).

No greater love will ever be found in the history of the world. No greater love will ever be found anywhere other than His Story.

Prayer: Oh Lord, My God – words cannot describe the awesome, awe-inspiring, almost terrifying thought of what You suffered for me to be here today. Words cannot describe the sacrifice, the price You paid for my peace. My soul trembles at the thought. Thank You Lord for Your love – for Your grace and for Your mercy. I pray that where words fall short You will see my gratitude in the life I live for You. Help me, through Your Spirit, to live a life worthy of the Life You gave – that all may see and know that You are the Lord of my life. Let Your love shine in me and through me. Let Your Kingdom come in me, through me and around me. Let my life be a worthy and acceptable sacrifice unto You. In the precious, beautiful Name of Jesus. Amen.