March 5, 2011 A Tree A Cross

A Tree-A Cross
Read Deuteronomy 21-24

Deut 21:22-23 If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, 23 you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse.

THIS PASSAGE isn’t very inspiring is it? Or is it?
Now think. How did Jesus die? The cross was considered a “tree”. The Romans often nailed people to trees along roadways.
The One who died on a tree was one who had committed a capital offense. Jesus was accused of blasphemy, words against God, punishable by death. (Matt 26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy!”)
The one hung on a tree was to be taken down before nightfall and buried. Nicodemus and Joseph did that to Jesus. (Matt 27:57-58 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea , named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.)
The one hung on a tree was under God’s curse. Jesus, the Son of God, was under God’s curse for the sin of the world—yours and mine. (Gal 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.)
Now, does this inspire you? God sent his Son to the worst death on earth for the best life in Heaven. God killed His Son that you might live.
What will you do with this gift that cost God everything?


Pause and Consider: salvation, free to you, cost God everything.