No Wrestling Match

No Wrestling Match

Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

— Ephesians 5:2

My father was a national champion wrestler, and even as a little girl I would love to watch him grapple an opponent on the mat. Daddy would invariably pin his challenger with time to spare. I’d giggle when they’d cry “uncle!”

This is the picture of Jesus, and God the Father, that some Christians have. Some believers imagine Jesus wrestling his angry Father to the floor of heaven until he yells “uncle!” Jesus did not force the Father to be merciful to humanity. The death of Jesus was not the begrudging consent of God to be lenient to sinners. God didn’t grumble, “If it weren’t for Jesus, I’d give you insolent people a good licking!” No, the cross was the Father’s idea. Before the foundation of the world, God the Father conceived of the brilliant, breathtaking plan to involve his Son in rescuing sinners (2 Timothy 1:9). It’s wrong to think that God the Father was dead set on obliterating sinners until Jesus intervened and offered the cross as a solution; rather, it was planned by the Blessed Trinity from before the beginning of time. And it was all inspired by the love of the Father, the obedience of the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

Oh, what a wonder the love of God truly is! It is not syrupy or sentimental. Rather, the love of God is rugged and awe inspiring, terrible and astounding! The death of Jesus Christ appeased the wrath of God at the same time it served as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Take the rest of the day — or evening — to ponder the complex and utterly complete love of God toward you.

Father, I am humbled that you poured out your wrath on your own Son. And Jesus, I am amazed that you went to the cross out of love and obedience to the Father. And all of this is for my salvation! Oh, how happy and grateful I am!