Predestination
This text plainly states that Jesus Christ
was predestinated! That must be a sobering statement to those who deny the
doctrine of predestination. By his unalterable counsel and eternal plan, God
made it absolutely certain that his holy and beloved Son would be taken by
wicked, lawless, and malicious men, who would bring upon him misery, shame,
humiliation, and death.
Yes, we do fully
believe our text. The death of Christ was no mistake. The men who crucified him
were doing exactly what God's hand and counsel determined must be done. Though
they were maliciously fulfilling the lusts of their own depraved wills, they
fully executed God's purpose, without the slightest deviation. One very clear
proof of this is the fact that they were not permitted to break one bone in his
body. Yet, this was standard procedure in crucifixion. Why could they not break
his bones? The reason is just this, God had said, "He keepeth all his
bones: not one of them is broken." Read again, the accounts of our blessed
Redeemer's betrayal, his arrest, his mock trial, and his crucifixion. You will
find that every detail was accomplished exactly according to the prophecies God
had given in the Old Testament. Nothing happened except what God had determined
would be done.
As all the events at Calvary took place in
exact conformity to God's sovereign decree, the word of God teaches us that all
things which come to pass in time are in accordance with God's holy, wise, and
just purpose. Perhaps you rebel against this truth, many do. But this is not
the mind of Christ. Our Lord rejoiced that it was so. And, in all things, he
submitted to his Father's sovereign will. This is what all the saints must do.
We submit to God's purpose, and we rejoice in his goodness.
Don Fortner