"For he who is hanged is accursed of God."
Deuteronomy 21:23
A child asked her mother, "Why did God let those mean men kill Jesus?" She answered, "Honey, they were very mean to do something so bad, but we know that God never makes people mean. Don't forget, three days later, God raised Jesus from death." The little girl said, "I'm so glad the story turned out good." The mother smiled and hugged her child, saying, "Yes honey, the story turned out good because God is good."
There were people standing around the cross of Jesus, saying, "If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." They knew the Bible taught, in Deuteronomy 21:23, that anyone hanging on a tree died as accursed of God. Jesus was marked for destruction, but not because of His sins, but because of our sins. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). He took our sins upon Himself as our substitute and sacrifice at the cross. He took our sins to give us His righteousness.
The mother knew that her child was unable to understand like an adult, concerning the death of Christ. Yet, no one can understand the real meaning of the death of Jesus, until the Holy Spirit gives us understanding. The message of Christ crucified is understood only through the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. For that reason we read: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Father, thank You for giving us understanding about Christ crucified.
