Theme: The agony Christ underwent in order to accomplish the
atonement.
Doctrine: That in the atonement, Christ underwent such extreme agony in body and soul* that he would have been crushed under the weight of it in his humanity, if he, as God, did not sustain his humanity.**
We will examine this Doctrine under three points:
(1) The Humanity of Christ
(2) the Burden of Sin upon Christ's back
(3) the Joy set before Christ.
* WCF 8.4 This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake, which, that he might discharge, he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfill it; endured most grievous torments immediately in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body. . .
** WLC Q. 38 Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be God? A. It was requisite that the Mediator should be God, that he might sustain and keep the human nature from sinking under the infinite wrath of God, and the power of death. . .
Application: From this Doctrine we will see (1) What comfort we have in Christ, who shares the same nature with us and all its common infirmities, yet without sin; (2) How we must view each particular sin we commit as adding to the burden on Christ's back, agonizing him and crushing him; and (3) How we must respond in faith in and love for Christ, who underwent such agony for us. |
