The CROSS on which Jesus Christ was nailed is the place of divine satisfaction. To satisfy is to please so that one is content. Jesus’ sacrifice is the only acceptable sacrifice that satisfies God, because after His abnegating self-sacrifice on the Cross, there is no more the need to sacrifice (Hebrews 10:18). The writer to the Hebrews records that in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin God hast had no pleasure (Hebrews 10:6) but the prophet Isaiah records that it pleased the Lord to bruise Him, talking about Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53:10). Though this at face value may seem like the Lord is insensitive or even cruel, deeper analysis of the Scripture, reveals a hidden treasure, that God was pleased, because Jesus willingly laid down His life as an expression of God’s love (John 10:17-18) for the world (John 3:16). Jesus’ laying down of His life on His own accord (John 10:18) pleased God to His contentment.
Let us cross examine ourselves and lay our lives down, as did Jesus Christ, so that God is pleased and satisfied and content with us.
John 10:17-18 (KJV)
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Hebrews 10:1-18 (KJV)
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
