The Dangers of Ignorance

I return often to the passages concerning the crucifixion of Jesus for nothing concerning Jesus has been made more religious. The victory of the cross is minimized by the religious attitude toward the cross. People in total control of their lives and who seek to control others as well make a mockery of the cross. Yes, the cross is a symbol of a shameful death but that is exactly what human nature living in opposition to all God has provided deserved. It is the curse of broken covenant. (Deuteronomy 21:23) Jesus took what we deserved and suffered in our place. Exchange is the heart of covenant. II Corinthians 8:9 (NLT) You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT)6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

On the cross Jesus was doing a tremendous work. Here the Law, which He had fulfilled by walking it out as a man, was totally completed as He took the curse of the broken covenant in our place. Now we can live in the righteousness of the Law in Christ Jesus Whose righteousness is imparted to us by faith. II Corinthians 5:21(NIV) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. The words Jesus spoke on the cross have great significance for us. Not as words repeated by a dying man, but words that give the New Covenant power to change this realm. I want to take just one thing He said and show you this significance. Luke 23:34 (NLT) Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.

This phrase has sometimes been said to be for the Roman soldiers as the ones doing the actual work of the crucifixion and who gambled for his clothes. But it was the religious rulers who were witnessing this scene, sneering and mocking him, who had heard His words and seen His deeds and had tested Him many times, yet now they were taking pride in their control over Him by "getting rid of Him." It is the ignorance in this religious control over God's work that is continuing today. But on the cross, Jesus completed God's work to assure His purpose to make us in His image by forgiving that ignorance and was able to proclaim the work finished. His forgiveness of the entire process to crucify Him is significant.

There is the ignorance of people just doing what they are told (as those soldiers) without any thought of the underlying consequences involved. Just living out their lives in an accepted manner. But even though the rulers of religion were acting to protect their "place" and were deliberately getting rid of Jesus, there was the same ignorance. When we take this realm at face value and do not seek to know of God's purpose, we act in ignorance. I have seen people do things with the same motive of the religious rulers who crucified Jesus, who have no idea of what they are doing. They think they, like Saul of Tarsus, are doing the "work" of God. They gossip, criticize and belittle, sneering in their own way, and feeling justified when they can get someone to agree with them against those who seem to "threaten their place". Underlying motives as well as visible action came under God's control by the righteous act of forgiveness in the words of Jesus on the cross. Man's control will never threaten God's destined plan for His Church. The victory over man's scheming was won on the cross. Less than 40 years later the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple were complete and the "place" so desperately defended was gone.

God moves steadily forward toward His goal. Like waves sweeping onward, like the destruction of a tornado, like the sun rising each morning, God moves according to His purpose. Our protection and reward is His covenant with us. Jesus is our "shield and exceeding great reward!" We move under His victorious finished work of the cross.