Q&A Atonement and the Wrath of God

From time to time we interact with questions. If you have a question you’d like answered, send it to redeemingfamily@gmail.com.

Question

"I can't find where in scripture the wrath of God is poured out on Jesus at the cross. What scriptures are we getting this idea from that Jesus took on, or bore, or suffered the wrath of God?"

Answer 

I recommend taking a look at the suffering servant themes in Isaiah. Isaiah 53:3-12 comes to mind particularly and is frequently a reference text or the main text when I preach on the atoning work of Christ and the wrath of God. When reading Isaiah we then come away with questions like "When was the suffering servant 'crushed?'" And "How was it that God was blessed to 'bruise' him? 

For questions relating to the need, nature, and work of Atonement, a familiarity with the book of Leviticus is also helpful. We see the themes previewed there that a scapegoat was needed for the sin of the people (Leviticus 16). This scapegoat was a picture of the one who would come - Jesus, was the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). We also see the continual theme of death and provision by God in the lives of the primeval people (Abel knowing to sacrifice in Genesis 4:4 due to the animal clothing God provided for Adam and Eve leaving the garden in Genesis 3:21, Noah making an animal sacrifice in covenant with God in Genesis 8:20), the patriarchs (Abraham, particularly in Genesis 22 with the sacrifice of the thicket ram instead of Isaac, the animal offerings of Jacob, Joseph suffering at the hands of his family, yet God uses their evil for good - Genesis 50). Leviticus in the OT Tabernacle and temple ceremonial sacrifices all point to the suffering of wrath for sin and God's provision for that exact purpose for His beloved covenant people. 

In sum, once we begin to see that:

1. sin means separation from God, we will then ask - 

2. how are we reconciled to God? We then study and see in both the OT and NT that reconciliation comes by God's gracious provision.

3. The reality of God’s gracious provision then leads us to search the scriptures asking ‘how does God provide for reconciliation?’ The answer is found in atonement (that judicial aspect of dealing with sin and opening reconciliation as available with God).

4. We then see in types and shadows in the OT previews of God providing a means or path of reconciliation through His magnificent mercy. That leads us to ask - when will the previews become ultimately fulfilled? 

5. The answer is found in the historical realities of the person and work of Jesus Christ, with a particular focus on the atoning work of Christ on the cross. It was there that the Lamb of God was slain (Revelation 4-5, John 3:14-15, Numbers 21:4-9). The sin of God’s people was taken away as he who knew no sin, became sin for the redeemed people of God (2 Corinthians 5:21, Colossians 2:13-15).

6. Once we see that Christ is the ultimate suffering servant prophesied in Isaiah, we see that while much of His ministry and life was a subject of humility in action, it was ultimately on the cross that God justly "crushed" Jesus in atonement for sin. It was there that the ultimate fulfillment of the scapegoat occurred as the Son of God, the very God of very God, was looked away from by His Father (Psalm 22:1, Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34). He who knew no sin, became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). He was crushed (Isaiah 53:3-12), that His people might live abundantly, eternally secured with Him. 

It is a great question and one that often, through a thorough investigation of the Bible is answered. Praise God for the tremendous grace we have in Jesus!