The Hero’s Work

Posted by Pastor Pat on January 5, 2009

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:4, 5).

In the story of God, it is not simply the hero’s presence that secures for His people deliverance from their shame, fear, and guilt. It is the hero’s work that will conquer their shame, fear, and guilt. Our text tells us that what He does will secure for His people redemption from the Law and adoption as sons. This immediate text does not tell us how this end would be secured. The Book of Galatians, however, does. There are three verses that describe the event that “fills the gap” at the end of verse 4 and the beginning of verse 5. The first verse is Galatians 1:3, 4, the second is 2:20 and the third is Galatians 6:14.

3 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Gal. 1:3, 4).

20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly” (Gal. 2:20, 21).

14 “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14).

The hero’s work was death by means of crucifixion. Jesus knew this was His “Father’s business.” When Jesus was requested by His disciples’ to eat after His conversation with the Samaritan women in John 4, He “said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work’” (John 4:34). When Jesus prayed in the Garden on the eve of His death by crucifixion He prayed that “if it were possible for this ‘cup’ to be removed from Him, then so be it. Nevertheless not His will, but the Father’s will be done” (Luke 22:39-46). It was the Father’s “pleasure to crush Him, putting Him to grief” (Isa. 53:10). When the hero took upon Himself the sins of His people (2 Cor. 5:21) and finished the work to which He was called (John 19:31), both He and His Father rejoiced because of the consequences such actions on their part secured for their people (Isa. 53:10, 11; Heb. 12:2).

The hero’s work was “to be tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:12). It was not simply the cross that marked His work, but all of the temptations faced and conquered that led to the cross (Matt. 4:1-11). His battle for obedience and in submission to the Father’s will was marked by struggle, blood, sorrow, pain, and even joy. He voluntarily and vicariously did what only He could do. He gave His life for His sheep. He was in a bloody conflict that cost Him His life and He was victorious in it. He destroyed the works of His enemy and paraded the defeated foe openly before all so that no one would doubt or deny who won (Col. 2:13-15; Heb. 2:14, 15; 1 John 3:8). Our hero stands with His foot on the adversary’s throat and raises His arms and voice in triumph and trumpets His conquest for all to see and hear. This is what the Father wrote into the script. His end and the means to that end would neither be denied nor defeated. Our God Reigns!

And one day, when times and seasons cease, all of heaven and earth, that which is seen and unseen shall openly and unashamedly declare,

12 “‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.’ 13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.’ 14 And the four living creatures kept saying, ‘Amen.’ And the elders fell down and worshiped” (Rev. 5:12-14).

Oh friend and fellow pilgrim, this is the hope we have and this is the truth we now live in. Let this be the transforming truth that shapes and guides us in this earthly pilgrimage while we still see through the glass dimly knowing that a fuller and crisper image waits (1 Cor. 13:12).

By Pastor Patrick J. Griffiths.  For more information see the Waukesha Bible Church series The Storyline of the Bible.