“And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. Luke 22:50 -51
Simon Peter reacted in defense of Jesus,. But, his timing was ill-advised because Jesus followed with words to the mob who sought to kill Him,
“this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
Peter was full of righteous anger and mistakenly cut off an ear while aiming for a head. Jesus, without rebuke simply fixed the problem with a total restoration of both the victim, Malchus, physically: and Peter the antagonist, spiritually. Jesus demonstrated the propitious (favorable) heart of His Father just prior to His display of justice for sin. Men, not knowing what they do, (Luke 23:34), would carry out this terrible act of justice which also pleased the Father (Isaiah 53:10) — the crucifixion of our sin-bearer. (See 1Peter 2:24, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
So Jesus, while carrying out His Father’s bidding, demonstrates the propitious (gracious), nature of Father, and at the same time provides an God-inspired expiation (atonement), for mankind.
In the words of Louis Sperry Chafer, “God is not of Himself alienated from man. His sentiment does not, therefore, need to be changed. “
In my words, sin, (first by Adam), messed up mankind, it did not affect God the same way in the long term since He immediately found solution in “the Lamb , slain before the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8 Wrath appeased, Christ came, “not imputing men’s trespasses against them…” 2Corinthians 5:19. He came to save His people from their sin.
So Chafer goes on, “Still , in order that “God” may not for righteousness sake be necessitated to comport, (behave), Himself otherwise, an infinite expiation is necessary, which to be sure, He in His love institutes and gives.” “Man, all exposed to wrath, could neither venture nor find an expiation. But then God, in finding it, anticipates and meets the demands of His own righteousness. Nothing happens (in expiation), to change God. Rather, something happens to man, who now escapes the wrath to come.”
John 3:17 “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
This is why, “the woman taken in adultery said in answer to Jesus question ” Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:11
Have you ever wondered why God speaks so kindly to the murderous Cain, even after he kills his brother? Because his wrath was appeased in the Lamb already slain in Genesis 4? see Revelation 13:8
All well and good, but man must see the expiation provided by God’s love, John 3:16. Old testament sacrifices provided a picture, the shedding of blood, the scapegoat of Leviticus 16.
” And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. “Leviticus 16:10
But, not enough, Jesus Christ now was “evidently set forth, crucified among you.” Galatians 3:1 They saw it!
in closing, Christ was crucified between two thieves.
“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43
Again, Jesus, in providing the perfect sacrifice for sin in His bloody dying for all to see, still has time to reveal the Father’s heart of love for a perishing thief. Again and again He will show His Father propitious to mankind, while revealing the place of expiation for their sinful state, a demonstration of Father’s wrath appeased through a perfect punishment. Peter again was restored in John 20, even after his graphic denial. All of it gives hope and provides salvation to mankind, given to all who believe. Love ya.
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