“The Ironies of the Cross: The Man Who Is Utterly Powerless Is Powerful” ~D.A. Carson

Matthew 27:32-40

“…Yet here was Jesus, glibly talking about destroying & building a temple in three days…What kind of supernatural power would that take? Yet here Jesus hangs, utterly powerless, on a Roman cross. The sting of mockery turns on this bitter contrast between Jesus’ claims to power & his current transparent powerlessness. Once again, the mockers think they are indulging in fine irony. Jesus claimed so much power, so very much power; now witness his powerlessness…
But the apostles know, & the readers of the Gospels know, & God knows, that Jesus’ demonstration of power is displayed precisely in the weakness of the cross…
Under the terms of the old covenant, the temple was the great meeting place between a holy God & His sinful people. This was the place of sacrifice, the place of atonement for sin. But this side of the cross, where Jesus by His sacrifice pays for our sin, Jesus Himself becomes the great meeting place between a holy God & His sinful people; thus He becomes the temple, the meeting place between God and His people… It is in Jesus’ death, in His destruction, & in His resurrection three days later, that Jesus meets our needs & reconciles us to God, becoming the temple, the supreme meeting place between God & sinners…
Here is the glory, the paradox, the irony; here, once again, there are two levels of irony. The mockers think they are witty & funny as they mock Jesus’ pretensions & laugh at his utter weakness after he claimed he could destroy the temple & raise it in three days. But the apostles know, & the readers know, & God knows, that there is a deeper irony: it is precisely by staying on the cross in abject powerlessness that Jesus establishes Himself as the temple & comes to the resurrection in fullness of power. They only way Jesus will save Himself, & save His people, is by hanging on that wretched cross, in utter powerlessness. The words the mockers use to hurl insults & condescending sneers actually describe what is bringing about the salvation of the Lord. The man who is utterly powerless – is powerful.”

D.A. Carson, Scandalous: The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus

http://www.christianity.com/home/christian%20living%20features/11628400/page1/

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