What Happened At Calvary?

John 12:31-33

Certainly it is not possible for me to state in a few brief lines all that took place when Jesus Christ suffered in our stead at Mount Calvary. But our Lord does tell us plainly that three things definitely occurred as the result of His death.

1. THE CROSS OF CHRIST WAS THE JUDGMENT OF THE WORLD.

The world was judged for sin. The world was proven to be guilty and sinful. The world was found guilty of hating God. When the pure, holy, and spotless Son of God came to the earth, the men of this world crucified the Lord of glory with wicked hands.

2. BY HIS DEATH UPON THE CROSS, OUR LORD SPOILED SATAN OF HIS UNIVERSAL MONARCHY.

The first Adam, by eating the fruit of the forbidden tree, was cast out of Paradise. The Second Adam, by dying upon the cursed tree, cast Satan out of his place of usurped dominion. By virtue of his death and resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ has crushed the Serpent's head. He no longer has power to accuse us; neither does he have power against us.

3. BY HIS DEATH UPON THE CROSS, JESUS CHRIST HAS BECOME THE CENTER OF ATTRACTION AND THE OBJECT OF FAITH FOR PERISHING SINNERS.

The boundaries of God's kingdom have been enlarged to include Gentiles as well as Jews. Now, the crucified, risen, exalted Christ draws sinners from the four corners of the earth, through the preaching of the gospel. He draws sinners who could not come and who would not come to himself. He draws them lovingly and tenderly. And, blessed be his name, he draws them effectually. It is the crucified Christ who conquers the hearts and wills of men. The terrors of the law will alarm you. The fear of hell will torment your mind. But, if ever you get sight of the Son of God dying in your stead, he will break your heart and conquer your will.

Don Fortner