Xanthe Hancox
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’ Galatians 3:13
On 29 December 1876, the Pacific Express train travelling to Ohio, USA, crossed a trestle bridge which collapsed, and all the carriages fell into the ravine below. A young composer and Gospel singer called Phillip Bliss escaped from the wreck, but the carriages caught fire and he returned to try to rescue his wife. No trace of either body was discovered.
Found in his suitcase, which somehow survived the crash and fire, was a manuscript bearing the lyrics to a hymn we still sing today, I will sing of my Redeemer. The refrain of the hymn goes like this:
Sing, oh sing, of my Redeemer,
With His blood, He purchased me.
On the cross, He sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt, and made me free.
The words Phillip Bliss penned echo what Paul talks about in his letter to the Galatians when he says that Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.
Cursed! Not just in the sense that Jesus was mocked and his detractors cursed at him, but in the sense that he received the curse of death because of our sin. He did what was hideous and scandalous; he died on a cross — hung on a pole in front of a jeering mob, executed like a common criminal. It’s hard to think of ourselves as cursed, and even harder to think about how Jesus took that curse upon himself.
But that is the truth and wonder of Easter; God took Jesus’ shame and disgrace and made it our redemption. Jesus' ridicule and curse bought us freedom from the curse of our own sins. Praise God!
You can listen to ‘I will sing of my Redeemer’ here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU5hhE9cN6A
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are righteous and just in all things and I know you cannot take lightly the sins that I commit because you are a God of holiness. But I thank you for your wisdom and mercy in devising a plan that would allow the curse that was rightfully mine to fall upon your Son. Amen