The Mode Of His Death

by McCormick, F. | Category: The Inspired Word | Jul 1954

By crucifixion: "They pierced My hands and My feet " (Psalm 22.16). The Lord Himself said-" And I, if I be lifted up from the earth ... this He said, signifying by what manner of death He should die " (John 12.32, 33). The Jews refused the request of Pilate to judge Him. Their method of putting to death was by stoning. "That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spake, signifying by what manner of death He should die" (John 18.31, 32), "The soldiers therefore .... crucified Jesus."

Now it is evident that the words of Scripture, and the words of the Lord Jesus perfectly harmonized in their substance and fulfilment. Why? Because God in inspiration, and God in Christ speak with one voice. Again, the soldiers broke not His legs for they saw that "He was dead already." How could such circumstances be foreseen, and Scripture written about 1,500 years before-in regard to the Passover lamb" Neither shall ye break a bone thereof" (Exodus 12.46), apply to Christ, unless inspired by God?

Again, after He was dead, "one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side" that it might be fulfilled, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced" (John 19.37; Zechariah 12.10). How could anyone know about 500 years before, that a Roman soldier would act ill such a way? God knew, and the Scriptures are God-breathed. Many more instances might be given regarding His burial and resurrection. The whole of the Scriptures are interwoven by prophecy and fulfilment which cannot be explained apart from accepting the fact that the Scriptures are inspired. It is obvious therefore that if men so spake, and wrote, it must have been through the influence and power of a Divine Being possessing a perfect knowledge of all things, even the Spirit of God.

"For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit"(2 Peter 1.21). God took up these imperfect instruments, and by the Holy Spirit they were so borne along in their utterances, and writings, as to produce absolutely word perfect the clearly defined mind of the Spirit in the Scriptures of truth.

"For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2.10). Hence the origin of the Scriptures is not human, but Divine.

It is clear therefore that the writers wrote many things they failed altogether to understand, and sometimes contrary altogether to what they would have chosen to say, or write of their own will. An instance of this may be seen in "Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong doing; but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a dumb ass spake with man's voice and stayed the madness of the prophet" (2 Peter 2.15, 16).

"Because thy way is perverse before Me" is the verdict upon Balaam. Yet this man speaks by inspiration of God. (Numbers 22.18, 38 ; 24.2, 3).

Again, Caiaphas the high priest, though entirely opposed to Christ and His teachings, "prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation" (John 11.49-51). From the foregoing it must be clear that while the men were fallible, the words they uttered were inspired and infallible. This is in keeping with the claim of the book itself.

"Every scripture is inspired of God" (2 Timothy 3.16. A.V.).

Every scripture includes all the inspired writings, and every God breathed writing is perfect and infallible, even though the channels were imperfect and fallible.

David was not infallible, yet he says "The Spirit... spake by me" (2 Samuel 23.2). This is supported by the Lord when He said unto

them, "How then doth David in the Spirit call Him Lord"? (Matthew 22.48), and then quotes from Psalm 110.

The writer to the Hebrews says, that God of old time spake unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, and this fragmentary revelation pointed forward to the full orbed revelation of God in His Son. The revelation of the New Testament lies latent in the Old, while the meaning of the Old Testament is patent in the New.

The prophets pointed forward to the coming of the Righteous One in the Old Testament, while the New Testament points backward to the Old for its authority and examples and prophetic utterances.

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15. 4).

Based upon the truthfulness of those things written aforetime rests the fundamental doctrines of the gospel, "being witnessed by the law and the prophets" (Romans 3. 21). If those writings were not inspired the whole fabric of scripture doctrine collapses, and our faith is vain. Perish the thought!

"Now these thing8 happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come" (1 Corinthians 10. 11).

The absolute accuracy of these historical events in the history of the nation of Israel, is the foundation upon which these solemn warnings and exhortations to the Corinthian church are based. The Scriptures are so interwoven in their references to past, present, and future events, that it is evident the book is one authentic living whole. While they have been written by many writers, some altogether unknown to the others, yet the book is a perfect unity in every detail. This can only be accounted for by the fact, that, in reality, there is but One Author.

"God spake by the mouth of His holy prophets which have been since the world began" (Acts 3.21).

"The Spirit ... spake by me" said David (2 Samuel 23.).

"Even as the Holy Spirit saith" (Hebrews 3.7).

"The Holy Spirit also beareth witness to us ... then saith He" (Hebrews 10.15, 17).

And we have noted that quotations made from the prophets are referred to as "Spoken by the Lord" (Matthew 1.22; 2.15), and "Spoken unto you by God" (Matthew 22.81), quoted from Exodus 3.6.

When the Lord Jesus came into the world He saith, "Lo, I am come (in the roll of the book it is written of Me) to do Thy will, 0 God" (Hebrews 10.7).

There was indeed only one book to Him, a composite of all the inspired writings. He was the blessed, happy man of Psalm 1. of whom it is written,

"But His delight is in the law of the LORD;

And in His law doth He meditate day and night."

He was not a hearer only, but also a doer of God's word, hence the words:

"I delight to do Thy will, 0 my God" (Psalm 40.8).

The word of God was His guide in life, His shield and defence in temptation (Matthew 4.3-10). He "came not to destroy, but to fulfil" (Matthew 5.17). "For I say unto you, that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me" (Luke 22.37).

How careful then He must have been in His choice and acceptance of those things which were written! He has left us in no doubt on this matter, for in resurrection He said unto them:

"These are My words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, how that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning Me" (Luke 24.44).

This therefore proves His acceptance of "the book of the law" (Galatians 3.10). "For if ye believed Moses, ye would believe Me; for he wrote of Me" (John 5.46). "The book of the prophets" (Acts 7.42). "All that the prophets have spoken" (Luke 24.25). And "the book of Psalms " (Acts 1. 20). See Matthew 21.42 quoted from Psalm 118.22, 28, also Matthew 22.44 from Psalm 110.1.

The Saviour's Bible then, was nothing less than the whole of what we call the Old Testament Scriptures from Genesis to Malachi. This is the greatest of all proofs that those Scriptures were divinely inspired. Can we think for one moment that He, who is the Truth, would not have pointed out the spurious character of those writings, if such had in fact existed? Would He have allowed His disciples to be deceived by such? Never! Therefore, the simplest believer may have the fullest confidence in the authenticity and inspiration of the Scriptures, accepted by their glorious Lord. Again and again He challenges His hearers with the words, "Have ye not read"? "Did ye never read"? (Matthew 12.3-5; 21.16; 22.31). The possession of such writings inspired by God demands our prayerful attention, for these are in fact, God's words to men. The Lord Jesus did not hesitate to make these writings the authoritative basis of His teachings, as seen in Matthew 19.4 on the subject of divorce, where He refers back to Genesis 1.27; 2.22-24. Also in regard to the resurrection of the dead, Matthew 22.32, based upon the words of Exodus 3.6, and so, on many of the truths thus enunciated, He appeals to the Scriptures as the highest possible authority. During the course of His public ministry He refers to the actual names of about twenty persons mentioned in the Old Testament Scriptures, thus proving His acceptance of the historical accuracy of the Sacred Writings. He Himself is the subject of all the Scriptures. "To Him bear all the prophets witness," and while upon earth, He was their perfect exponent in life and teaching.

There are many striking comparisons between the Incarnate and the written Word. Of Him it is said, "Never man so spake," and in this book " God hath spoken." He is the Living Word clothed in human form, the Scriptures are divine thought given in human words.

Both are imperishable, "Thou art the same" (Hebrews I.).

"For ever, 0 LORD, Thy word is settled in heaven" (Psalm 119.89). Believe Me for the very works' sake " (John 14.11).

The Scriptures likewise claim the confidence and belief of men, for no other book has accomplished or is capable of accomplishing, such transforming wonders. They are the "living oracles " (Acts 7.38).

Whence has this Man this wisdom? Whence hath this book this wisdom? He was tried, "Which of you convicteth Me of sin?" So likewise in the challenge of the book, it is "as silver tried, purified seven times " (Psalm 12.). The Scriptures remain in their unsullied purity, in spite of every charge against them.

"He was despised and rejected of men," and so likewise are the Scriptures.

McCormick, F. | Jul 1954
The Inspired Word