Deuteronomy 21:22-23
‘If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.’
This scripture in Deuteronomy is a rather interesting one when we consider the crucifixion of Jesus. We see this played out in the account of his death. The Jewish leaders did not want the bodies to be left on the cross overnight, for according to this passage they were to be buried the same day. Now for the two men crucified either side of Jesus, the Romans broke their legs so that they would quickly die, but in the case of Jesus he was already dead. They therefore pierced Jesus’ side to confirm he was dead. Both blood and water flowed out proving that his heart had already stopped beating. The three bodies were then taken down and Joseph of Arimathea along with Nicodemus took the body of Jesus. They then anointed it and buried him in the garden tomb (John 19:31-42). Though Jesus hadn’t committed a crime deserving of death he was put to death as a criminal and hung on a tree. Peter later reflecting tells us that Jesus bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we having died to sins might live for righteousness (1 Peter 2:24). What Jesus did, he did for us, so that we might be forgiven of our sins and receive the gift of righteousness (right standing before God).
Now when we think about it, capital punishment for the Jews was stoning to death and not crucifixion. It was the Roman practise to crucify criminals and Jesus was handed over to Pilate by the religious leaders. Yet by Jesus hanging on a tree he was not only put to death but according to Deuteronomy he was cursed by God. Being hung on a tree is to be suspended between heaven and earth showing rejection from both. So why would God allow Jesus to be crucified and therefore cursed? The answer we find in Galatians 3:13. We are told that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. In other words Jesus became cursed on our behalf so that in Christ we can no longer be cursed. The passage in Galatians goes on to say that the reason Christ did this was that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, and that Jew and Gentile alike might receive the Holy Spirit. If Jesus had been stoned to death his blood would have atoned for our sins; however we would not have been redeemed from the curse. By hanging on a tree he has not only freed us from the power of sin but released us from the curse. More than that he has redeemed us that we might receive the Holy Spirit and be reconciled to God the Father.
What’s important to remember is that when Jesus came to the earth he came as our substitute. Though he didn’t deserve death he died as if he did. Though he didn’t deserve to be cursed he took it upon himself as though he did. He did this all on our behalf because though he didn’t deserve it we did. When Jesus acted on the earth he did it as the Son of Man our representative. This reveals the love of God as now through the finished work of Jesus Christ we are blessed and have eternal life. This is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the sacrifice for our sins (1 John 4:10).
Since Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law the question is what is this curse? The curse of the Law is specifically mentioned in Deuteronomy 28 and follows the blessings for obeying the law. The curse of the law is extensive covering everything from being unsuccessful in your endeavours, to poverty, sickness, oppression and even destruction. Yet Christ has redeemed the believer out of this. To be redeemed is to be reclaimed or bought by the payment of a ransom. The idea behind the Greek word is to be bought out of the slave market and set completely free. We who were under the law and were slaves to sin have been redeemed by Jesus Christ and set free.
Therefore we have been brought out from under the curse. All that is listed under the curse of the law is no longer the portion for the believer, for they have been redeemed from it. Since Christ became a curse in our place we can no longer be in or under the curse. Yet since Christ was raised from the dead, it reveals God’s vindication of him who was blameless.
Because he hung on a tree, in him you can experience health, provision, protection and most of all his Spirit living within you. He became sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). He became a curse for us that we might be blessed. When we reflect on this the implications are not only profound but personal. The Son of God loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). How do we know this? Because He hung on a tree for me.