HANGED ON A TREE
By Elder Mark Green
“And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree” (Acts 10.39).
“Hanged on a tree” has an ugly sound to it, and indeed the crucifixion of our Lord was the blackest of scenes. To the Bible reader, however, there is a sweet sound of prophecy in that phrase, and in it is contained the salvation of sinners. Under the law, “if any man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God)” (Deut. 21.22-23).
Paul refers to this in the book of Galatians when he says, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Ga. 3.13).
Christ redeemed us by suffering in our place. He was made a curse for us by hanging on a tree. We must always remember that we were the ones who deserved the punishment. We were the sinners; we were the ones who had offended the God of heaven, but Jesus was made a curse for us. He bore what we ought to have borne. He took the shame that was ours. We were the worst of criminals, for our sins were against the absolute holiness of God’s justice, but Christ condescended to be crucified between two thieves, numbered with vile transgressors. We deserved to die, but it was Jesus who died in our place.
In our text, Peter notes that his hearers (the household of Cornelius) were witnesses of the wonderful works of Christ. They should have had no doubt but that He was a great prophet, but Peter tells them He was not only that, but was the Messiah: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power.”
He was sent to the work and was fitted for it. “That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee.” They had heard the report of Jesus, which had gone out into all the land, and now Peter tells them that it was not just the report of the New Testament preachers, but the prophets of old also had testified of Him: “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
Peter had earlier preached that there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved. We were saved by Jesus the Messiah, or we were not saved at all. The prophets said that; the apostles said that; the works that Jesus did testified to His mission; and now Peter preaches Jesus to Cornelius and his house. Cornelius was a devout man, a God-fearing man, and his devotion showed his love toward God. Jesus had saved him, a Gentile, as well as His people among the Jews, by hanging on a tree and bearing the curse of the law. Elder Mark Green.