Fridays with the Heidelberg

Lord’s Day 15

37. Q. WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY THE WORD “SUFFERED”?

A. That during His whole life on earth, but especially at the end, Christ sustained in body and soul the anger of God against the sin of the whole human race. This He did in order that, by His suffering as the only atoning sacrifice, He might set us free, body and soul, from eternal condemnation, and gain for us God’s grace, righteousness, and eternal life.

38. Q. WHY DID HE SUFFER “UNDER PONTIUS PILATE” AS JUDGE?
A. So that He, though innocent, might be condemned by a civil judge, and so free us from the severe judgment of God that was to fall on us.

39. Q. IS IT SIGNIFICANT THAT HE WAS “CRUCIFIED” INSTEAD OF DYING SOME OTHER WAY?

A. Yes. This death convinces me that He shouldered the curse which lay on me, since death by crucifixion was accursed by God.


Last week we examined the significance of the virgin birth. Now this week our last question points to the significance of the crucifixion. Not much is given regarding the life of Christ. The Heidelberg Catechism, which is commenting on the Apostle’s Creed, is focused on that which the Scriptures are focused. Rather than providing a biography on the life of Christ, the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) were intended to communicate the message of the gospel. Kevin DeYoung points out that one third of the gospel accounts are focused on one week (the last week) of the life of Christ.

While Christ suffered throughout the entirety of his life, it is in the last week, at His death, where Jesus suffered as our only atoning sacrifice. The catechism tells us that through this suffering, He set us free from condemnation, and gained for us a restored relationship with God.

To God be the Glory!