8.34 Jesus satisfied the full justice of the law on our behalf

First of all, Jesus had to satisfy the justice of God by fulfilling the law perfectly on our behalf. Jesus fulfilled it perfectly in attitude, thought, speech and action. The Bible says that He did no sin (1 Pet 2:22), He knew no sin (2 Cor 5:21) and in Him was no sin (1 John 3:5).

(Matt 5:17)
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to FULFILL.

In the Old Covenant, the sacrificial lamb must be examined and found to be without blemish. Jesus the Lamb of God was tested by the Pharisees but they could not fault Him in any way. He qualified to die for our sins.

Secondly, Jesus had to satisfy the justice of God by taking our place on the cross. He took the death penalty on our behalf, and on behalf of the whole world. He was one perfect offering who would wash away our past, present and future sins in order to bring us eternal redemption (Heb 9:12).

Throughout the whole process prior to and during the crucifixion, the full justice of God was meted out on Jesus. He carried every sin, suffered every curse, bore every judgment, and took every condemnation till there was none left.

(Is 53:5-7)
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.

Jesus took on all our sins till the point that He became sin (2 Cor 5:21). When that happened, God the Father had to turn His face from His own Son. Jesus was all alone when He cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” For the first time, He was separated from His Father, so that we may be reconciled to the Father.

Finally, when He had paid fully for our sins, He cried, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The full justice of God had been satisfied. As a sign that the way to God was opened, the veil of the temple was torn into two (Matt 27:51).