The Coming of the End... But Jesus! Uno-reverso!

A Verse-by-Verse Lens Change of Ezekiel 7

As I read Ezekiel 7, I couldn’t help but see Jesus.

Ezekiel describes the judgment sinful humanity deserved. But at the cross, Jesus stepped into our place. The innocent Son of Man willingly took the punishment belonging to the guilty.

Ezekiel 7:1–2

Judgment: “Son of man… the end is here! Wherever you look - east, west, north, or south -your land is finished.”

The reversal: Son of Man, Jesus, Go to the east, west, north and south, restore what was broken.

Because of You, the end of death is here... sin’s power is finished. Death does not get the final word. Only hope remains!

Ezekiel 7:3

Judgment: God’s anger would be unleashed against the people. They would be called to account and made to pay for their detestable sins.

The reversal: Jesus stepped in.

“I will unleash My anger on You, my Son. I will call to account their detestable sins, and You will pay for them all.”

Jesus took the wrath!

He willingly stood in the place of guilty humanity and carried the judgment our sin deserved.

Ezekiel 7:4

Judgment: God would turn His eyes away, show no pity and require full payment for their sins.

The reversal: Jesus, the sinless Son of God, received no relief from the suffering of the cross. He covered our payment in full so that we could see the depth of the Lord’s love for us.

Jesus cried out:

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” ~Matthew 27:46

The One who deserved no punishment took ours. The One who owed no debt paid ours.

Ezekiel 7:5

Judgment: Disaster after disaster was coming.

The reversal: My Son, it will be disastrous and painful and brutal.

You will be betrayed. Rejected. Falsely accused. Beaten. Mocked. Crucified.

Jesus entered the disaster our sin had created and cleaned up our devastation.

Ezekiel 7:6

Judgment: The end had finally arrived. Final doom was waiting.

The reversal: It is finally time.

The doomsday of death and sin is here... but Jesus will take its destructive power and crush it forever.

The end that should have fallen upon us fell upon Him.

But through His death, death itself would be defeated!

Ezekiel 7:7

Judgment: The day of destruction was dawning. Anguished cries, not joyful ones, would be heard.

The reversal: Jesus’ anguish would be public and full of pain.

The people would surround Him like an angry mob, shouting for His death:

“Crucify him!” ~Luke 23:21

Ezekiel 7:8

Judgment: God declared that He would pour out His fury, unleash His anger and call the people to account for their sins.

The reversal: At the cross, that fury was poured out upon Jesus.

“My anger is unleashed on You. I call humanity to account for its sins and place their punishment upon You, My Son.”

Jesus took the wrath!

“The punishment for our peace was on him.” ~Isaiah 53:5

Ezekiel 7:9

Judgment: There would be no pity. The people would be repaid for their detestable sins, and they would know that the Lord was striking the blow.

The reversal: Jesus took pity on us. He looked at the crowds with compassion. Willing to lay down His life for the saving, healing, joy of us all. Someone had to pay for sin.

But instead of striking us, the blows fell upon Jesus.

He endured every lash. Every accusation. Every mocking word. Every nail. Every agonizing moment.

The blows were many, but through them, we see the mercy of God offered to us.

“The Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all.” ~Isaiah 53:6

Ezekiel 7:10–11

Judgment: The day of judgment had arrived. The people’s wickedness and pride had fully blossomed, and their violence had formed the very rod that would punish them. None of the proud and wicked would survive.

The reversal: Jesus would be judged for them.

Their pride. Their wickedness. The fullness of their evil.

Humanity had created the rod of punishment... but Jesus chose to take the beating, the whipping, the floggings.

Because of You, my Son, the proud and wicked can survive. They can be forgiven, restored and given new life.

Ezekiel 7:12

Judgment: The time had come. God’s wrath was upon everyone, and normal life could not rescue them.

The reversal: The trade is made.

Jesus takes the loss so we can receive abundant and bountiful life.

He receives wrath.

We are offered mercy.

He receives punishment.

We are offered a pass.

He received the flogs.

We are offered forgiveness.

He receives death.

We are offered life.

None of us could survive God’s righteous judgment on our own. We survive only because Jesus willingly took what rightfully belonged to us.

Ezekiel 7:13

Judgment: No one could escape or preserve their life by their own strength because sin had brought judgment upon everyone.

The reversal: Those whose lives are found in Jesus will live even though they die in the body.

Through Him, everything sin stole can be restored because Jesus took our debt upon the cross.

“Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.”~John 11:26

The Choice

But they must make the choice:

Your life for theirs... You paying for their sin OR their life for theirs, forever paying the unsettled and unsettleable debt.

They get to choose.

Oh, that they would choose life!

Jesus paid the in full, but each person must decide whether to receive the gift He purchased.

“I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life.” ~Deuteronomy 30:19

Jesus, I shudder at the thought.

All of this was supposed to be on me. My sins, my detestable, disgusting, shameful, ugly sins were mine to pay for.

But You already took the bill and covered all the costs!

And not just mine, but humanity’s.

It cost You everything.

“Thank You” doesn’t feel like enough.

Your life for mine.

Thank You.

New life.

Thank You.

For beauty from the ashes I made for myself.

Thank You.

Jesus, truly, completely, lovingly...

Thank You.