In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland continues the Lenten journey through Fleming Rutledge’s The Crucifixion, exploring four major biblical images for understanding the death of Jesus: Passover and Exodus, blood sacrifice, ransom and redemption, and final judgment. Derek insists that we do not begin with atonement theories or later theological debates. Rather we begin with the Old Testament. The cross only makes sense within the story of Israel, especially the Exodus, where salvation is framed not as abstract forgiveness but as liberation from slavery and deliverance from death. 

This episode also tackles the controversial question of propitiation. Rutledge argues that the Greek word hilasterion in Romans 3:25 should not be translated as “propitiation” (appeasing an angry God), but as expiation, that is the removal of sin. The barrier between God and humanity is not God’s anger but our sin. Redemption, then, is the Triune God’s loving work of buying back humanity from the enslaving powers of Sin, Death, and the Devil. Judgment, or what Rutledge calls “The Great Assize,” is not contrary to love but an expression of it. God’s righteous commitment to set the world right. 

Books Mentioned 

• The Crucifixion — Fleming Rutledge 
• The Day the Revolution Began by N. T. Wright 
• Centering Jesus by Derek Vreeland 
•On the Incarnation by Athanasius 

Scriptures Mentioned 

• Exodus 12–15 
• Leviticus 16 
• Isaiah 53:7 
• Romans 3:25 
• Romans 8:3 
• Hebrews 9:26 
• Mark 10:45 
• 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 
• Matthew 25 
• John 8 

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Order Derek's new Bible Study Series, God in the Neighborhood: 
Book 1: Incarnation: 8 Lessons on How God Meets Us || https://amzn.to/42jSZAs 
Book 2: Crucifixion: 8 Lessons on How God Saves Us || https://amzn.to/459bNUk 
Book 3: Resurrection: 8 Lessons on How God Restores Us || https://amzn.to/40T0sp0 

Learn more about Derek’s work as a pastor and author: https://derekvreeland.com 

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