Our Substitute

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Luke 22:19-20
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for [in behalf of] you: this do in remembrance of me.
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for [in behalf of] you.

The word translated "for" in these verses is the Greek word "huper". Huper, when used in the genitive case, means "in behalf of." Christ told those at supper that he was going to be their substitute. A substitute is one who takes the place of or acts in behalf of another. Jesus Christ's body would be broken in behalf of them. His blood would be shed in behalf of them.

Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Blood represents life. The shedding of blood upon the altar was required as a substitute for the life of the individual believer to make atonement for sin. The high priest was required to offer continual sacrifices for the sins of the people. The blood of the ox, lamb, or goat was offered in behalf of the people.

John 6:51
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for [in behalf of] the life of the world.

Jesus Christ said, I will give my flesh (my life) in behalf of the life of the world. In this verse the world represents the people who inhabit the world.

John 10:11,15
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for [in behalf of] the sheep.
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down my life for [in behalf of] the sheep.

Jesus Christ came to make a life more than abundant available to man. He gave his life in behalf of those who would believe, just as a shepherd is willing to give his life in behalf of his sheep.

John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for [in behalf of] his friends.

Jesus Christ lay down his life in behalf of his friends. In the context of this verse his friends are those who keep his commandment to love one another as he loved them.

Romans 5:6-8
   For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for [in behalf of] the ungodly.
   For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for [in behalf of] a good man some would even dare to die.
   But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for [in behalf of] us.

Jesus Christ died in behalf of the ungodly. We were dead in sin. We could do nothing for ourselves. He gave his life as a substitute for ours even when we were ungodly. That is true love. The love of God was commended toward us in that He gave His only son for us even though we were ungodly and living a life contrary to His Will.

I Corinthians 5:7
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for [in behalf of] us.

Just as the blood of the lamb substituted for the life of the first born of Israel, Jesus Christ was the one true passover lamb sacrificed in behalf of us. His life was given as a substitute for ours.

I Corinthians 15:3
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received how that Christ died for [in behalf of] our sins according to the scriptures;

The first thing we share when we witness to others is that Christ was the substitute for our sins. He died for us. This is the record of the scriptures - the Word of God.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for [in behalf of] all, then were all dead:
And that he died for [in behalf of] all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again.

The love of Christ constraineth us to live for him. Constraining in the Bible is to lovingly beg or ask over and over. Christ died in behalf of us. The love of Christ that we see in this godly act is a continuous plea for us to live the Word.

2 Corinthians 5:21
For he [God] has made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin [a sin offering] for [in behalf of] us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

We are made right before God by the sin offering of Jesus Christ in behalf of us. His life was given as a substitute for our sin that we might walk righteous before God. Now we have the opportunity as ambassadors for Christ to reconcile men and women to God in Christ's behalf. Considering what he did in behalf of us, the ministry of reconciliation is the least we can do in his stead.

Galatians 1:4
Who [Jesus Christ] gave himself for [in behalf of] our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

God promised a redeemer in Genesis 3:15. Jesus Christ acted in accordance with God's will and gave himself in behalf of us. Now we are delivered from this evil world. What a substitute!

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for [in behalf of] me.

Christ was our substitute and we have an identification with him. When he died we died with him. When he was buried we were buried with him. When he was raised from the dead we were raised with him. And when he was seated at the right hand of God we were seated with him. The life that we now live we live recognizing our identification with Christ, our substitute.

Ephesians 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for [in behalf of] us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Throughout the epistles written to us the love of Christ in giving himself in our behalf is seen as reason for us to walk and live for him.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who died for [in behalf of] us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Jesus Christ died in behalf of us and we will live eternally with him thanks to his substitution.

1 Timothy 2:5-6
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Who gave himself a ransom for [in behalf of] all, to be testified in due time.

Jesus Christ paid the price, the ransom, in behalf of us. He is the only way for men to get back to God. He is the mediator between God and man. He is our substitute.