Not long ago I was speaking to someone about a court case that had come to completion. The verdict had been delivered, and the family commented that they were “satisfied” with the decision. 

The language struck me – to be satisfied with the verdict is something that we get from the Bible. While the word “satisfaction” or “satisfied” rarely occurs in connection with the cross, the idea is prevalent. At the cross of Christ, God’s wrath was satisfied. 

Many have objected to this language, making it seem like God is a blood-thirsty, vengeful deity whose rage has boiled out of control. But that is not the picture of Scripture. So what is this satisfaction that the cross accomplishes?