The Cross: Divine Justice Satisfied

"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree." 1 Peter 2:24

Certainly the whole punishment of body and soul which was
due unto us--Christ our Redeemer suffered. Our blessed Savior
bore all the sins of the elect. He suffered the whole punishment
which was due unto us--which we would have endured, if He had
not atoned for our sins. He felt the anguish of soul, and horror
of God's wrath--and in soul, experienced the torments of hell
for us--and sustained them and vanquished them!

All the pains, torments, curse, and wrath which were due to
the elect--fell on Christ, until divine justice was fully satisfied.
Though Christ did not suffer eternal death for sinners--yet He
suffered that which was equivalent, and therefore the justice
of God is wholly appeased by His death. Christ's infinite
excellency and glory, made His short sufferings to be of
infinite worth, and equivalent to our everlasting sufferings.

Jesus suffered that which was necessary for our redemption,
namely--that torment of hell which we had deserved, and
which the justice of God required that He should endure for
our redemption. He endured that bitter pain which we
deserved to suffer eternally.

Christ, by His death . . .
satisfied divine justice,
pacified divine wrath,
brought in an everlasting righteousness, and
accomplished the eternal salvation of His people!

(Thomas Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")