He did not die in vain

 

God in control – the death of Jesus Christ

Some think of the death of Jesus as a mistake or tragedy. Looking deeper than the surface tells a very different reality.

God was working through Jesus Christ to achieve a very great thing – reconciling the world to Himself, even by the crucifixion of Jesus. Please ponder some important points.

1     1       The death of the Messiah was predicted, not as a matter of fate, but prophesied as a matter of purpose.

eg “ All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”  Isaiah 53:6

2        2   Jesus predicted His own death

Jesus said “ we are going to Jerusalem, and everything written about the Son of man by the prophets will be accomplished. For He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully entreated and spit upon. After flogging Him they will kill Him and on the third day he will rise again.”  Luke 18:31

3        3   In the Gospel written by John, the Lord Jesus several times speaks of being ‘lifted up’ to achieve a particular purpose. 

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.” John 3.14

4       4    The night before the betrayal, Jesus told His followers so many things that were about to happen. I suggest you read through Luke 22 and mark each one. eg “ a new covenant in My blood”.   Peter “ you will three times deny that you know me”.    “The scripture must be fulfilled - He was numbered with the transgressors.”

5        5   When the guards arrived to arrest Jesus, instead of leaving like He did on other occasions, rather He said to them, “this is your hour and the power of darkness” – identifying Satan’s influence

6       6    When Pilate the governor made claim to power over Jesus, the answer was clear – “You would have no authority over me at all, unless it had been given you from above.” John 19.11

7       7    The habit of the soldiers, to hasten the death of those crucified was to brake their legs so that they could not breath any more. When they came to Jesus they did not break His legs, but pierce His side instead. Why? Because God had said of the sacrificial lamb “a bone of it shall not be broken”!  and again another scripture – “They shall look on Him whom they have pierced”  Zechariah 12

8       8    Even in His burial, God superintended for a rich man to provide a clean tomb for Jesus body – “with the rich in His death”.  Isaiah 53.9

 

Peter summed it up so very well: “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.” Acts 3,29

 

Paul writing by the Holy Spirit wrote  “ The Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins, to deliver us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”  Galatians 1,4

 

Indeed He did not die in vain!

johnmckee@internode.on.net