Death Of Jesus Christ the Lord

 

Why is the death of Jesus Christ the Lord so important?

 

1.   1  It is mentioned directly by the prophet Isaiah and David. It is typified in the sacrifices of Abraham and Moses.

2.  2  Jesus Himself said He would be killed. He also explained before it happened that His death had a greater purpose – Forgiveness, ransom, and as the Good Shepherd He would lay down His life for His sheep.

3.   3 His death highlighted the brokenness of human nature – religious men refused to accept His claim to be “the Son of the Blessed” and condemned Him to die. The Roman judge, sent to crucifixion, one he had declared innocent. The crowd disregarded what great and good things He had done, calling for Him to be given the worst kind of death – crucifixion – so cruel in so many ways. How depraved mankind was and is.

4.   4The teaching of the Apostles by the Holy Spirit was clear, that this death had a distinct purpose –

Peter :  Jesus  as the Lamb of God paid the price to bring people back to God (1 Peter 1,3)

John: Fellowship with God is based on the cleansing (forgiveness) by the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son. (1 John 1,2)

Philip: Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53 ‘His life is taken from the earth’ to become the risen intercessor for all who believe in Him.

Paul: God showed His great love toward us  - “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5)

---- and so much more…….

 

I venture an illustration  (true parable)

I received a speeding fine in the mail! But I was not in the vehicle. My son was driving my car. One might have challenged the camera operator, or gone to court to argue that no-one was in danger. Or I could plead for pardon (which is possible in Australia).

But no – I made a choice to pay the debt and incur the demerit points myself – thus letting my son go free even though he was the guilty one.

Jesus knew too well how offensive my disobedience, disrespect, failure to worship, my sin…,   was to God . But He, in the person of Jesus, chose to pay the fine and let me go free! In gratitude I love Him and follow Him.

Indeed God has the prerogative to forgive, but He chose to liberate the guilty by suffering the penalty HIMSELF – the wages of sin is death, and Jesus Christ died for our sins. (1 Corinthians 15)

 5 The words of Jesus, many years after , are very significant:

“Fear not, I am the fist and the last, I am He that lives, and was dead; and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the keys of hell and death”   (Revelation 1:17). {so full of meaning – pause to ponder}

6  The death of Jesus justifies the holiness of God – He forgives – “the Just one dying for the unjust” (1 Peter3:18)

7  The death of Jesus makes judgement day more terrifying for unbelievers :- judged for sin that could have been forgiven, judged for rejecting  Jesus the Son of God, judged by the very person who died to offer complete salvation. (Revelation 20,  John 5,  Acts 17).

8 Today is the great day of salvation:

“To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His Name, whoever believes in Him shall receive forgiveness of sins.” (Peter – Acts 10:43)

johnmckee@internode.on.net

The empty tomb

 

An empty tomb.

Does it matter?  Yes and no!

No – we have on good authority the good news that by His death and resurrection all can be forgiven. By His resurrection the gift of eternal life is certain.

 

Yes – to know that Jesus died on Golgotha (Calvary) is important. {Islam denies it}.  The prophecies of the Old Testament Prophets, the predictions of Jesus, the records of historians, the writings of witnesses,  all testify that Jesus actually died. The Lord Jesus Himself gave the purpose.

“The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep”  John 10

Yes -To be assured that Jesus lives is fundamental. {denied by atheists, agnostics, infidels, naturalists}. If Jesus is dead, all hope is lost. But no one could produce the body of Jesus. The Roman guards, the Jewish detractors or anyone. The disciples were powerless and afraid. Only the women had the courage to try to anoint the body of the once crucified Lord.

-        To them the Angels said “ He is risen….” (Luke 24) shortly afterward the disciples said “we have seen the Lord”. The Lord Jesus Himself said to them – “look at my hands and my feet….”

-        As the Lord Jesus ascended up into the clouds, two angels announced to the puzzled disciples :

“This same Jesus taken away from you into heaven, He will return”  (Acts 1).

 

I have not been to Jerusalem to see the empty tomb. God has not given us many authentic items from the life of the Lord Jesus – no books, no clothing, no paintings – why?? - lest we worship them. Even the original writings of the Apostles as lost – again lest people worship the book instead of the Lord. {as happens in several religions}. The verification of the Bible is clear from the 5000 portion and copies.  The experience of knowing personally, the living Lord Jesus by the Holy Spirit is very real – He is very much alive.

The fulfillment of prophecy points to the return of one glorious person – Jesus, the Son of God, Jesus the lamb of God that was slain.

The word spoken to John is very appropriate:

“I am He the liveth, that was dead and behold I am alive forever more”

  (Revelation 1)

Who shall I vote for

 

Elections

Many people for many reasons are calling for voters, to vote for them. And some with good intentions.

But across the world , inequalities and greed seem to spoil democracies. Dictatorships are crumbling and chaos seems to be the order of the day . Propaganda  causes one to despair of knowing the truth of the matter.  Is there any hope?

Yes – the greatest lawgiver of all time was known as the meekest man on all the earth – Moses. Why so? – because he communicated the law for God = ‘under God’.

Yes – the greatest rescuer, deliverer, restorer of all time , humbled Himself to serve God and man  --  Jesus.  That one solitary life has brought hope, peace and purpose to more people around the world, than any other.

Voters look for a ‘strongman’. For brave ideologists, for articulate orators, for those who will benefit them most.

The Lord Jesus stooped to heal the sick, stopped to bless the children, went out of His way to rescue a stranger, disregarded His reputation in declaring the truth, didn’t shy away from suffering for the salvation of lost people.

 A leader?  Yes but so much more:

He gave moral teaching for society and as a leading shepherd He laid down His life for wayward sheep.  He cared most for the greater need for people to be reconnected with God.  His greatest gift was eternal life available to all who truly believe in Him.

Hope beyond today

 

An unusual verse from Isaiah 49:4

“My work all seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose at all. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.”

In this Messianic section, we are caused to ponder the three and half years that Jesus served among the people. And at the end it all seemed to be a failure. He died very much alone. It was resurrection that changed the story.

Is there someone reading this who feels the same pain? You have served God as best you are able, and the results are discouraging.

I know many who have yielded all for Christ and seemingly “failed”!

Read this verse in your own Bible. Then that remember the Lord God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ operates on the long range view and ‘everyone shall have praise of God’. In the day when the heavenly account keeper opens the books, then we’ll understand!

Who is this man

 

The Word

John 1  “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God….The Word was made flesh “

Written at a time when much of the dust had settled. The Jews had determined to oppose Christ and the Gnostics were being exposed. John writes about one he had known so well, now know fully by the Holy Spirit.

“In the beginning” – takes us back to Genesis 1, where God spoke and His word was effective in designing, creating and ordering His new creation.

Now John1:1 , the beginning is qualified as the outcome of a person , the Word, revealed in a visible person – “The word was made flesh and dwelt among us”. Emphatically the creation is the work of God.

 

“The Word was with God” – this expresses the companionship in the Deity.

“The Word was God” – many consider John the Apostle as going too far so they manipulate the text. But John states the same in his letter – “Jesus Christ , He is the true God”. The Jews understood the claim of Jesus “My Father” as claiming equality with God. So they took up stones to kill Him for blasphemy. Jesus went on to demonstrate by signs that His claim was valid. Thomas expressed it so clearly when he saw the risen Jesus – “My Lord and my God” (John 20).

“All things were made by Him.” He alone could make something precise out of nothing. A world so finely tuned! As Isaiah said “He made the world to be lived in. not a place of empty chaos.” (Isaiah 45). And so it was.

But darkness intruded and chaos followed. Who then could be the light to dispel the darkness? Moses was indeed a candle, and John the Baptiser a lamp. But of the Word – “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men”. As He  came , even in the form of a man, He was the light of the world.

Verse 14 “We have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.” This unique person who was radiating the glory of  God the Father, could say:- “He that has seen me has seen the Father”

So much more could be written, but it is appropriate that I kneel and worship Him :

 “my Lord and my God”.

The Law fulfilled

 

The Law…..

“The LORD has magnified His law and made it glorious. Through it He has planned to show the world that He is righteous”  Isaiah 42:21

This significant verse has two interpretations.

1. The law was given through Moses to reveal the righteous character of God.

-God Himself as Holy

-God relating Himself to humanity as righteous (righteous meaning—right actions in all situations)

This righteousness is seen in both the unbending commands as well as the high standards of reconciliation by sacrifice. (nothing less)

2. The law was given to man, to Israel and they failed to honour it by persistent idolatry.  The law was fully and finally honoured in the person of Jesus. His holiness undimmed, unstained, along with His righteous behaviour in accord with God’s will as appropriate to the need and situation.

Well might God the Father say from heaven:

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”  (Matthew 3)

Such could not be said of any other. 

And so the law is significant as a light to the nations.

The law has been fulfilled in the radiant Lord Jesus Christ. All may see the Holiness and grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

The application is  - how precious that the Christian  is “in Christ”.

 

The fruit of living in the Holy Spirit

 

Lesson for today.

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

 gentleness, self-control.

--These are the outcomes  (fruit) of what we believe:

God loves all the people of the world – so we love.

God is good and worthy of praise – so we are joyful

God is in control -  so we have peace trusting Him

God waits patiently for all to turn to Him – so we are patient with others.

God is kind , even giving His Son – so we are selflessly kind

God is good with no ulterior motive or sinister intent.

God is faithful , keeping His promises – so should we.

God is gentle, even with the rebellious – so we ought to react with mercy.

God needs no self control. He has no inappropriate impulse. But we do!