We are at the time of the year when Christians boldly celebrate the single greatest moment in human history - the redemption of humanity, the reestablishment of a relationship between people and God for all those who want that relationship.
It is good to focus on a specific time every year to remember with special concentration and praise and gratitude this greatest gift imaginable. For all who know Jesus as their Lord, it is the gift of hope and of a wonderful future. It is the gift of expectation of a life with Jesus and the Father. It is the gift of waiting for the blessed arrival of the Lord to collect his believers.
In chapter 10 of our book WAKE UP AMERICA! I wrote of many amazing things Jesus did, most of which were done by his going to and through the cross. Our CDs with the title WHAT DID JESUS DO? and our television programs by the title WHAT DID JESUS ACCOMPLISH? on both YOUTUBE and our website cover those amazing things. Past newsletters of December 2017, March 2014, and March 2008 cover this and can be found in the newsletter archives on the website. I recommend your going to one of these sources to focus on all this again this Easter season.
Several years ago I wrote an article which I have modified slightly below, and I think we need to read it now. It deals specifically with some of the actual events of the crucifixion that not everyone knows. I include it here for you as we again approach Easter. It is really beyond imagination and human comprehension what Jesus did. Only a perfect being could have served as a perfect sacrifice for a perfect God, and Jesus filled the role. Only he could have done it, and he did.
JESUS, THE CROSS, and RESURRECTION
It was at this very time almost 2000 years ago that Jesus took upon himself all our sins – all our iniquities – as well as all our sicknesses and diseases and pain and overcame it all. Imagine the burden he bore. He overcame death. He overcame the world. Yes, he was the son of God and indeed that is why his death on the cross, his sacrifice, could accomplish what it did. He was the only sinless person ever to live. He alone could atone for the sins and corruption of humanity.
Most of us know some of the general account of Jesus and the cross. But I thought perhaps for a moment it might be interesting and worthwhile to note a few less quoted aspects of the account. All are from the Bible but most are generally overlooked or not reported accurately. Consider:
(1) It is horrible to contemplate, but in going to and through the cross Jesus’ appearance eventually became disfigured beyond recognition as a human being, as a man. Are you aware of that? So the movie a few years ago called THE PASSION did not begin to show how horribly he was beaten. Part of the disfiguring no doubt also had to do with the incredible burden of corrupt humanity that he was bearing, the sins and sicknesses of all people forever.
Just as there were many who were appalled at him. His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness (Isaiah 52:14)
(2) Jesus died at three in the afternoon. When that happened, tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. After Jesus’ resurrection they came out of the tombs and went into Jerusalem and appeared to many people. Note that these were not just any dead people – no, holy people! Imagine what that might have been like! The dead rising and walking about the city.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.(Matthew 27:51-53)
This curtain that was torn in two is said to have been four inches thick and sixty feet high. Tearing it in two was far beyond the abilities of any human being.
(3) The centurion and those guarding Jesus at the cross exclaimed at seeing all that happened after his death that surely he was the Son of God.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God! (Matthew 27:54)
(4) When Jesus was arrested in the garden, the soldiers and officials who came for him said they were looking for “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus responded “I am he” and the power of that response and his presence knocked them to the ground! They all knew they were dealing with something and someone beyond anything they had ever known. Obviously, Jesus could only be arrested by his allowing it to happen. (In the original Greek of the New Testament, what Jesus actually said was “ego eimi,” or “I am,” the same words identifying himself that God said to Moses in identifying himself.)
When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. (John 18:6)
(5) Pilate’s wife warned him to have nothing to do with the innocent Jesus:
While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” (Matthew 27:19)
(6) After his arrest, Jesus responded to the high priest’s questioning him by affirming that indeed he was the Christ, the Son of God.
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven. (Matthew 26:63-64)
Jesus is quoted on the same moment in Mark 14: 61-62 this way:
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Jesus did not hide who he was and was specific in dealing with these blind religious leaders.
(7) In Mark, Matthew, and Luke Pilate asked Jesus if he was the king of the Jews, and Jesus is quoted in each book as answering: “Yes, it is as you say.”
In John, Jesus was more specific –
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:36-37)
May God bless each of you as you again celebrate the monumental accomplishment of the Son of God and the Son of Man. And may you have an ever greater revelation of who he was and is and who you are in him.
April 2022
Copyright © 2022 by John Newlin
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