We are at the time of the year
when Christians boldly celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus
Christ. This is 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 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 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
people who had died in the past rose from the dead and walked about
encountering people in Jerusalem. And
not just any dead people – no, holy people!
Imagine what that might have been like!
The dead rising and walking about.
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)
(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.
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!
(MARCH 2018)
Copyright © 2018 by John
Newlin
(All scriptures are from the
NIV.)
