But We See Jesus – Part Two

 

   

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Jealousy, like poison, ruled their hearts. Although these chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things He did and heard the joyful squeals of children crying out, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” the blackness in their souls kept them from believing. Envy mixed with rage hurled words like daggers. “We must kill this heretic,” they said.

 

Satan stood in their midst, snickering. His plan to destroy the Son of God was nearing consummation. Slaying the Son would expel the Almighty, and Satan would be freed from his temporary prison to fully rule earth, its inhabitants, and soon, heaven.

 

Passover was at hand, and Satan saw his chance when Judas pocketed donated coins. Entering this disciple, he compelled him to strike a deal with the chief priests. For thirty pieces of silver, Judas would betray his Messiah.

 

Madness tormented as he led the soldiers to Jesus and identified the Holy One with a kiss. Throughout the night, during one sham trial after another, Satan and his minions incited the multitudes until they cried, “Crucify Him, crucify Him.”

 

Beaten and scourged, marred almost beyond recognition, Jesus arrived at Calvary—the Place of a Skull. With each chink of the hammer pounding great spikes through His hands and feet, Satan gloated.

 

At 9 AM, the cross dropped into place. Jesus convulsed with excruciating pain, His blood splattered, and Satan laughed. Three hours later, darkness fell. Satan reveled, knowing this Light of the World was extinguishing. Then out of the inky blackness came a strange earthquake. Graves opened, and the 70-foot-high temple veil ripped in two from top to bottom. Concerned, Satan chose not to worry.

 

The ninth hour struck. Jesus cried in a loud voice, “It is finished,” and breathed His last.

 

Satan danced. But after three days and nights in the tomb, this Savior, God the Son, RESURRECTED—conquering death—defeating Satan.[1]

 

But why resurrection?

 

By God’s own Law, sin had a penalty—death. And remission – forgiveness of sin – required the shedding of a lamb’s blood.[2] Jesus—fully God[3], who is Spirit[4] and cannot die, came in flesh so He could die in our place.[5] This sinless Lamb paid sin’s penalty for us.[6]

 

His Spirit could have just returned to heaven after paying our ransom since, upon death, our spirit is present with the Lord. But that would have left our mortal bodies out, for flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.[7]

 

But we see Jesus—the Captain of our Salvation—made perfect through suffering.[8]

 

What did our loving God do? He RESURRECTED—His mortal body transformed into immortal. His corruptible put on incorruption—evidence of Jesus conquering death and the grave.[9]

 

His HUMAN body RAISED incorruptible to be the FOREMOST—the firstborn from the dead.[10]

 

When we choose to believe and receive Jesus, we, too, have this hope of resurrection. Yet some will not die, but ALL true believers will be changed in the twinkling of an eye—raptured before the Tribulation.[11] At that moment, we enter heaven – not as spirits – but with immortal bodies like Jesus. Then we will see Him—the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David prevailing to OPEN the SCROLL and to LOOSE its seals—AS the LAMB slain from the foundation of the world with all His crucifixion scars.[12]

 

But heaven apart from earth is not the end. Jesus is returning to this earth before the Day of Judgment to set up His millennial kingdom. And we, with resurrected bodies, return with Him.[13]

 

Maybe this sounds fanciful and made up to you, and the message of the cross, foolishness. Yet God has chosen the foolish, weak, insignificant, and despised things of this world to confound the wise. Why—so no flesh glories in His presence—AND—that your faith should not be in the wisdom of man but in the power of God.[14]

 

Please, see Jesus and live.

 

Have a Blessed Resurrection Day,

 

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[1] Composite of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

[2] Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:27

[3] Colossians 2:9

[4] John 4:24

[5] John 1:1, 14

[6] John 1:29

[7] I Corinthians 15:50

[8] Hebrews 2:9-10

[9] I Corinthians 15:53-54

[10] Colossians 1:17-18

[11] I Corinthians 15:51-52

[12] Revelation 5:5-7; Revelation 6:1

[13] Revelation 19:11-14

[14] I Corinthians 1:18-29