The Cross and the Resurrection

Some today might say,

"Yes, in certain situations, I would die for another."

Police and firefighters risk their lives.

These dangerous jobs are done basically for strangers.

Paul wrote,

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. Romans 5:7

Wouldn't most parents lay down their lives to protect their children?

For those of us who have thought about sacrificing our lives for our loved ones, do we live UNSELFISHLY toward them now?

Wouldn't that be great?

But reality says, 

"I'm as selfish as the next person. I wish I weren't but I have needs and wants, too."

So, what can be said about the historical figure who millions say,

"Died for our sins"?

Other millions say that Jesus, son of Mary, did NOT die on a cross.

Other millions say that Jesus of Nazareth John 19:19 was an innocent man that was killed. 

But many innocent people in the eyes of their communities have died in the history of the world.

Was this Jesus only an innocent man, Luke 23:4, 13-15 perhaps a great teacher, John 7:15, 46 or a revolutionary? Luke 23:5

What's the big deal?

IF the Bible were true in what it says about the cross of Christ, would it be important?

What would the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ do for you and me, IF His death on it happened?

Consider these ideas --

For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

Those alive at that time were ungodly and all humanity that lived after that also were sinners. Romans 3:23

Jesus still died for these.

Why?

God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. Romans 3:25

JESUS PREDICTED IT

"Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes.

They will condemn Him to death and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified.

And on the third day He will be raised to life." Matthew 20:18-19

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." John 10:11

"The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again.

No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord.

I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.

This charge I have received from My Father." John 10:17-18

DID JESUS REALLY DIE?

And they crucified Him.

They also divided His garments by casting lots to decide what each of them would take.

It was the third hour when they crucified Him.

And the charge inscribed against Him read:

THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Along with Jesus, they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left. Mark 15:24-27

But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.

And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

When the centurion [leader of Roman soldiers] standing there in front of Jesus saw how He had breathed His last, he said,

"Truly this man was the Son of God!" Mark 15:37-39

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate [governor of Judea Luke 3:1] to ask for the body of Jesus.

Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, so he summoned the centurion to ask if this was so.

When Pilate had confirmed it with the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. Mark 15:43-45

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and those of the other.

But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.

Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out.

The one who saw it [John] has testified to this, and his testimony is true.

He knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. John 19:32-35 

Roman soldiers knew that Jesus died on their cross.

Jesus knew what was happening as He hung there.

It was sinful what people did to Him.

Jesus answered, "You [Pilate] would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above.

Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin." John 19:11

So, what did Jesus do?

Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

And they divided up His garments by casting lots. Luke 23:34

GREAT PLAN OF SALVATION 

He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. Acts 2:23

Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, Whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ! Acts 2:36

GOD ON THE CROSS?

Did the first followers really believe that Jesus of Nazareth, nailed to and then killed on a Roman cross, was God Who had taken on human flesh?

Some modern critics dispute that.

Some religious groups reject that.

Or some say that Jesus became divine as God the Father did and that their believers will also.

Others claim that Jesus was written about as divine to keep the Christian movement going.

But what did the early followers of Jesus Whom they called, "God's Messiah" Matthew 16:16; John 1:41, 45 believe and write about Him?

MATTHEW was a tax collector Matthew 10:2-4 who was one of the original 12 who followed Jesus and wrote,

But after he [Joseph] had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,

"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet [Isaiah]:

"Behold, the virgin will be with child

and will give birth to a son,

and they will call Him Immanuel"

(which means, "God with us"). Matthew 1:20-23

Matthew believed that Jesus was God with us humans.

MARK may have been with Jesus when He was arrested to be crucified. Mark 14:45-52

His gospel has this --

But Jesus remained silent and made no reply.

Again the high priest questioned Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"

"I am," said Jesus, "and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven."

At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared,

"Why do we need any more witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?"

And they all condemned Him as deserving of death. Mark 14:61-64

Why did the high priest and the other Jewish leaders believe that Jesus had spoken blasphemy that was guilty of death?

Jesus confessed only that He was the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One [God the Father].

The religious leaders interpreted this to mean that Jesus claimed that as God's Son, He made Himself equal with God. John 5:16-18

They also understood this to be a reference to predictions about the Messiah such as,

For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given,

and the government will be upon His shoulders.

And He will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on the throne of David

and over his kingdom,

to establish and sustain it

with justice and righteousness

from that time and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7

Any claim of this Sonship would be blasphemous to them since it would mean that God Himself in the form of Jesus was walking among them, which they wouldn't believe was possible.

OTHER WITNESSES

LUKE wrote that what had happened to Jesus, he had a perfect understanding through careful investigation of it all. Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1 

He wrote that evil spirits, demons, knew Who Jesus was.

At sunset, all who were ill with various diseases were brought to Jesus, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them.

Demons also came out of many people, shouting,

"You are the Son of God!"

But He rebuked the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ. Luke 4:40-41

Luke quoted Jesus Who said that Scriptures pointed to Himself.

"O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?"

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself. Luke 24:25-27

Jesus said to them [disciples],

"These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms."

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:44-45

JOHN was one of the first disciples of Jesus. Matthew 4:18-22

Take a look at the record of John about Jesus.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was with God in the beginning. 

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.

We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-2, 14

John believed that the Word of God was and is God, Who became flesh, Jesus, Who John the Baptist pointed to. John 1:6-8

From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known. John 1:16-18

DID JESUS BELIEVE HE WAS CHRIST/MESSIAH and MORE?

The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us."

Jesus answered, "I Who speak to you am He." John 4:25-26

"Truly, truly, I [Jesus] tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

For as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted the Son to have life in Himself." John 5:25-26

"Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad."

Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?"

"Truly, truly, I tell you," Jesus declared, "before Abraham was born, I am!"

At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area. John 8:56-59

Why did they want to stone Jesus to death for saying this?

They must have believed that He meant that He was the "I am Who I am," meaning the Lord Almighty. 

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" Exodus 3:14

This blasphemy was a capital crime worthy of death by stoning. Leviticus 24:16

But Jesus kept making claims about His identity.

"I and the Father are one." John 10:30

Jesus said to her [Martha], "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies." John 11:25

Then Jesus cried out, "Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me.

And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me." John 12:44-45

Jesus replied, "Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me?

Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.

How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?" John 14:9

JOHN'S REVELATION

This is considered by most scholars to be the last book of the New Testament that was written.

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass.

He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, who testifies to everything he saw.

This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 1:1-2

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," [first and last] says the Lord God, Who is and was and is to come—the Almighty." Revelation 1:8

When I saw Him [Jesus], I fell at His feet like a dead man.

But He placed His right hand on me and said,

"Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, the Living One.

I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades." Revelation 1:17-18

"Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." Revelation 22:12-13

Maybe we also doubt as at least one Matthew 28:16-17 of Jesus' disciples did, THOMAS. John 20:24-25

Then Jesus said to Thomas,

"Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe."

Thomas replied, "My Lord and my God!" John 20:27-28

PAUL'S TESTIMONY OF JESUS

This man was a blasphemer, persecutor of Christians, and violent Acts 8:3; 9:1; 22:4; 26:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:13 until the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him. Acts 9:3-9; 26:12-20

Paul claimed that his teaching wasn't from other humans.

For I certify to you, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man.

I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:11-12

What did Paul know and proclaim about Jesus?

Was He crucified and killed?

Was He God in a body?

Theirs [people of Israel Romans 9:4] are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, Who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen. Romans 9:5

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. Galatians 3:1

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped [or exploited]. Philippians 2:5-6

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity [God] dwells in bodily form. Colossians 2:9

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word.

After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Hebrews 1:3

But about the Son He says:

"Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever,

and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom." Hebrews 1:8

In the beginning, O Lord [speaking of the Son from Hebrews 1:8], You laid the foundations of the earth,

and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

[This is what Moses also wrote about God the Father. Psalm 90:2]

They will perish, but You remain;

they will all wear out like a garment.

You will roll them up like a robe;

like a garment they will be changed;

but You remain the same,

and Your years will never end. Hebrews 1:10-12

Paul believed, preached, Acts 26:22-23; 28:23 and wrote what Moses did, too:

"From everlasting to everlasting, You [the Father and the Son] are God." Psalm 90:1-2

Paul believed that as God the Father is the Savior, so is the Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior.

In His own time He has made His word evident in the proclamation entrusted to me [Paul] by the command of God our Savior.

To Titus, my true child in our common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. Titus 1:3-4

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared. Titus 3:4

This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 3:6

Paul believed that Jesus Christ is God and Savior.

As we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13

PETER HAD NO DOUBTS

Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.

We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God." John 6:68-69

Peter knew the identity of Jesus.

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours. 2 Peter 1:1

So, God on the cross, Jesus, dies a sacrificial death to put away sin. Colossians 1:20-23; 2:14; Hebrews 9:26 

And by that will, we have been sanctified [separated, made holy] through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. Hebrews 10:10-12

RESURRECTION REALITY

Peter preached,

"Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne.

Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay.

God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses." Acts 2:29-32

"Why are you troubled," Jesus asked, "and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet.

While they were still in disbelief because of their joy and amazement, He asked them,

"Do you have anything here to eat?"

So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it in front of them. Luke 24:38-43 

Peter proclaimed again, 

"God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen—

not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank John 21:12-14 with Him after He rose from the dead." Acts 10:40-41

Paul wrote,

That He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

and that He appeared to Cephas [Peter] and then to the Twelve. Acts 1:21-26

After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

And last of all He appeared to me [Paul] also, as to one of untimely birth. 1 Corinthians 15:4-8

JESUS ALIVE: WHAT IT MEANS NOW

Now the words "it was credited to him" were written not only for Abraham,

but also for us, to whom righteousness [right standing with God] will be credited—for us who believe in Him [God the Father] Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

He was delivered over to death for our trespasses [wrongdoings, sins] and was raised to life for our justification [guilt-free position]. Romans 4:23-25

This is what the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Resurrection can do for you and me.

Let's believe.

Your thoughts?

R. Jason