Today the world around us, even many of those who do not believe in Christ and His redemptive work, will celebrate Easter. Families gather and great feasts are prepared. This year’s season is a little unique, for it is said that this past Friday (many call it Good Friday) is the chronological time of year when Jesus died on the cross. This holiday that so many celebrate, is intended to draw our attention to the empty tomb of Jesus. It must have been an extraordinary day! A victorious day for all those who would come to place their faith in Him as Lord and Savior.
Over the years I have sought to focus on His resurrection on this day, but not today. Last week’s scripture reading caught my attention. First, from Acts 2:36 we heard, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Then, in Acts 3:13 we heard, “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.” Finally, in Acts 4:10 we heard, “…let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.” This day of victory that so many celebrate came at an enormous cost (1st Corinthians 6:20). It is that cost that I wish to reflect on today. Let us go back to couple of days before resurrection day. The arduous task of the cross begins to unfold as Jesus enters the garden of Gethsemane to pray. Then, the sound of footsteps…
“But Jesus asked him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’” (Luke 22:48)
Even though Jesus knew that all would desert Him (Mark 14:50), this betrayal is still beyond comprehension. Three years he had walked with Jesus, watched His miracles, listened to His words, yet money was more important to him (John 12:6). Then, there is the betrayal of Peter, which I spoke of a couple of weeks ago. Three times he would betray Jesus as He journeyed to the cross. To think that those He loved would simply disown Him. What humiliation! But that was just the beginning of His of it all. The first night after He was arrested by the Romans, “They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, ‘Prophesy! Who hit You?’ And they said many other blasphemous things against Him” (Luke 22:64-65). At daybreak He faces the religious leaders who take little time to convict Him in their own minds (Luke 22:71). Now they bring Him before Pilate, to no avail, for he saw “no fault in this Man” (Luke 23:4). This infuriated the religious leaders, but once Pilate heard “Galilee,” he saw a cowardly way out, “he sent Him to Herod” (Luke 23:7). Herod questions Jesus, but He does not reply (Luke 23:9). All the while, the religious leaders “vehemently accused Him” (Luke 23:10). The mocking continued, only this time it was Herod and his men of war. Back to Pilate He goes, who again states, “I have found no basis at all in the case of this man for the charges which you are bringing against Him…nothing deserving of death” (Luke 23:14). Planning to release Him, for it was customary to do so during the feast, but the people had other plans, “And they all cried out at once, saying, ‘Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas’— who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.” (Luke 23:18-19). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, carried His cross before we would be invited to do likewise. He would lay on that cross with His arms stretched out and nails driven through His hands. And then His legs would be crossed and a final nail driven through His feet. Now hanging on that cruel cross, beaten, and humiliated, He prays, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). Then, the Creator of time, takes control of their vicious attempts to undermine the work of God, saying, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46) and takes His last breath.
Little did the world around Him know, this seemingly tragic outcome was God’s plan from the very beginning (Ephesians 1:4). The apostle Peter would soon write, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit…” (1st Peter 3:18). Jesus had to go to the cross and give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). Why? 1st Peter 2:24, “He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.” Isaiah prophesied this, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Our sins! Our iniquities! He did all of this for us…for you. There is truly no greater love in the world than that of Jesus (John 15:13; Romans 5:8). Happy resurrection day.
Biddeford Church of Christ 