Every other one, other than Christ, who was dead but was brought back to life would die a “natural” death again at some point in the future. For example, Lazarus and many others that the Bible tells us was raised from the dead by Christ, was giving additional time on Earth; however, they would succumb to physical death at some point. Christ in his compassion performed these miracles and many others of healing and casting out demons, as for the ‘saints that rose’ on resurrection morning they were to be a witness and testimony to the power of Christ alone. Only the Lord has the power of life. All the other world’s religions and their leaders do not have a risen Lord like Christians have in Jesus. This event also points us to the day when Christ will return and gather the saints that have fallen to sleep along with the saints that are living; for this is our hope. It is at this time all those whose names are written in the Book of Life receive the reward of everlasting life.
The plan of salvation involves the Son of God, who miraculously became flesh, being born of a virgin, taking on our humanity, and then dying in our place – bearing the eternal consequences of sin so we can be reconciled with God (John 3:16-17). Through Him, humanity can find atonement for our sins, as He was willing to be our substitute, suffering the condemnation that should have been meant for us. While on earth, Jesus also lived a sinless life of love so we could have an example to live by. His life, death and resurrection made way for our salvation and shows us what love really looks like.
Jesus came to experience life as we do, as 100% human. Out of love for every single one of us, He chose to be stripped of His glory (Philippians 2:6-8), and was given no advantage over us when it came to living a life without sinning (Isaiah 53:2).
“The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14), but this made Him no less divine. Jesus was still 100% God (John 1:1).
This concept, that Jesus is 100% God and 100% human, can be mind boggling. But this was necessary in God’s plan to deliver us from the grip of sin while the great controversy rages on – meaning both good and evil surround us daily, warring against one another.
Jesus, as part of the Godhead, had to live a perfect life. So that His innocent blood could cover our sins and make it possible for us to inherit eternal life.
Philippians 2:6-8 says that even though Jesus is God, He set His diving nature aside and took on human nature. He came to serve us -to show God’s love to us and to live as our example. He came to minister to people through his perfectly obedient life. He obeyed the Father in every way, even when it led to a humiliating death on a cross.
If Jesus had any advantage through His divinity; His life, death, and resurrection would not have served its purpose! Christ came to prove the love and fairness of God the Father.
His death in our place would mean nothing if He used His divinity to overcome sin that was presented before him. He faced every temptation and hardship known to man (Hebrews 4:15) and relied solely on the Holy Spirit for His strength. And we have access to this same power (Romans 8:26-27).
Jesus can relate to any of our struggles because of what He went through for our sake. He makes for a perfect Mediator for us. Think about how His life went:
He was born in humble condition. Back in Eden, after sin entered our world, God gave Adam and Eve the promise of a Savior. In spite of the many prophecies foretelling Jesus’ mission to be “The Lamb of God,” most of the world was looking in the wrong direction. They were looking for a powerful king who would fee them from the oppression of the Romans.
PP. But Scripture was clear: He was to be born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14), 9:6) in the town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). His mother, Mary, gave birth to Him in a stable, and laid Him in a manger (Luke 2:7).
PP. The only welcome he received was from humble shepherds at the prompting of angels (Luke 2:15-20).
He did not grow up among privilege. From His meager beginnings, He was raised in Nazareth, a town of insignificant if not poor reputation (John 1:46).
PP. From what we know in the Bible, Jesus grew up among the poor. He spent time with His mother learning from the scriptures. He worked alongside Joseph, learning his trade (Mark 6:3).
PP. He spent time growing interpersonal relationships. And we know that He was aware of His mission at an early age (Luke 2:49). PP “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
He was homeless and penniless. As an adult, Jesus focused on His ministry instead of gaining wealth or setting up a home. He ‘became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9), with “nowhere to lay His head” (Luke 9:58).
He was bullied by religious leaders. Jesus was constantly quoting Scripture, preaching love, healing the sick, and encouraging people to repent of their sins and focus on God. Yet, the Pharisees did not like the amount of influence He had.
PP. Their pride and hypocrisy led them to watch Jesus’ every move (Mark 2:16) and try to find ways to incriminate Him (Luke 13:12-16).
He was tempted by the devil himself. Jesus even dealt with direct temptation from Satan, who tried to get Him to doubt who He was and what he was on earth to accomplish (Matthew 4:1-11).
Christ’s ministry on earth. When Jesus was around 30 years old, He began His dedicated ministry. With His mission to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10), He lived the rest of His life “taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7) to everyone.
PP. Though disadvantaged in every earthly way, Jesus gave freely. He gave his time. He gave His energy. He gave peace and healing. He gave love.
PP. There are so many examples of Jesus healing the sick. He healed the blind (Matthew 20:30), deaf, mute (Mark 7:31-37), and crippled (Luke 5:17-26). He healed the diseased (Mark 5:25-34)) and leprous (Luke 17:11-19).
PP. He also cast out demons (Matthew 8:16) and even rased the dad (Luke 7:11-17).
PP. “The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing” (Matthew 15:30-31).
PP. And Jesus traveled, visiting other cities and countries and people groups, “teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness” (Matthew 9:35).
PP. Jesus often drew a crowd with His sermons and parables (Matthew 5-7). He spent considerable time, sharing good news with the poor (Matthew 11:5), and many others who were considered outcasts. He spent more time with everyday people than with those of high status – many of whom were corrupt and prideful.
PP. But Jesus did confront the misguided religious leadership of His day (Matthew 23; John 8:1-11). All this while training His disciples to carry on His work after His death (Matthew 11:1, 2816-20).
PP. Even while busy with all that, Jesus was intentional about His relationships with His disciples. They spent time getting to know each other while traveling, or in their family homes (Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:29).
PP. Jesus took the time to have private conversations with those who needed Him (John 3:1-21). He felt the needs of the people.
PP. He fed the hungry (John 6:1-14). He touched the untouchable (Matthew 8:3).
PP. He ate dinner with the outcasts of society (Luke 15:1).
PP. He welcomed the involvement of children (Matthew 19:14).
PP. Down to every last moment, each part of Jesus’ life and ministry was a demonstration of the Father’s love for us (John 14:9-11).
Every move, every word was made to bring us back to His original plan for that relationship.
Christ’s death. The substitutional death of Jesus Christ is the ultimate sacrifice – the most loving, selfless act conceivable toward humanity (John 15:13).
PP. The Israelites made sacrifices at the temple as part of the temple service. It was a foretelling of ‘the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world’ (John 1:29, Leviticus 17:11).
PP. But, even His disciples were so focused on their current lives that they still missed the point after Jesus told them plainly (Matthew 16:21-23). His mission was to save the world from sin, not to save the Jews from the Romans.
PP. And the time had come for Jesus to fulfill the final parts of His ministry. While celebrating The Passover (Exodus 12) with His disciples, He knew it would be His last supper with them before He was put to death.
PP. He was the sacrificial lamb (Luke 22:!5; 1 Cor. 5:7) that the ceremonial sacrifices in the Old Testament pointed toward. And He knew the religious leaders’ evil plot to have him killed was already in motion (Matthew 26:15, 26:23-25).
PP. So at this meal, now called the Lord’s Supper, Jesus tried once more to tell His disciples why He must die (Luke 22:!9, Matthew 26:28).
PP. Even throughout the rest the story in Matthew 26, Peter and the other disciples still did not understand that Jesus had to pay the price for our sins in order for, who are sinners, to be a part of God’s family again.
PP. Fortunately, Peter understood this significance later when he wrote, (1Peter 1:18-19).
PP. Christ died a criminal’s death in our place (Philippians 2:8). Crucifixion was the punishment reserved for the worst offenders. And the corrupt religious leaders of the time abused their power to portray Jesus as a criminal.
PP. Jesus was crucified between two thieves (Matthew 27:38). One man recognized who Jesus was and asked for salvation. Based on the story of the thief on the cross, we also know that it is never too late to accept the gift of grace and mercy! (Luke 23:42).
PP. What makes this truly remarkable is that while we, as sinners, have broken the law, Jesus did not (Isaiah 53:9). Yet He willingly took on our consequences (John 15:12-13).
PP. Jesus’ death on the cross was the ultimate expression of God’s love (John 10:30).
PP. When Christ died, the veil in the temple separating the Holy from the Most Holy Place was torn (Matthew 27:50-51). The sacrificial system that had pointed to Christ’s death had been fulfilled.
PP. We no longer have a need for an earthly priest, for we have a heavenly High Priest, but can approach God directly because of what Jesus did for us (Hebrews 10:16-22). The Holy of Holies is now accessible to all.
PP. Sin had separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2), but He chose us in spite of the cost. He loves us and takes pleasure in us, and it was His will that we be restored into a loving relationship with Him (1 John 4:10).
Christ’s resurrection. We have a God who is not only willing to go to such great lengths to save us, but who is also powerful enough to overcome death. Christ’s story does not end with death, but with resurrection and life! (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 20-22).
PP. Our Savior has over come sin and death. He rose on the third day and instead of creating a big fanfare, He appeared to two women before anyone else (Mark 16:7; John 20:11-18). Mary Magdalene was even considered an outcast by society.
PP. So why would Jesus appear to her first? To answer this question, we must consider the parallels between John 20 and Genesis 3.
PP. Both stories took place in a garden. Both stories are about women. One was sinless yet was deceived and allowed sin to enter our world. The other was sinful yet sought forgiveness.
PP. Eve was ashamed and tried to hide in the garden from an encounter with God. Mary, when she realized the gardener was Jesus, tried to embrace God in the garden of the tomb.
PP. In Genesis 3 the angels were sent to bar access to the Tree of Life. In John 20 angels were sent to announce that Jesus was risen – that He is indeed “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6)!
PP. God wants us to know that He has completely overcome Eden’s curse (Romans 5:12m 18-19).
PP. His resurrection is the triumph over evil and death. Jesus has crushed the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). When He said, “It is finished,” His work of salvation was done (John 19:30).
PP. He took a Sabbath rest in the grave. Then He rose again the next day to triumphantly sit on His throne at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3).
PP. While Satan maliciously called God’s perfect and loving character into question,, in His infinite wisdom God allowed sin to play out so that no one would ever doubt His goodness and love again. Evil at the height of its power met love at the height of His power on the cross, and God won!
PP. Satan had a claim over all of us because we are all sinnners, but Jesus broke the bonds of sin and death (1 John 3:8).
PP. Jesus has overcome sin. He promises that His blood has covered our transgressions (Colossians 1:20). That is why we can look forward to His second coming and judgement day ((1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; See also Revelation 20:6).
PP. Jesus’ perfect life, selfless death, and triumphal resurrection is the Gospel – the good news. His story is one of healing, hope, and love; a story we sinners so desperately need. Jesus was sent to this earth to reveal God’s true character. Understanding God’s character is the foundation of having a real relationship with Him. God the Father sent Jesus to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10) because He loves you. (John 3:16-17).
PP = Patriarchs and Prophets