Death and Resurrection

Death and Resurrection
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

 

Who sent Jesus to the cross? Was it the Jewish leaders? Was it a mob? Was it the Roman government? None of these were powerful enough, influential enough, or persuasive enough to be able to do it. When Jesus spoke to Pilate, Jesus reminded him that he had no power to crucify Him even though Pilate thought he did as the Roman ruler. When the disciples tried to keep Jesus from being arrested, he reminded them that if He wanted to escape the cross He could call a multitude of angels to come and rescue Him. 

The One who sent Jesus to the cross was God the Father. This was the reason why God sent His Son into the world. It was the will of Jesus to embrace the Father’s will. Jesus said that it was for this reason that He came. It pleased the Father to bruise Him, and it brought joy to the Son to please the Father. 

 

When Jesus died upon the cross He didn’t die as a martyr, He died as a sacrifice for sin. He didn’t die for His sins, for He was without sin. He died to make atonement for us. He died so that each person who turns from his or her sin, and believes in Him, could be forgiven. He gave His life freely, and lovingly. God sent His Son because He loves you. Jesus gave shed His blood because He loves you. Jesus didn’t die just for the world—He died for you. Do you know how much you are loved? You are loved with all the love that God could give.

Jesus took the judgement for our sin upon Himself so that we wouldn’t have to be judged. He tasted death so that we wouldn’t know the sting of death. He descended into hell so that we would never need to know its awful grip upon our lives. And after three days He rose from the grave so that we could know resurrection life. His resurrection is our victory song, our shout of joy, our daily praise, and our eternal hope. Because He lives we shall live also. He has promised it, He has guaranteed it. He has secured it. Jesus is our life and heaven is our home. He is the perfect gift that we can know and enjoy forever.

 

“Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.” John 12:27

 

“Therefore doth My Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father.” John 10:17-18

 

“Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and have power to release Thee?

“Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above….” John 19:10-11

 

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:25

 

“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:33

 

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-22

 

“I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen.” Revelation 1:18

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©2023 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.