Jesus came to die—so ALL Mankind May—Live for God!
Why did Jesus need to die? Quickly, those who believe cry: “He died so we could also overcome death and also receive eternal life.”
What would it have been like to stand there outside the city and watch with our own eyes as—Jesus’ died?
Most assuredly, those who believe reply: “It would have been a most horrible sight to watch our Savior die.”
But Jesus came to die!
But Jesus came to die, to fulfill God’s plan for humanity.
But Jesus came to die, to fulfill God’s plan for humanity, overcoming death so that we would not have to stand before God for EVERY SIN we have ever committed.
Jesus came to die—so we would not have to!
YES, JESUS CAME JUST FOR THAT SINGLE REASON—TO DIE IN OUR PLACE!
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying,
(Matthew 27: 46 NASB)
“ELI, ELI, LEMA SABAKTANEI?”
that is,
“MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”
Those standing there watching were so conflicted. Some thought Jesus was calling out for the prophet Elijah. Some thought Jesus needed a drink. Some stepped closer to the cross because they did not want to miss the “show,” just in case the prophet Elijah did show up to aid Jesus. Some were hiding, fearing they too would be arrested, tortured, and killed.
- Some stood at attention, guarding the tomb, just in case the disciples came while they slept and tried to steal the dead body of Jesus.
- Some stood at a distance, weeping, watching their Savior die, and thinking: ‘Oh no, what now will we do?’
- Those standing there at the crucifixion would have been a mixed-bag of people.
The Truth of the whole situation—
Jesus came to die—so no one standing there would have to die but would instead receive eternal life!
Jesus came to die—so no one alive today would have die but would instead receive eternal life!
Jesus came to die—for you & for me too—for ALL Mankind!
The rocks of the earth split as the earth quaked.
The tombs were opened, and many saints (believers in Christ Jesus) were raised from the dead.
The veil of the temple split from top to bottom.
“Now as for the centurion and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the other things that were happening,
(Matthew 27: 54 NASB)
they became extremely frightened and said,
“Truly this was the Son of God!”
Jesus came to die—for those men who were guarding His dead body—too!
“Now after the Sabbath,
(Matthew 28: 1-6 NASB)
as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb.
[They came with spices to prepare Jesus’ body for burial, but they did not know how they would ever roll away the large stone that blocked the tomb’s entrance.]
And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred,
for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven
and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.
And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
The guards shook from fear of him and became like dead men.
And the angel said to the women,
“Do not be afraid;
for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.
Come, see the place where He was lying.”
Lord—a synonym for Jesus.
Who do we worship?
What commands our attention?
Where are we in our obedience to God’s commands?
When the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts, do we listen & do we immediately obey our Lord?
Why would we not?
Jesus came to die—
Jesus gave us so much—
How can anyone EVER doubt the authority of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who overcame death!
“What shall we say then?
(Romans 6: 1-11 NASB)
Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?
Far from it!
How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
Or do you not know that all of us
who have been baptized into Christ Jesus
have been baptized into His death?
Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death,
so that,
just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,
so we too may walk in newness of life.
For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death,
certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,
knowing this,
that our old self was crucified with Him,
in order that our body of sin might be done away with,
so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
for the one who has died is freed from sin.
Now if we have died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with Him,
knowing that
Christ, having been raised from the dead,
is never to die again;
death no longer is master over Him.
For the death that He died,
He died to sin once for all time;
but the life that He lives,
He lives to God.
So you too, consider yourselves to be dead to sin,
but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
Every time we choose to sin, we are cheapening what Jesus did upon the cross.
May we BE THE CHURCH!
May we LIVE RADICALLY DIFFERENT!
“You Changed My Name” by Matthew West renders this truth through song. Listen today, on this Holy Day of Silence, as we honor Jesus who remained buried in the tomb before God resurrected Him to new life.
Jesus came to die—for us—for ALL Mankind!
Jesus came to die—so ALL Mankind May—Live for God!