by Rev, Dr, Stuart Lange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Easter is an excellent time to prayerfully read again the powerful New Testament narratives(1) of Jesus\u2019 suffering, death, and resurrection, to share them with others, and for preachers to preach them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In these pivotal divine and human events, we see some core aspects of Christian faith, and the heart of the Good News: how God has offered humanity grace, forgiveness, life, transformation, and hope, and the future new heaven and earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
JESUS\u2019 SUFFERING AND DEATH
Precisely who was it who went to the Cross<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus of Nazareth was not just a uniquely good and compassionate person, a superb spiritual and moral teacher, and someone astonishingly full of the power of God. Jesus was and is the only Son of the living God, God-with-us, the divine Word made flesh. And it was He who hung upon the Cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Did Jesus deserve the horrible death he went through?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in any way. The Jewish religious authorities condemned him to death for acknowledging that he was the Son of God; but since Jesus was speaking the truth, his condemnation was wrong. Pilate the Roman procurator quickly realised Jesus was innocent, but gave way to mob pressure and sent Jesus off to a brutal, agonising public execution. Totally undeserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The guilty party<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It wasn\u2019t Jesus. It wasn\u2019t just the Jewish and Roman authorities. The guilty party was all humanity: us wayward, rebellious, self-serving sinful human beings, alienated from God, and deserving God\u2019s judgement. \u2018There is none righteous, no, not one\u2019, and \u2018all have fallen short of the glory of God\u2019 (Rom. 3:9, 23).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God was lovingly atoning for sinful humanity<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cross demonstrates God\u2019s immense love and grace toward humanity, and God\u2019s profound longing to reconcile us to himself. In love the Father sent his Son, and in love the Son laid down his life. God in Christ paid the penalty which we ourselves deserve, so that \u2013 by faith in Him \u2013 we might be forgiven and restored to God. \u2019This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins\u2019 (1 John 4:10). \u2018We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all\u2019 (Isaiah 53:6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
JESUS\u2019 RESURRECTION
We can be very confident in the truth of Jesus\u2019 resurrection<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because of multiple attestation by many sources and witnesses, the undenied reality of the empty tomb, the appearance of the empty graveclothes, the reports of many eye-witness encounters with the risen Jesus, the phenomenal spiritual boldness and effectiveness of the early church, the extraordinary global spread of the Gospel, and our own ongoing experience of the Risen Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Resurrection of Jesus confirms who Jesus truly is<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus\u2019 resurrection from the dead totally vindicated Jesus, and was God\u2019s powerful, definitive declaration that Jesus is indeed the Son of God and Saviour of the world (e.g. Romans 1:4), and that all Jesus said is true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Resurrection confirms what Jesus achieved for us on the Cross
(e.g. Romans 4:25; 1 Cor.15:3,14, 20)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Resurrection means that Jesus lives and reigns for ever, and we can live in fellowship with Him
(e.g. Matt. 28:20, 1 Cor.1:9, Gal. 2:20, Phil.3:10, John 14:19-20, 1 John 1:3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Resurrection means that believers in Jesus are raised to new spiritual life
(e.g. Ephesians 2:5-6)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Resurrection means that believers in Jesus will also experience resurrection
(e.g. 1 Cor.15:20, 52; 2 Cor.4:14; Phil. 3:20-21)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Resurrection signalled the defeat of various foes
Jesus\u2019 resurrection was a defeat for sin, the powers of hell, and death, and signalled their complete defeat and destruction when Christ returns (1 Cor. 15: 24-28)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Resurrection of Jesus gives us a living hope for the future
(e.g. 1 Pet. 1:3)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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