Can you hear him? A man crying out! As I close my eyes, I imagine not a reed shaken with the wind, but a man boldly crying aloud – “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord…” (John 1:23). He was the forerunner that many before him talked about. He bore witness to the true Light of men. The Light who is worthy of all things – the coming King. “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
This Light, He goes by many names – Teacher, Master, Lord, Savior, Redeemer, Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace. Although He has many names, He is commonly known as Jesus Christ. “…you are to give him the name Jesus because He will save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).”
Who Is He?
Jesus is the Light of the world. THE light that darkness could not comprehend. Jesus is the Lamb of God. The Lamb who came and gave His life to save. He came to save even His own who received Him not. Jesus was an innocent man who bore the full weight of sin, slain on the cross. He knew no sin, yet was made sin, to be THE sacrificial offering, so that we be made right before our Father in heaven. “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).”
He IS God (John 10:30) in the flesh, and while He walked the earth, He performed many miracles. Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1-11). Jesus fed 5000 people (Matthew 15:32-28). Jesus healed a man born blind (John 9:1-11). Jesus walked on water (John 6:16-21). Jesus, the resurrection, and the Life (John 11:25) rose not only Lazarus (John 11:38) but also Himself from the grave on the third day (Matthew 28). There were many more miracles Jesus performed in the sight of His disciplines. Too many, I imagine, that it was impossible to record them all.
Preparation
Early in His ministry, there were several events where Jesus was preparing for His timely death. In fact, one of those events foreshadowed what was to come. It occurred before His start when He was just a toddler.
There were wise men who saw a brilliant star, and they journeyed far following this star to greet and worship THE King of the Jews. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshiped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold [Kingship], and frankincense [Priesthood], and myrrh (Matthew 2:11).” Let’s look at the significance of this – specifically myrrh.
Myrrh was used to anoint prophets and dead bodies. While Jesus walked the earth, He was known to be a Prophet, and in His death, He was anointed with aloe and myrrh. “And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury (John 19:39-40)“. This occurrence was a foreshadowing of an important event to come. The wise men (Magi) were well versed in scripture. It was apparent by the gifts they presented to Jesus as a child. They knew He was the Messiah that came to save. While this may not mean “preparing” in the complete sense, it puts into perspective what Jesus was preparing and prepared to do.
Another event happened toward the end of His ministry. A woman named Mary of Bethany loved Jesus dearly. She performed an act that perhaps she may not have known the true significance of. Mary of Bethany stood at Jesus’ feet and poured a very expensive perfume over His body. She knelt, weeping, washing with tears, kissing and wiping His feet with the perfume. As the fragrance of the perfume filled the room, there stood some who were indignant and making comments. “Leave her alone, Jesus replied, ‘It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me (John 12:7-8).”
One last notable event was the Last Supper – Passover Meal. During this momentous occasion, Jesus reminded His disciples for the final time that He would be delivered over to the hands of man to be crucified. Preparing for this meal also fulfilled another important event – the creation of a New Covenant. In meaning, with Jesus Christ as the mediator, God promises forgiveness of sins and the restoration of fellowship with those whose hearts turn toward Him.
Then Jesus the Bread of Life, broke bread and drank with His disciples. “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you (Luke 22:19-20).”
Arrest & Punishment Before Death
It’s widely known that even His own rejected Him. The elders, chief priests, scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees – these groups were pretty sad you see. They refused to revere THE true King. Jesus was and is not pompous. He was and is the picture of humbleness and righteousness. In their envy, they plotted for the perfect time to arrest and sentence Him to death. His apprehension was successful when Judas betrayed Him with a “kiss.”
After being apprehended and presented before the high priest, false witnesses were sought to justify a death sentence, but none were found. It was not until the high priest accused Jesus of blasphemy (Matthew 26:63-67) that they sentenced Him to death. Jesus was mocked, battered, and spat on. All the while He kept His peace.
Jesus then stood before Pilate, the governor, who after questioning Jesus, found no fault in Him. He then stood before Herod, who also found no fault in Him. Pilate wanting to release Jesus appealed to the crowd once more. The crowd would not have it screaming, “Crucify Him!” The crowd preferred that an insurrectionist and murderer be set free than an innocent man. Pilate with all his “power” feared man and granted the demand of the crowd (Luke 23: 1-25). Jesus was then taken away to be crucified.
Jesus was flogged (the type of whip and number of lashes are unknown) with whips. Jesus was stripped bare and then clothed with a scarlet robe. With bated breath, the soldiers platted a crown of thorns and placed it on His head. They gave Jesus a reed in His right hand, bowed before Him, and mocked Him saying, “Hail, King of the Jews.” After this sordid display, they led Jesus to Golgotha to be crucified.
Jesus Crucified
On the way to Golgotha (the place of a skull), the soldiers compelled Simon of Cyrene, a passerby to help Jesus bear His cross. There, they gave Jesus vinegar mixed with gall (myrrh). Myrrh was also used to “deaden the sense of pain,” but He would not drink it. They then crucified Him (Matthew 27:33-35). “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).” This is a powerful statement in defense of a wicked and lost generation.
When Jesus was crucified, the soldiers parted His garments and cast lots for them. “…they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. Let’s not tear it’ they said….’Let’s decide by lot who will get it” (John 19:23-24).
The accusation of His crime written over His head…“THE KING OF THE JEWS (Mark 15:26).” There were two thieves, crucified with Him – one to His right and the other to His left. One thief challenged Jesus by saying, if you are Christ, save us and yourself. The second thief gave a strong rebuke to the first, saying, “Don’t you fear God,”…“since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” This thief who spoke rightly is in paradise (Luke 23:40-42). One can imagine where the other is today.
Many passed by Jesus to criticize Him for not saving Himself. “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” The chief priests, scribes, and elders did the same saying, “He saved others, …but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God’ (Matthew 27:39-44).”
By noon, darkness fell over the land until about 3 pm. It was then Jesus cried out and said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Upon hearing this, someone standing among the crowd ran and grabbed a sponge, filled it with vinegar, and gave it to Him to drink, on a reed. This also happened because Jesus stated He was thirsty. With one last breath, Jesus uttered, “It is finished” bowed His head, and gave up His spirit (Matthew 27:45-46; John 19: 28-30).”
In dramatic fashion, the curtain of the temple tore in two from top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and as the rocks split tombs broke open! The centurion and soldiers standing before Jesus saw all that had happened. They were terrified and proclaimed, He was the Son of God (Matthew 27:51-54).
When it came time for the bodies to be brought down, the legs of the thieves were broken, but Jesus’ was left intact. Upon noticing that Jesus was dead, a soldier pierced Jesus’ side. Thus bringing a sudden flow of blood and water (John 19:31-37).
Burial
A man named Joseph from Arimathea came before Pilate asking for the body of Jesus. He also was a disciple, but only in secret because he feared the chief priests. The just and good man stood boldly before Pilate, requesting to receive Jesus’ body. Joseph’s request was granted, and he prepared Jesus’ body for proper burial according to Jewish custom. He and Nicodemus wrapped His body with a mixture of myrrh and aloe in strips of linen (John 19: 38-41).
After Jesus was prepared for burial, He was laid in a tomb. “At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there” (John 19:41-42).
Resurrection
Now, the chief priests and Pharisees conspired together to ensure that Jesus would not resurrect from the dead. They recalled when Jesus said that after three days, He would rise again. They went before Pilate to request a guard for three days to secure the tomb. Their request was granted, and a seal was placed on the tomb with a guard. “So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first (Matthew 27:64).” It is ironic that the Pharisees who believed in the resurrection would try to prevent a resurrection from happening.
Alas! All of their efforts were in vain. On the third day, Jesus rose from the grave! An angel descended from heaven which caused a great earthquake. The angel rolled the stone away and sat upon it. The guards shook in fear from the sight and fainted (Matthew 28:2-4). Hallelujah! He is Risen! At least three women (Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ mother, and her sister) all came to the grave with spices to anoint Jesus. Upon their arrival, they saw the great stone rolled away. They went inside and saw that Jesus was not there.
There, the angel on the rock said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ Now I have told you (Matthew 28:5-7).” The women leave the tomb to tell the disciples what they saw. Even as Mary Magdalene herself saw Jesus, the disciples did not believe the women.
While the women were on their way, the guards collected themselves and reported what they had seen. The chief priests and elders gathered, to yet again, devise a plan – this time to cover the fact that Jesus DID indeed rise from the dead – HA! They bribed the guards with money and told them what to say. “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble (Matthew 28:13-15).” The soldiers took the money and did as they were told.
I truly wonder how they all reconciled with themselves. How awkward it must have been to continue their day-to-day fully knowing they were hypocrites. Did they fear the God they pretended to serve when they delivered His only begotten son to be crucified? I cannot imagine they moved on peacefully.
When word reached the disciples from the women, they were in disbelief. Even in their disbelief, Peter and John rushed to the grave, and they too saw it was empty. Jesus, throughout that day, would appear to different people including Peter, the other women (after Mary Magdalene), and eventually the rest of the disciples – all eleven! The most interesting part is that after His resurrection, the bodies of many holy people who died were raised to life. Out of their tombs (the ones that broke after Jesus’ crucifixion) they went into the holy city and appeared to many people (Matthew 27:51-53).
Sometime later (about one week), Jesus commissioned His disciples by saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20).“ Jesus teaches them for the last time and promises to send THE advocate – The Holy Spirit. Then He ascended up to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19-20).
“And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen” (Luke 24:50-53).
theOlivetbee 