After-Easter
Musings - Part 1
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Just because Easter was last week end doesn’t mean I must
move on to other passages and Bible events. For the past few weeks I’ve been
revisiting some of the details surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of
Jesus. This morning my focus was Matthew 27:45-54.
Above Golgotha, ominous darkness fell over the land. (v.
45)
Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken
me?” (v. 46).
This is the only place in Scripture where Jesus referred
to God as “God” rather than “Father.” At this point, Jesus was suffering from
the heavy weight of all the sin of all mankind. The Son of God, who was without
sin, became sin for us so that we could wear His own righteousness in its
place.
“He made Him who knew no sin
to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2
Corinthians 5:21).
It’s a hard saying that God forsook Jesus and, yes, I
recently saw the movie in which the God character said that He did not turn
away His Son—but was right there with Jesus all along. In my opinion, that’s a
soulish, emotional wish which is not biblically sound.
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The truth is that at this point Jesus became all of the
vile, shameful sin of mankind. Holy God does not tolerate sin and His turning
away was a judicial act of a just God. In human terms we cannot completely
understand what was happening in these moments. It was a traumatic spiritual
and physical experience that Jesus alone went through and Jesus alone was
qualified to do.
I know that Jesus took the punishment I deserved—and you
deserved and every human being deserved. In doing so He unlocked the way—ripped
open the veil of separation—that prevented you and me from being in full
relationship with God, our Creator and Heavenly Father.
We each owed a debt we couldn’t pay and Jesus paid a debt
that He didn’t owe. That’s amazing grace!
Commentary in “The Jesus Bible” says “this pivotal moment
in universal history, the day when Jesus took away the sin of the world, was
not only about the souls of men and women; it was about the very character of
God. The cross is the answer to the question above; the crucifixion is the apex
of God’s love and mercy but also of his justice and righteousness. At the cross
God not only provided the ultimate answer for how a person can be made
righteous by faith, but he has also dispensed his justice. At the cross, God
poured out his wrath on his own Son so that sinful human beings might be
forgiven and granted the righteousness of Jesus’ life. At the cross, the God of
righteousness both demonstrates and grants righteousness, for he is both just
and the One who justifies.”*
By bearing the burden of our sin, Jesus made a way for us
to have eternal life instead of eternal damnation, which we each deserve. This
eternal life we cannot earn through doing good things. It is a free gift we
accept by believing Jesus is who the Bible says He is—the unique Son of God—and
by receiving Him as Lord of our lives.
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Verse 50 say that Jesus cried out for the last time. His
words are recorded by the gospel writer, John: “It is finished” (John 19:30).
Then Jesus gave up His spirit and died.
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| Photo by Connie Wohlford |
Jesus knew He had completed the work His Father sent Him
to do. It was done—mission accomplished. At that moment Jesus chose to release
His spirit from His human body. He Himself maintained control the entire time.
While He hung on the cross He could have called ten thousand angels to rescue
Him and wipe out all who opposed Him. But because of His and His Father’s great
love for us, He chose to go through with the torment. He knew this was the only
way. He had previously said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
Jesus willingly became the once-for-all sacrificial Lamb
on that Passover 2000 years ago. John the Baptist called Jesus “the Lamb of
God” on the day he baptized Him (John 1:29). Ever since the crucifixion and
resurrection of Christ, for those who put our trust in Him, the Death Angel passes
over.
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting? The
sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God!
He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians
15:55-57).
Please comment below if you would like to participate in
the conversation.
*”The Jesus Bible, NIV Edition,” Copyright 2016 by
Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, p.1751
©Copyright
2017 Connie Wohlford
