Jesus’ Death & Resurrection

Overview:

            The death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah is the very foundation of the Christian faith. Because of his sacrifice, we as believers in Jesus have a hope that upon our death, or his return, we will find ourselves in the presence of God, the Heavenly Father, for eternity. If that event hadn’t happened, we would all still be judged by the law.

The crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah are covered by each of the four gospels….

A)   Matthew - Chapters 27-28

B)   Mark - Chapters 15-16

C)   Luke – Chapters 23-24

D)   John – Chapters 19-20

The death and resurrection of Jesus is important on many levels, as significant truths are contained within this act which is so laden with the grace and mercy of God.

¨     Forgiveness & Redemption: The acts of forgiveness and redemption go hand in hand with the death and resurrection of Jesus – for it is only through this event that our sins are forgiven, washed clean, and thus we are redeemed in the eyes of God. There are many scriptures throughout the New Testament that bear witness to this truth.

1 Peter 1:17-19: “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

Hebrews 9: 22,26b-28: “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission…He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”

Ephesians 1:7: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…”

¨     It is an act of love: The only reason why Jesus was sent to Earth, was to fulfil the Heavenly father’s love for humanity, and his desire to restore the relationship that he once had with it. In his writings, the Apostle John spoke of this connection many times.

John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

1 John 4:10: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

John 15:13: Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

¨     Being like Christ: Jesus’ death and resurrection are a foreshadowing of our own transformation in times to come, and at his return. We too, in our own time, shall have resurrected bodies like Jesus the Messiah’s. It is one of the hope’s that we as believers in Jesus’ death and resurrection yearn for – especially as our mortal bodies age, decay and eventually die. It is a blessed promise that is echoed in the New Testament.

1 John 3:2: “Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

Philippians 3:20-21: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”

¨     Faith even unto death: This is not a theme that many Christians wish to emulate in their lifetime, however, around the world many suffer for their faith – and in the Western world, persecution of Christians is only going to grow worse. In Matthew 10:16-22, Jesus warns his disciples that they will face persecution as they go about their ministry. All of the disciples, except John, would die for their faith – as too would Paul and many of the early church leaders.

Philippians 3:8-11: Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” 
Revelations 2:10:  “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

1 Peter 3:13-17: “And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

            There are so many more important things to be gleaned from the death and resurrection of Jesus our Messiah – many of which are significantly personal, because of the grace and mercy that God has poured out upon those of us that believe in his beloved Son. It is an event that Jesus asks us to remember in our partaking in Communion, and to share with others.

Next Section: Jesus’ Triumphant Return