John 1:29 (The Lamb Who Takes Away Sin)

John 1:29

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

Before Mary gave birth to Jesus, Mary's relative Elizabeth gave birth to a boy named John. He was the son of a priest named Zechariah. As a priest, one of Zechariah's jobs was to serve in the offering of sacrifices. Without question, the most regarded of all sacrifices was the Passover lamb. It was offered once a year by every household as a payment for sins. There were rigorous requirements a sacrificial lamb had to meet, as well as laws concerning how it was to be offered. John, being a priest's son, was well acquainted with these laws. He knew what was a worthy sacrifice, and one day, John saw his cousin Jesus and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me,'" (John 1:29-30). Even Though Jesus' birth was after John's, John said Jesus was before him, and he also said Jesus would be a perfect sacrifice.

To see what it would mean for Jesus to be a sacrifice, here is a brief look at the law written concerning sacrificial lambs: At the time of the first Passover, God told His people this is what they must do so none of them would die. Every household was to take a young male lamb (Exodus 12:3-5), and they were to care for it, until the time came to slaughter it (Exodus 12:6). Every lamb was to have its blood put on the wooden frames of the family's door (Exodus 12:7), and the family was to cook and eat the rest of the lamb inside the house (Exodus 12:8-9). None of the lamb was to be left till morning (Exodus 12:10). God said the Passover was to be commemorated and celebrated for generations, (Exodus 12:14). Concerning lambs offered for Passover as well as other times, the chosen lamb could not be lame (unable to walk) or blind (unable to see) and had to be without disease, (Deuteronomy 15:21). Its blood was not to be eaten, but had to be poured out on the ground like water (Deuteronomy 15:23). Lambs had to be presented to the priests to make sure they were sufficient to pay for one's guilt, (Leviticus 14:12) and they had to be disposed of outside the camp where people lived (Leviticus 16:27). It was important that all presented lambs be "without defect," (Leviticus 1:10,22:19).

Why animals? What did they do wrong? 

That is the point. Since the animals did 

no wrong, they died in place of 

the one performing the sacrifice.

- GotQuestions

Jesus says, He came into the world to fulfill this sacrificial law (Matthew 5:17). He says it is through Him that none of God's people will have to die (John 5:24). He came as a young male (Luke 3:23), and people cared for Him by giving Him food (John 12:1-2), loaning Him animals (Mark 11:1-6), and giving Him a place to stay (Luke 22:10-13). The world tolerated Jesus, until the time came for Him to be slaughtered (Luke 22:53). On the night of the Passover celebration (John 13:1), Jesus was presented before the priests (Matthew 26:57). They examined Him and declared He was worthy of death (Matthew 26:65-66). Jesus was then handed over to the governor Pilate, where His whole body was tortured and none of it was left unscathed into the morning (Mark 15:15, John 19:1-2). Jesus was then sentenced to be crucified at a place called Golgotha, which was outside of the city (John 19:16-17). He was able to walk to that place (Mark 15:22), and able to see the people around Him (John 19:25-26). At Golgotha, Jesus was nailed to a cross (John 20:25), and His blood ran along its wooden frame (Colossians 1:20). Then, He died (Luke 23:46). After this, His side was pierced, and out of it came blood and water which poured out onto the ground (John 19:34). In the days before His death, Jesus lived a perfect life and was without defect (1 John 3:5). He was a perfect sacrificial lamb.

The depth of His grace flowed with every sin erased. 

He knew that this was why He came.

Would you take the place of this man? 

Would you take the nails from His hands?

- Jeremy Camp

In order for God's people to be forgiven, blood must be shed, "for the life of a creature is in the blood, and [God gave this] to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life," (Leviticus 17:11). Jesus shed His blood "on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness," (1 Peter 2:24). Because of His sacrificial death, "we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins," (Ephesians 1:7). This is Jesus' power as a slain sacrifice.

And it gets Better,

Because Jesus is NOT Dead!

Jesus is God (John 10:30-33), and so He cannot die forever. Yet, He came to earth "to give His life as a ransom for many," (Mark 10:45). If He gives up His life, then He has "authority to take it up again," (John 10:18). So Jesus died, and then rose again (Mark 16:6).

God's sacrificial law was fulfilled through Jesus' death. Even though He rose again, Jesus' resurrection does not undo His death, in that He was never afflicted or it never happened (John 20:27). If His death were undone in this way, then God's people would still be under the sacrificial law. As long as the sacrificial law is not being fulfilled, it remains and awaits another sacrifice. Jesus could not simply unwrite this law (Matthew 5:18), however, He found a loophole, which is this: The law does not specify that the sacrifice must stay dead. This is why on the night of the Passover Jesus tells His followers He gives them His body (Luke 22:19) to be a sacrifice, and Jesus also gives them His blood for a "new covenant," (Luke 22:20). There cannot be a new covenant, without the fulfillment of the old one. In light of this, Jesus died and fulfilled the old sacrificial law, and then He rose from death as a living sacrifice; perpetually fulfilling both laws (Romans 8:2). By Jesus' one sacrifice "He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy," "and where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary," (Hebrews 10:14,18).

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those
who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ
Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set
you free from the law of sin and death,"
(Romans 8:1-2).

Jesus is the lamb of God (Revelation 5:6), and He has taken away the sins of the world (John 3:16). See, Jesus was dead, and now He is alive (Isaiah 53:11). Anyone who wants to be free from sin, must hear Him say, "Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other," (Isaiah 45:22). Yes, the same God who made the sacrificial law has fulfilled it, and He is alive!

Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain

Holy, Holy, is He

Sing a new song, to Him who sits on

Heaven's mercy seat

Holy, Holy, Holy

Is the Lord God Almighty

Who was, and is, and is to come

With all creation I sing

Praise to the King of Kings

You are my everything

And I will adore You

- Jennie Lee Riddle

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• The Passion of the Christ (Inspired by)
• GotQuestions: Passover
• Open Bible Info: Sacrificial Lamb
• GotQuestions: Animal Sacrifices
• Jeremy Camp: This Man
• Jennie Lee Riddle/Don Moen: Revelation Song
• MacArthur Study Bible (Background Research)

Romans 6:5 (A Resurrection Like His)

 

Romans 6:5

For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His.

Jesus died for the sins of the world, but He's not dead anymore. He is risen! He was killed by the rulers of the world, but He raised Himself to life "on the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:4). His resurrection (not a resuscitation by others, but a resurrection by Himself) occurred just as the prophets foretold, (Matthew 12:40). The way Jesus lived was not incidental, but was the fulfillment of the Word of God. It is written, "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work," (1 John 3:8), and the devil's work was to bring about death (Genesis 3:13-15).

Now, because Jesus is resurrected, He has put an end to the power of death, for "He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ," (1 Corinthians 15:56-57). This victory is revealed in God's words, "I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong...For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors," (Isaiah 53:12). So, Jesus makes a way for people to join Him and He lets His followers share His wealth. Everyone who has put their faith in Christ has been "crucified with Him," and "if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His," (Romans 6:5-6). With this filling our hearts, let us, as believers, see the power of the resurrection that is alive in us.

Now I have resurrection power living on the inside

Jesus, You have given us freedom

I'm no longer bound by sin and darkness

Living in the light of Your goodness

You have given us freedom

I'm dressed in Your royalty

Your Holy Spirit lives in me

And I see my past has been redeemed

The new has come

- Chris Tomlin

Jesus came back to life (Mark 16:6)

On the first Easter morning Jesus walked out of His grave. It is assured that all of God's children will do the same. They will live anew in their spirit, because Jesus has "made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions," (Ephesians 2:5). Not only the children of God will live, but one day everyone who died will live again. There will come a day when "death and Hades [will] give up the dead that [are] in them," (Revelation 20:13). Jesus says that on this day "those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned," (John 5:29).

Jesus put off His old clothes (John 20:6-7)

When Jesus breathed again, He took off His wrappings and linens. He removed His burial clothes, and so will those who follow Him.  Just as someone takes off a shirt and wears another, God's children will resist their old habits of death and put on Christ's righteousness. They will "be made new in the attitude of their minds; and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness," (Ephesians 4:23-24). God's children are also to keep their brothers and sisters from going back to their old grave clothes (Jude 1:23). Just as Jesus cast aside the things of the dead, so believers should "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles," (Hebrews 12:1).

Jesus comforted believers (John 20:15-16)

The first people who saw Jesus's empty tomb were afraid, but after they saw Jesus their tears were replaced with joy (Matthew 28:8-9). Jesus' disciples, too, can comfort those who hurt. Their God is "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort," (2 Corinthians 1:3) and those who believe in Him can "encourage one another and build each other up," (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Jesus's resurrection gives His children strength to "rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn," (Romans 12:15), and God will turn our "wailing into dancing," (Psalm 30:11).

"I am the Living One; I was dead,
and now look, I am alive for
ever and ever," (Revelation 1:18).

Jesus made clear the Scriptures (Luke 24:25-27)

After Jesus comforted many of His followers, He then appeared to two men who were walking to a nearby town. These men were confused about the writings of the prophets, and in their confusion they were downcast (Luke 24:17,19-21). In response Jesus "explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself," and as He explained these things their hearts were set ablaze (Luke 24:27,32). Now, Jesus' disciples on earth can explain the Scriptures and lift up the hearts of others. It is through the resurrection that the mysteries of the Bible can be "disclosed to the Lord’s people," (Colossians 1:26).

Jesus was unharmed by weapons (John 20:27)

When Jesus died He was speared right through to His lungs and heart (John 19:34), and when He lived His body still showed this mortal wound. There was a hole in Jesus' side and it had no apparent effect on Him. This will be true of all who believe, for anyone in Christ can trust that "no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD," (Isaiah 54:17). Yes, the world hates God's followers and will kill many of them (John 15:20), but "do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul," (Matthew 10:28).

Jesus restored broken relationships (John 21:15)

During Jesus' trial, His disciple, named Peter, denied and cursed Him three times (Matthew 26:69-74). Peter's sin filled him with grief (Luke 22:62), but on Easter morning Jesus commanded His angels to say, "He has risen!...tell His disciples and Peter," (Mark 16:6-7). Even though Peter sinned terribly, Jesus restored Him back to His family (John 21:17). In this same way, those in the Church who sin can be restored. It is written, "If anyone has caused grief...the punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow," (2 Corinthians 2:5-7). Thanks to the resurrection of Christ, "as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us," (Psalm 103:12).

Jesus returned to His Father (John 20:17)

On the day Jesus rose, He promised He would ascend into heaven, and forty days later He did (Acts 1:3,9). Dear brother and sister in Christ, you too shall rise to be with your Father (Luke 16:22). Jesus says, "I shall lose none of all those God has given Me, but raise them up at the last day," (John 6:39). Right now, you live as a foreigner on earth (1 Peter 2:11), but one day you will "dwell in the house of the Lord forever," (Psalm 23:6). You will see God face-to-face (Matthew 5:8), and it will be just as He says, "To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be My children," (Revelation 21:6-7).

Jesus rose again and everyone who lives in Him will
have eternal life (John 3:16) and life in abundance
(John 10:10). His life assures us that "whoever obeys
His words will never see death," (John 8:51).

Jesus rose again from the dead, and showed His power, righteousness and love. Those who see the glory of the resurrected King should do as the women did, when they "clasped His feet and worshiped Him," (Matthew 28:9). They should not be like the soldiers who took a bribe to hide the truth (Matthew 28:13-15). Instead, everyone should recognize Jesus, and call to Him. They should say, as the disciple Thomas does, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). Jesus is God, and the only one who can bring the dead to life.

Today, Jesus ascended into heaven and is standing at His Father's right hand (Acts 7:56), and "what does 'He ascended' mean except that He also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe," (Ephesians 4:9-10). This means that God took on flesh to live and die just like anyone else, and anyone can have communion with Him, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are," (Hebrews 4:15). Those who believe in this are God's children (John 1:12), and "if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory," (Romans 8:17). Jesus' resurrection demonstrates the new life that all those who believe in Him will have, just as it it is written in 1 Peter chapter 1 from verses 3 to 5:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Chris Tomlin: Resurrection Power
• John MacArthur: See God's Face
• John Piper: The Passion of Jesus Christ (Inspired by)

2 Corinthians 5:21 (Jesus Became Sin)

2 Corinthians 5:21

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus suffered and died for sins, and the way He died was how He paid for them. He was set apart "before the creation of the world" (1 Peter 1:20) to die "according to God's eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord," (Ephesians 3:11). This means the way Jesus died was not incidental but was designed. Consider that if Jesus was on earth today, was wrongly convicted, incarcerated, and then given the death penalty, that death would not have been enough to pay for sins. Modern death penalty methods do not cover the scope of pain Jesus needed to bear.

The prophet Isaiah remarks that Jesus being speared and whipped was how He would heal people from their sins, for "He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed," (Isaiah 53:5). Take note how Isaiah describes Jesus' death as a personal matter, in the way he uses the pronouns "our," "us," and "we." Jesus died in our place (Romans 3:25), so the way Jesus paid for sins shows how people should have paid. "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us" (2 Corinthians 5:21), so Jesus' suffering and death illustrates the true punishment all sinners deserve. With this in mind, let us see what it took for Jesus to redeem sinners and make them righteous.

He became sin, who knew no sin

That we might become His righteousness

He humbled himself and carried the cross

Love so amazing, love so amazing

Jesus Messiah, name above all names

Blessed redeemer, Emmanuel

The rescue for sinners, the ransom from Heaven

Jesus Messiah, Lord of all

- Chris Tomlin

Jesus was caught and exposed (Mark 14:46)

On the night when Jesus would suffer for sin, He was arrested by a large crowd (Matthew 26:47,50). Jesus was caught the same way every sinner will be caught. No one should deceive themselves, for "you may be sure that your sin will find you out," (Numbers 32:23). Someone may think they can hide their sins, but Jesus says, "There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known," (Luke 12:2). Even though Jesus was in the dark, the crowd who came for Him brought torches (John 18:3). Jesus was exposed and brought into the light the same way all sin will be (Luke 12:3, Ephesians 5:11).

Jesus did not defend Himself (Matthew 27:12)

Jesus was put on trial for His crimes, and while He was tried He did not defend Himself. Instead of pleading His case, Jesus "did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth," (Isaiah 53:7). This is how sinful people should respond, when God puts them on trial. God will "judge the world in righteousness," (Psalms 96:13) and everyone He judges will be "without excuse," (Romans 1:20). Every sinner has broken God's law (1 John 3:4), and "whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God," (Romans 3:19).

Jesus could not be bought back (Matthew 27:3-4)

One of Jesus' disciples, named Judas, betrayed Jesus. Judas' reward for betraying Him was 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-15). After Jesus was found guilty, Judas "was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders," but the priests would not take Judas' money back (Matthew 27:3-4). Sin, too, cannot be bought back from God, for the Lord "accepts no bribes," (Deuteronomy 10:17). Greed can lead to sin (1 Timothy 6:10), and the money someone gains in their sin is not enough to buy them out of their sin.

Jesus was beaten and wounded (John 19:1-3)

While Jesus was in custody, He was beaten by those who guarded Him (Luke 22:63). Indeed, the same way Jesus was physically wounded, the Bible says sinners should be beaten. In God's law it reads, "If the guilty person deserves to be beaten, the judge shall make them lie down and have them flogged in his presence with the number of lashes the crime deserves," (Deuteronomy 25:2). Out of God's love, He has ordered that any sin deserving of physical punishment should receive the wounds due (Proverbs 13:24). Adam's sin resulted in the earth and humans being pricked by "thorns and thistles," (Genesis 3:18) and Jesus had these thorns pressed into His head (Mark 15:17). Those who do what is wicked should be physically harmed for their sins, and "the understanding of this message will bring sheer terror," (Isaiah 28:18-19).

"The Son of Man did not come to be
served, but to serve, and to give
His life as a ransom for many,"
(Matthew 20:28).

Jesus was nailed down (Luke 23:33)

Jesus's death was by crucifixion, so He was nailed down and pierced through His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16). He was locked in place and unable to escape. This is the fate of unrepentant sinners (Matthew 25:41). Even the angels who rebel against God will be put in chains and locked away for judgment (2 Peter 2:4). Jesus says that sinners will be nailed down by God, so "see to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven?" (Hebrews 12:25).

Jesus was mocked and shamed (Mark 15:30-31)

While Jesus was crucified, the crowd there mocked Him. God, too, mocks and laughs at sin, for "the One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them," (Psalm 2:4). The prophet Elijah mocked those who dared to oppose God, and Elijah's actions were honored by the Lord (1 Kings 18:27,38). Sin is shameful, and someone who sins is like a person found naked and afraid (Genesis 3:7,10). Just as Jesus was naked and shamed by those who crucified Him (Matthew 27:35), so too is sin shameful. Those who sin should "come back to their senses as they ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame," (1 Corinthians 15:34).

Jesus died (John 19:30)

On that cross, for everyone to see, Jesus died. It is assured that "the wages of sin is death," (Romans 6:23). Those who die in their sin "will go away to eternal punishment," (Matthew 25:46). "They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever," (Revelation 20:10). The suffering Jesus experienced on the cross will be their suffering. Just as Jesus thirsted while He died ( John 19:28), those in hell will go without even a drop of water (Luke 16:24). On the other side of eternity, those who have put their trust in God will be given relief, but "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might," (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9).

Jesus died and He was buried (Mark 15:46-47), and
everyone who dies in their sin goes down to
"the realm of the dead," (Psalm 9:17). His death
cries out to sinners, "Unless you repent,
you too will all perish," (Luke 13:3).

Jesus suffered for sins the way that everyone deserves to suffer. When someone looks at the cross, they should see the punishment they deserve. They should think of themselves as the murderer who goes free at Jesus' expense (Luke 23:18-19). They should not act like the criminal who insulted Jesus and said, "Save yourself and us!" (Luke 23:39). Instead, everyone should act as the other criminal who said, "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But He has done nothing wrong," (Luke 23:41). Jesus never sinned, and after He was punished, He cried out, "It is finished!" (John 19:30). Therefore, Jesus suffered and died as a criminal, so you would not have to.

The punishment for sin has been paid in full, and now everyone who Believes in Jesus will not have to experience any punishment for their sin. This is assured, "otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But He has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself," (Hebrews 9:26). He suffered and died once "to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit," (1 Peter 3:18). Because Jesus paid for sins, "whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them," (John 3:36). Jesus suffered the full scope of God's wrath on the cross, in order to bring lost sinners back to Him, just as it is written in 1 Peter chapter 2 from verses 23 to 25:

When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted himself to Him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by His wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Wretched: The Cross is not the Electric Chair
• Chris Tomlin: Jesus Messiah
• Knowing Jesus: Bible Verses by Topic

What If there was No Resurrection?

Imagine with me, if you will, a world where Jesus of Nazareth is dead. Consider with me what the world and everything in it and about it would be like if Jesus said and did everything written about Him (all happened exactly as it is written in the gospels), except for His resurrection. This blog post is not meant to cause you to doubt the historical truth of our Savior. I am writing to you, my reader, that you would join me in this exercise of our minds; that we would grow in love and appreciation for the work of our Lord, by considering what the world would be like if it had not happened. Take this time with me to ponder if the resurrection truly matters.

First, let us consider if the resurrection matters to unbelievers. It appears to matter a lot to them, because when they usually talk about the great teacher Jesus, they omit anything about Him being raised from the dead. Martin Scorcese's film "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988) ends with Jesus' dead body on a cross, without any mention of Jesus coming back to life. Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" (premiered in 1970) is narrated by an unbelieving Judas, who does not live to see the Sunday after Jesus' death. The religion of Islam teaches that Jesus managed to avoid death and therefore did not rise from the dead. In the Quran (which features manuscripts possibly dating back to 500 years after Jesus' life) in sura 4 verse 157 it reads, "but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not." One more group of unbelievers worth noting are the Roman soldiers who guarded Jesus' tomb. When they discovered that the tomb was empty, they went to the chief priests. The chief priests gave the soldiers a large sum of money and told them, "You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole Him away while we were asleep,'" (Matthew 28:12-13). For centuries the unbelieving world has had little trouble talking about most of the events of Jesus' life, except for His resurrection. If the resurrection did not matter to them, then they perhaps would not be so insistent on downplaying it or ignoring it.

The unbelieving world portrays "the historical Jesus"
as being simply a human, yet Jesus said of Himself
He was the Messiah, the chosen one from God
of which all the prophets spoke (Luke 24:25-27). 

If Jesus did not rise from the dead, it would make choosing to follow Him above all other previous prophets questionable. Jesus said He would come back to life on the third day after His death, (John 2:19,21). If this prophecy did not occur, then Jesus would be a false prophet and it would have been right to put Him to death like any other false prophet (Deuteronomy 18:20). It is written, "If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken," (Deuteronomy 18:22). If Jesus spoke what God did not say, and yet claimed He spoke in exact accordance with what God had told Him (John 12:49), then we would do well to join in with the crowds wanting to kill Him for blasphemy, saying, "You, a mere man, claim to be God,” (John 10:33). In this way Jesus' blaspheming would out right denounce what He proclaims when He says His blood would be poured out of Him to make a new covenant with God and His people for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28). If Jesus preached falsely about the forgiveness of sins, which comes by God in heaven alone, then his lack of knowledge of heavenly things would show that He also lacked knowledge concerning earthly things, (John 3:12). If all of this were the case, then everyone would be smart to ignore all of His preachings, because the truth is not found in someone who is a liar (John 8:44). All of this man's preaching would be either useless or so open to great stretches of interpretation that the message could mean what anyone wants it to mean. At best it would likely leave followers of this false Messiah nothing more than an example for the healing of the sick by way to astonish crowds, the caring of the poor for one's own benefit, and the wishing to perform miracles in order to live abundantly. Pragmatically speaking, this would be the most good worth imitating from the life of a false teacher, who lived an exemplary life yet lied, blasphemed and pointlessly died.

Many false preachers claim that Jesus' life and message
was only about one's health, wealth and prosperity, but
Paul writes that with Jesus who strengthens us we don't need
all these things and we can be content (Philippians 4:12-13).

If Jesus were a false teacher and a false prophet, then what would one's belief matter? There would be no need or reason to put one's belief in a false savior, because a false savior has no power to save anyone from anything; certainly not death. Paul writes, "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep [died] in Christ are lost," (1 Corinthians 15:17-18). Since there is no reason to believe in this false savior who cannot save, then everyone who dies for this faith dies in vain. Paul wrote that for his ministry of following Christ, he faced death every day (1 Corinthians 15:31), and surely he would not have continued in such a dangerous ministry, if his death would have been pointless. Wisely, Paul writes, "If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die,' (1 Corinthians 15:32). Why would anyone knowingly die for such a foolish lie, when they could have easily kept their life by renouncing the lie or even by downplaying it the slightest bit? Paul would not have risked his life for a liar he did not believe to be a good person, because "very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die," (Romans 5:7). Why would anyone die for a bad person, if the first person who ever laid down their life for the wicked and the hopeless did so in vain (Romans 5:8)?

The world would have you believe that those who died
for Jesus' name did so out of foolish misgivings, but
Jesus says one day He will avenge all those who
have died for His glory (Revelation 6:9-11).

Without the resurrection any movie, musical, religious text or eye witness account can teach us just as much about the importance of Jesus as the four gospels could. Without the resurrection, Jesus is a liar, a blasphemer, and at best lived a life ministry only about health, wealth and prosperity. Without the resurrection, believers would have no reason to believe, because there would be nothing beyond death for those who have sinned. In truth: Without the resurrection, everything would be meaningless (Ecclesiastes 12:8).

A world without the resurrection is indeed a dark world.

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great Light; on those living
in the land of deep darkness a Light has dawned," (Isaiah 9:2).
"In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The Light shines
in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it," (John 1:4-5).

Praise God that Jesus the Messiah our Savior is not dead, but is alive!

He is alive, and it is assured! The four gospels of Jesus' life have been the most scrutinized writings of all of history, and they have been found to be historically accurate. John wrote his gospel as an eyewitness account of Jesus' life, death and resurrection "that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name," (John 20:31). Paul wrote this magnificent creed (which was written less than three years, after Jesus' resurrection) in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 from verses 3 to 8:

That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also.

"You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.
He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.
But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you
into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you,’" (mark 16:6-7).

Since Jesus is alive, the dead can be raised to life (1 Corinthians 15:20-21). Since Jesus is alive, God's words are assured when He says, "I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?" (Hosea 13:14). Since Jesus is alive, everything He spoke about Himself and God is true and is useful for building us up to be righteous people (2 Timothy 3:16). Since Jesus is alive, we know that God has come down from heaven to us and He is with us (Matthew 1:23). Since Jesus is alive our sins are forgiven, (Matthew 9:6-7). Since Jesus is alive, we know that we have a Father in heaven who will provide for everything we will ever need (Matthew 6:8). Since Jesus is alive, He has fulfilled prophecies (Luke 4:21), and will one day fulfill all the Scriptures and wipe away every tear from those who believe in Him (Revelation 21:4). Since Jesus is alive, we know that as Children of God we are holy, righteous and redeemed (1 Corinthians 1:30). Since Jesus is alive, "praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope," (1 Peter 1:3). Since Jesus is alive, all believers who will ever live have a destiny to be adopted into the family of God (Ephesians 1:5). Since Jesus is alive, everyone who believes in Him "will not perish but have eternal life," (John 3:16).

He is risen (Matthew 28:6), and "Jesus said, 'Do not hold
on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead
to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father
and your Father, to My God and your God,’" (John 20:17).

The resurrection matters, because through it life has meaning. We know what our purpose in life is, because Jesus told us this in the gospel of Matthew in chapter 28 from verses 18 to 20:

“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.”

"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me
will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing
in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26).

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• IMDb: The Last Temptation of Christ
• Wikipedia: Jesus Christ Superstar
• The Quran: Sura 4 verse 157
• Wretched: The History of Easter
• Lee Strobel: Sermon on the Case for Christ
• Bill Gaither: Because He Lives

Matthew 28:1-10 (He has Risen)

 

Matthew 28:1-10

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, 

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord 

came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, 

rolled back the stone and sat on it. 

His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 

The guards were so afraid of him 

that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel 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.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, 

afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. 

Suddenly Jesus met them. 

“Greetings,” He said. 

They came to Him, 

clasped His feet 

and worshiped Him.  

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. 

Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see Me.”

Like a slow sunrise, the first Easter morning started in a dark place; in shadow.

Then God's heavenly soliders, the angels, came to shake things up in our world.

Obedient to God, they rolled the stone over Jesus' tomb away.

They had to make a straight path for the Lord to travel (Mark 1:3).

They saw it was dark, but they knew the Son of Man would rise.

Then onto the scene come humans, us who are a little lower than the angels (Psalm 8:5).

And to a group of women, those who will bear the seeds of generations, the angels speak.

The angels say plainly that they came looking for a dead man, but they won't find Him here.

"Why do you look for the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5)

No one will ever find Jesus, our Lord and Savior, among the dead, because He is not there.

He is risen!

Look for Him among the living, because He is alive!

The world says that death is a certainty in life, but when the women heard this, it wasn't anymore.

They shook with fear at the truth of life beyond the grave.

They were filled with joy knowing death is not the end.

It will be just as Jesus said,

"“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming 

when all who are in their graves will hear [the Father's] voice 

and come out.

Those who have done what is good will rise 

to live, 

and those who have done what is evil will rise 

to be condemned" (John 5:28-29).

They believed that death had been defeated, and that Jesus was alive!

And then they saw Him.

The Son of Man had risen.

He said to them,

"Good morning!"

As if it were any other day.

It wasn't just any other day.

That day more than any before really was a good morning.

That is the good news of the morning.

That is the good news of every morning.

Good morning!

He is risen!

Source

• The Bible (New International Version)

Why did Jesus not want to go to the Cross?

Do you know why Jesus did not want to go to the cross? This is not a trick question. I'm not purposefully trying to mislead. There's no extra semantics behind these words. I'm asking if you understand why it was that Jesus did not want to go to the cross.

On the night before Jesus died He and His disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane. In that garden Jesus went away from His disciples, so that He could pray. As it is recorded in the Word of God, there is only one thing Jesus prayed that night. We read about it in the gospel of Matthew where it says, "Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will"" (26:39). Jesus prayed this same prayer three times (Matthew 26:42, 44). The gospel of Luke writes about this same prayer describing the anguish and the physical pain in which Jesus was, as He prayed. We read in Luke chapter 22 from verses 39 to 44:

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples followed Him. On reaching the place, He said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

The name Gethsemane means "to press," and it was in that garden
where Jesus was pressed so much His blood dripped out.

Jesus prayed in such anguish that His Father sent an angel to comfort Him. He was so distraught by what was about to happen that He began to sweat blood. This is a rare medical condition known as hematidrosis, and studies state it occurs in someone when their "fight or flight" instinct is deeply triggered; when someone is warring against their urge to escape from turmoil. What turmoil did Jesus struggle to face? It was the cup that He prayed would be taken from Him (Mark 14:36). It was His death that He prophesied (John 12:31-33). It was the cross.

Why did Jesus not want to go to the cross? If we think about the cross as simply the way in which Jesus died, this question doesn't make much sense. Jesus Himself said, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die" (John 11:25), so it seems bizarre (even somewhat hypocritical) that Jesus would not want to die. He knew that His death would not be the end of His life, because "whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16), and who could have believed in Jesus more than Himself? Jesus even spoke through parables that when a righteous man dies they are immediately brought up to heaven (Luke 16:22), and Jeus knew after He died He would be going to heaven (Luke 23:43). Moreso it appears foolish for Jesus to be afraid of His death to the point of wanting to not suffer, as it was Him who said, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). So, what's going on here?

What's going on is that Jesus was a human; fully God and fully man (Hebrews 2:17). Humans are afflicted with temptation, and every temptation appeals to a human's sinful desires, the desires of the flesh. Scripture says, "the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want" (Galatians 5:17), and Jesus' flesh and Spirit were in conflict that night. His flesh wanted so much to run away from the cross and not look back, but His Spirit warred against those earthly desires for the sake of His Father's desires, for "it was the LORD's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer," (Isaiah 53:10a). Understand it was God's will for His one and only son to not only die on a cross but suffer every last torment and blow Jesus endured all through the night, into the morning and then to conclude on the afternoon of Good Friday. Thank God that His will was accomplished that day. Praise the Lord and Savior of the world that He did not run away, but instead conquered the desires of His flesh so that He could stay and endure all the pain, evil and anguish of His death until at last He could cry, "It is finished," (John 19:30).

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

- The Seldom Scene

Because Jesus did not flee from the cross, what did He suffer? You see, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was like no other death in history (past, present or future). Even if someone were to endure the same physical pain that was unjustly brought upon Jesus (which includes being flogged (Matthew 27:26), having His head pierced with thorns (John 19:2), having His bones pulled out of joint (Psalm 22:14), being stricken so much that His bones were visible (Psalm 22:17)), they still would not, nor could they ever endure what was the true nature of all of Jesus' pain. It is written in the Scriptures that anyone who hangs upon a cross is cursed (Deuteronomy 21:23), and the curse Jesus faced was like no other.

The pain Jesus suffered on the cross had no word for it at the time,
so a new word was created to describe Christ's suffering, and that
word is excruciating, which in Latin means "out of the Cross".

To understand the true curse Jesus was under on the cross, we have to examine the cup that Jesus prayed would pass from Him. This cup did not first appear in the Biblical texts at Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane. It appeared hundreds of years before back in the Old Testament. There was a prophet named Jeremiah to whom the LORD spoke, and one day He told Jeremiah, "Take from My hand this cup filled with the wine of My wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. When they drink it, they will stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them" (Jeremiah 25:15-16). Jeremiah writes that he did take that cup to all of the kings of Israel and the neighboring nations, yet none of them could drink it. The kings knew to drink it would "make them a ruin and an object of horror and scorn, a curse," (Jeremiah 25:18). God said that anyone who did not drink it, would be told to drink it and if they did not drink it they would not go unpunished (Jeremiah 25:27-29). It is written in the Scriptures, "In the hand of the Lord is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; He pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs" (Psalm 75:8). None of the kings to which the cup was given could drink it, and so all the nations were punished.

That cup from God's hand was God's wrath against sin, and the punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23a). Following death those who are wicked will be sent away from the goodness of God and into a place known as hell (Luke 13:28). God does not turn a blind eye to sin, and so it is wise to say, "God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed," (Ecclesiastes 3:17). Whoever God judges a sinner is one who will be under His wrath, as surely as it is written, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness," (Romans 1:18). We are all sinners (Romans 3:23). We all deserve God's wrath. We all deserve to drink God's cup, yet none of us can.

It was the Father's will that the cup of His wrath should be given in full
to His son, so that no one else would have to drink it, which is
mercy and grace like none of us could ever know apart from God.

Who is it who has drank this cup, so that no one else will have to? Who is it who suffered the fullness of God's wrath, so that no human will have to endure it? What man took on such pain, torment and anguish that no man has ever experienced nor will ever experience? Who did this, so that we could be set free from our sin debt to God? Who is it?

It is Jesus the Christ who died to take upon the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2), so that anyone who believes in Him shall never be under the punishment of God (Romans 8:1-2). It was for our sake that "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). It is Jesus Christ alone!

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe.

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live.

- Stuart Townend

Believe in Jesus Christ's life and sacrifice for you, so that you may live. Know that "whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them," (John 3:36). This is the love God has shown us through the cross. It is written, "God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!" (Romans 5:8-9).

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Got Questions: The Cup Jesus Drank
• WebMD: Hematidrosis
• That the World May Know: Gethsemane Meaning
• Johnny Cash: Were you There
• Truth Chasers: Excruciating
• Open Bible Info: God's Wrath Poured out on Jesus
• Newsboys: In Christ Alone

John 12:13 "Hosanna!"

 

John 12:13

They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting, “Hosanna!”

“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the King of Israel!”

In the time when Jesus lived on earth, He was adored and well known by many people (to say the least). After His multiple year long ministry of preaching, healing and performing miracles, Jesus and His disciples made their way to the city of Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. When Jesus entered in through the city gates, He was riding on a donkey and many people came to see Him. They laid down palm branches and their cloaks before Jesus (Matthew 21:8). The massive crowds going before and following Jesus shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" (Matthew 21:9). The crowds were so loud and massive that the entire city of Jerusalem was stirred and everyone was asking who it was who had entered into their city (Matthew 21:10). The crowds answered these people, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee" (Matthew 21:11).

This is a beautiful historical image; one that we find in all four of the gospels. What a glorious sight it must have been to see the crowds singing praise to Jesus. What a marvel it must have been to hear them all shout blessings to Him. What power their words must have had to stir up every single person in the city. What a display it must have been.

So, why did all of this happen? What does it mean?

To understand the significance of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, we have to look further back into history; hundreds of years back. Long before Jesus was born, there was a priest living in Judah in the time after the Babylonians returned the Jewish people to their shambled homeland. This priest was Zechariah. He received prophecies from the LORD. One of God's most famous prophecies given through Zechariah is found in the book of Zechariah in chapter 9 from verse 9 to 13:

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!

    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your King comes to you,

    righteous and victorious,

lowly and riding on a donkey,

    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

I will take away the chariots from Ephraim

    and the warhorses from Jerusalem,

    and the battle bow will be broken.

He will proclaim peace to the nations.

    His rule will extend from sea to sea

    and from the River to the ends of the earth.

As for you, because of the blood of My covenant with you,

    I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.

Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope;

    even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

I will bend Judah as I bend my bow

    and fill it with Ephraim.

I will rouse your sons, Zion,

    against your sons, Greece,

    and make you like a warrior’s sword.

When the Jewish people living in a distraught post-exilic Israel heard this prophecy, various phrases likely stood out to them. They would have rejoiced to hear that a new King from the line of David is coming to them (9:9). All they have to look for to recognize Him is that He will ride into Jerusalem on a donkey; particularly a young newly born (likely never before ridden). The Jewish people would have also taken note that this King will take away every nation's cries for battle (9:10a). This King will make peace between every nation with a limitless rule (9:10b). The people of Israel to whom God was faithful would see their prisoners set free and all their captive warriors would return back to Israel's fortresses (9:11-12). Lastly, God was going to raise up their nation for battle; their nation of Judah was going to be used like God's bow and all of Israel would become God's arrows in His quiver (9:13). God said He would sling these arrows against Greece; the foreign kings in control of Judah and Israel. God promised the Jewish people that He would make them like a sword and use them to take on the entire nation of Greece (Who do you think would win in that fight; men or God?). 

This is a powerful prophecy given by God, and The Jewish people knew that God is faithful to His word. God has told Israel time and time again, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen" (Isaiah 14:24). What God says will happen is going to happen. Even Zechariah told Israel that the LORD does as He determines to do (Zechariah 1:6b). This prophecy will come true.

Jump ahead hundreds of years to a morning marking the start of the week leading to Passover (the most important celebration to the Jewish people). Jesus was with His disciples and He sent two of them to a nearby village to go "find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her," and Jesus told them, "Untie them and bring them to me" (Matthew 21:2). Jesus told His disciples, "If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and He will send them right away.” (Matthew 21:3). 

You can imagine how the people who saw the disciples coming to them for a donkey and her colt responded, when they were told that the Lord needs them. They might have thought, "Well, the Lord means our King, and the last time we were told that our King would need a young colt would be to ride on into Jerusalem. And if our King is about to ride into Jerusalem on a colt, then that means that He will be a son of David, which means He will come to fulfil all of the prophecies Zechariah mentioned about a great ceasefire and battling Greece and Rome and... I gotta get to Jerusalem right away!"

In modern day Jerusalem many believers gather on Palm Sunday in large crowds
 at the place where the city gates once stood in celebration of Jesus' Triumphal Entry.

Word spread fast about this joyous news, and soon massive crowds (plural) were gathering outside and inside Jerusalem. The people in the crowds brought palm branches and their cloaks to lay them down before their King as He entered into Jerusalem, just like their ancestors did with the Jewish kings of old (2 Kings 9:13). When they saw Jesus really arriving into Jerusalem definitely riding on a young never before riden colt (you could tell it was so young, because its mother was with it), they started to shout praises saying, "ὡσαννά!" (hosanna), which is a phrase of adoration meaning, "Oh, Save!" or "Save us now!" The Jewish people were crying out to Jesus saying "Save us!" and they knew Zechariah's prophecy so they mainly meant, "Save us from our enemies of Greece and Rome!"

Again, I will say to have been a part of this moment must have been overwhelming and beautiful...and yet...yet it was rather hollow.

You see, the Jewish people praising Jesus saw Him as their next King from the line of David (Matthew 1:17). They saw Him as their new powerful ruler; an unconquerable one at that (John 10:17-18). They saw Him as their savior from their enemies of the earth (Psalm 57:6). They saw Him as the one who would raise them up to be an unstoppable army (John 1:5). All that is true; it's absolutely Biblically true... but the people who believed only these things missed sight of the greatest thing Jesus had come to do; something that would make all of those wonderful things infinitely more glorious.

Many who saw Jesus did not recognize His true reason for coming,
 because their hearts and minds were blinded by God (John 12:40).

The Jewish people back then, like us believers, were fond of appreciating one part of Scripture but also separating it from its surrounding verses. To read Zechariah's prophecy from chapter 9 alone misses the greater context and meaning behind it. If you read the first section of Zechariah in chapter 1 from verses 2 to 6 you will be able to read what God Himself says is the context behind His words in the book of Zechariah:

"The Lord was very angry with your [Judah's] ancestors. Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to Me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty. Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to Me, declares the Lord. Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever? But did not My words and my decrees, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors?"

What we read here from the mouth of God is that the prophecies of Zechariah were given because God was angry with His people, because they did not listen to His prophets and they did not obey His commands. Instead God's chosen people chose to commit evil practices, sin. Following this, Zechariah writes down the visions He receives: God measuring Jerusalem, the priests receiving clean garments, bowls representing God's Word, and a flying scroll signifying a curse on the house of anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD (Zechariah chapters 2 through 5).

What does all this mean? It means the King is coming. He is coming, because His holy city of Jerusalem does not measure up to His standard of perfection; it is filled with sin (Ezekiel 9:9). He is coming to clothe those who follow Him in righteousness, so that they will not have their sins on them anymore (Revelation 22:14). He is coming to proclaim His Word and the words of God to all people (John 12:49). He is coming so that those who blaspheme His name will be put under a curse (John 15:22). The King is coming to save His people not just from their enemies (Matthew 6:13). He is coming to save people from their sins (Romans 6:23).

Make a way for the King

The King is coming

- Newsboys

Yes, Jesus is our King, a son of David, an unconquerable ruler, and the one who raises up His people to be an unstoppable army for His namesake, but above all of this Jesus is our Savior, the Messiah.

You see, it was not impossible for any other human entering Jerusalem on a donkey to be a son of David who would someday become king, appear to be an undefeated force, rule with power making peace between the nations and rise up and defeat the Greeks and the Romans. If God willed it so that a human would have the right heritage, courage, power and tenacity to do all that, then that would have happened. That was not God's desire though. God's desire was to do something impossible by human means. God could not have willed any man, any born sinner under the curse of Adam (Romans 5:12), to come to Jerusalem and be the one who could save and forgive sins, but it was God's desire for the world to be forgiven. No man can forgive sins; no ordinary man can save us from the unimaginable weight of our guilt before God. Only God can forgive sins (Mark 2:10), and that is who came to Jerusalem riding on a donkey. He was the one who would bear the sins of the world (Isaiah 53:6). He was God in flesh (Isaiah 7:14). He was and is our Messiah.

Jesus came to Jerusalem the first time on a donkey,
 but the next time will be on a white horse, and all those
 He has saved will be with Him (Revelation 19:11-16).

This is the great magnificence and beauty behind Jesus' fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy. Israel, which includes those living in Israel and those who have been saved through Christ (Romans 2:28-29), should rejoice when they see Jesus enter Jerusalem, because it proves that He has victory over the power of sin (Zechariah 9:9). He will be faithful to His people and He will free them from the waterless pit of hell (Zechariah 9:11). He will make His people like a sword against the evil in this world (Zechariah 9:13), so that they may go to the far reaches of the earth and fight the lofty sinful opinions (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) of those opposed to Christ and Him crucified for the forgiveness of sins (1 Corinthians 2:2).

On Palm Sunday we believers cry out to God, "Hosanna!"; "Save us now!" We cry out knowing that our Lord Jesus Christ is our Messiah; the Savior from sin. We sing praise and worship God in the highest with our voices, because we know it is assured, "If we confess our sins [to God], He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

Hosanna!, hosanna!

You are the God Who saves us, worthy of all our praises

Hosanna!, hosanna!

Come have Your way among us

We welcome You here, Lord Jesus

-Brenton Brown

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• BibleStudyTools: 30 Verses on Palm Sunday
• BibleHub: Hosanna
• OpenBibleInfo: Jesus Saves us from Sins
• Newsboys - The King is Coming
• WWUTT: Has the Church replaced Israel?
• Brenton Brown - Hosanna (Praise is Rising)