From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. – Matt. 16:21 NIVLent marks the period leading to the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus.
For Jesus, it was the ‘beginning of the end’ because people would not "buy in" to the Good News. What Jesus was suggesting was radical, new, and different.
Jesus idea of things as they ought to be was not popular. Some people didn't like that. "Crucify Him’ was their cry.
But this is also ‘the end of the beginning.’ The Resurrection follows Jesus' death. God has all power in Heaven and on earth. It is only the end of what was the beginning of His plan for the salvation of mankind.
For God's plan to work there had to be a sorting out of all the little problems that mankind had created. His original intention was a perfect world. That was not to be. For some reason, mankind has insisted since the beginning of creation that he knows better than the Creator how all this should work.
The penalty for disobedience was to be eternal separation from God. The loving Father did not want destroy His creation but also He could not fail to administer justice.
There was only One left who could be perfect and capable of absorbing all our sins: God. Jesus experienced the punishment on our behalf. He was ‘forsaken’ by God on the Cross.
Easter Sunday will mark just the conclusion of the first part of God's plan of salvation for those who will trust in Jesus as Lord of their lives.
Robert Scott is a pastor and the author of ADVERTISING MURDER, LOST YOUTH and MURDER EXPRESS, titles in the Jack Elton Mystery series, Published by AVALON Books, New York
1 comment:
You can always be counted on for a clear presentation of some important aspect of the Gospel, Robert, and in this Lenten reading and message, you've done it again.
Thank you.
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