[:en]THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 27:62-66, 28:1-20
THE PURPOSES OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION:
A) – TO PROVE THAT HE IS THE SON OF GOD (ROMANS 1:4)
While Jesus was on earth, Satan took Him to the holy city standing at the highest point of the temple and said to Him: “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: “He will command His angels covering you and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone”. Jesus answered him: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (Mat. 4:5-7). In human point of view, since Jesus is God, so, if he really jumped from the mountain top, he won’t be hurt and it would prove that He is the Son of God. However, Jesus looked it in another point of view. If He really did what Satan told him to do, that will tantamount to listening to Satan’s command. Instead of proving He as the Son of God, Satan will brag about his authority over Jesus. That is why Jesus refused to do so.
When Jesus was crucified on the cross, Satan used the same tactic through the people, the chief priests and the thief. People who passed by said: “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in 3 days, save yourself! Come down from the cross if you are the Son of God”. The chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked Him saying: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself. He is 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” (Mat. 27:28-43). And the thief also hurled insults against Jesus saying: “Aren’t you Christ? Save yourself and us” (Luke 23:39)
If Jesus wanted to come down from the cross, he had the power to do so. But He chose to listen to His Father to be our redeemer and Savior. He submitted to His Father’s will till death. But after 3 days, His resurrection had proven that He is really the Son of God.
B) – TO JUSTIFY US IN RIGHTEOUSNESS (ROMANS 4:22-25)
The penalty of sin is death. Therefore all sinners are condemned to die. But Jesus substitutes us by taking the penalty in our behalf. His death is for our sins and His resurrection is for our justification. We are being justified through faith in Christ. What a wonderful and amazing grace!
C) -TO BE ALIVE TO GOD IN CHRIST JESUS ( ROMANS 6:8-14)
To be alive to God in Christ means to offer our body to Him as instrument of righteousness. We no longer let sin reign in our mortal body. All our evil desires and wickedness have been brought to death. “For sin shall not be your master because you are not under law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:14)
D) -TO INTERCEDE FOR US IN HEAVEN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD (ROMANS 8:34)
Jesus is praying for us in heaven. He prays for our healing when we are sick. He prays for our strength when we are weak. He prays for our comfort when we are sad. He also provides our needs and guides our ways. No wonder Paul said: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:38)
There are many religions in this world. But only Christianity has two unique things : the CROSS and the RESURRECTION. These are the center of our belief and the foundation of our faith. Praise God for His death that brings about salvation. Praise God for His resurrection that brings us justification to be alive in Christ.
As we commemorate Easter Sunday today, may we be filled with His resurrection power to fight the good fight for Christ.
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