‘Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

As Jesus was about to descend into the realm of the dead, he committed his spirit to the Father. As for his body, it was kept under maximum security! The Jews requested Pilate that Romans soldiers be assigned to guard the tomb against his disciples from stealing his body. God had also assigned angels to guard the tomb against the devil from stealing his body. Remember, after Moses’ death, there was a dispute between the Archangel Michael and the devil about the body of Moses and the Lord rebuked the devil. ( Jude 1:9) So both men and angels were guarding the body of Jesus. Meanwhile, his spirit ‘descended to the lower earthly regions ( Greek meros means portion or part) or the depths of the earth’ ( Ephesians 4:9) to Paradise which was the resting place for the righteous dead; where the thief on the cross was to join him. But Jesus went beyond Paradise, into Sheol ( Greek Hades), which is the abode of the wicked dead. Jesus himself had said that “as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” ( Matthew 12:40) Jesus was willing to go any depth to save man and he trusted the Father to raise him up on the third day. No one has been resurrected from Sheol or Hades. All those who have been resurrected before were raised from Paradise. Psalm 18 has a strange description about a man who escaped from Sheol : ‘The cords of death entangled me. The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave ( Sheol ) coiled around me, the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called out to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice, my cry came before him, into his ears … He reached down from on high and took hold of me … He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes who are too strong for me ...’ This Psalm seems to be far- fetched (unlikely and unconvincing) because it cannot be true about the sufferings of David. Could it then be a Messianic Psalm, speaking about the aftermath of Christ’s death? Since Jesus holds the ‘keys of death and Hades’ (Revelation 1:18), it therefore means that he indeed descended beyond paradise into Hades where he even preached to ‘spirits in prison’ who disobeyed during the time of the flood. ( 1 Peter 3:19-20) There will come a day when ‘death and Hades will give up the dead that are in them‘ (Revelation 20:13) because Jesus has conquered ‘death and Hades’ and he holds the keys ( meaning authority over that place).

Death was the last enemy ( 1 Corinthians 15:26) Jesus overcame. ‘During his days on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death.’ (Hebrews 5:7) He had authority to lay down his life and to take it up ( John 10:17) but he had to be delivered from the clutches of death. God’s Spirit can reach out for those in Hades, as the Psalmist says: ‘Where can I go from your Spirit … If I make my bed in the depths ( Hebrew: Sheol) you are there.’ ( 139: 8) God’s power was exerted in Christ when he was raised from the dead. ‘That power was like the working of his mighty strength which was exerted in Christ when God raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms far above call rule and authority, power and dominion.’ (Ephesians 1:19-21) Death could not contain him! The grave could not hold him! ‘And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.’ (Colossians 2:15) Not only did Jesus overcome death, but all the saints in Paradise, who we captives of death, were resurrected together with him, ‘when he ascended on high.’ (Ephesians 4:8) The thief probably had the shortest stay in Paradise! Hallelujah! And then in judgement he will open Hades and lead all men out to be judged. ‘Then death and Hades will be thrown into the Lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, they will be thrown into the lake of fire.’ (Revelation 20:14-15)

Just as Jesus committed his spirit to the Father, we too have committed our spirits to God, when we accepted Jesus as our Saviour. Therefore Paul wrote: ‘I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.’ (2 Timothy 1:12) ‘He who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to our mortal bodies.’ (Romans 8:11) Sleep is a simulation of death. That is why death is also called sleep. What guarantee is there that we will wake up in the morning, unless God wakes us up each day? So will it be at the first trumpet, when the ‘dead in Christ shall rise’. ( 1 Thessalonians 4:14-16) We must be certain about the power of the resurrection, just as Jesus was certain that the power of God will raise him up from Sheol. Jesus assured his disciples that they will be raised up on the last day. “And this is the will of him who sent me that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:39-40) What a blessed assurance! Amen.

“It is finished.” (John 19:30)

What was it that was finished? Jesus himself had said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law and the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17). He was often accused of not following the law but infact it were teachings of the elders that he didn’t follow because they were the ‘teachings of men’. ( Matthew 15:2-9) The essence of the law is to love God and man which Jesus obeyed but to men it seemed that he didn’t obey the letter of the law.

1. The law was fulfilled.

What is the law ( Torah)? What does it do? The law differentiates between good and evil, right and wrong. Man received this discernment at the garden of Eden when he ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But he could not live by this knowledge because the Spirit of God had left him and was spiritually dead even before the law was given in writing. The law only reiterated what they already knew. For instance, there was nothing new about the ten commandments because what was stated was already known to man. Of the ten commandments, the fifth commandment stated what is to be done and the rest stated what should not be done. Now that it was given in written form, the Israelites no longer had any excuse. For that matter all ‘men are without excuse’. ( Romans 1:20) because the requirements of the law was written in their hearts . ‘Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness …‘ ( Romans 2:12-16)

What was the purpose of adding the law ( Torah)? ‘Sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses.’ (Romans 5:14) But as transgressions increased, it had to be checked untill the Seed to whom the promise referred to had come. Therefore, the law ‘was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come.’ (Galatians 3:19) The law was also added so that ‘sin might be recognised as sin’ (Romans 7: 7-13) and as a result sin increased. ‘The law was added so that trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.’ (Romans 5:20) Only by grace could a man abide by the law but ‘grace and truth came through Christ’. ( John 1:17) That is why it is said that only Jesus had succeeded to live by the Torah (law) because he alone had the Spirit of grace in him to abide by the Torah (law).

What was the effect of adding the law (Torah)? ‘But sin seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment produced in me every kind of sinful desire.’ (Romans 7:8-13) As with the knowledge of good and evil, the knowledge of the law did not decrease the desire to sin but rather increased it! In short the sinful nature failed the law! ‘For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.‘ (Romans 8:3-4) When they crucified Jesus to the cross: one in whom the Torah ( law) was fulfilled, they figuratively nailed the Torah ( law) to the cross. ‘He forgave us all our sins having cancelled the written code, with its rules and regulations that was against us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.’ (Colossians 2:14) In accepting Jesus as our Saviour; the one in whom the Torah ( law ) was fulfilled, the righteous requirements of the Torah (law ) are fully met in us, thus qualifying us to receive the ‘promise of the Spirit’. (Acts 1:4, Galatians 3:14)

2. Prophecies were fulfilled.

As was his name, so was his mission! He fulfilled the mission assigned to him. It was at the end of his mission that he said, “It is finished”. He wouldn’t give up until everything was accomplished. There were hundreds of prophecies concerning every aspect of his life and the probability of all these prophecies being fulfilled in one man is astounding! The fact that he knew all was complete, so that Scriptures would be fulfilled, proves that he was full of the word. Ofcourse, he is the ‘Word that out on flesh and dwelt among us’. Therefore he is called the ‘Living Word’. The prophets themselves were eager to see the fulfillment of the prophecies! ‘Concerning this salvation the prophets who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.’ (1 Peter 1:10-11) The Apostles too knew the prophecies in Scripture. ( Acts 2:16, 15:15) Just as every word of prophecy concerning Christ was fulfilled, so will every word of prophecy spoken over us be fulfilled. Do we know or even remember what was said about us? Jesus knew, so did the Apostles! Paul knew he would not die in Jerusalem but will go to Rome. Paul reminded Timothy of the prophecies concerning him ( 1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:6) and asked him to ‘fan into flame the gift of God’. Jesus was passionate about finishing the task assigned to him – the task of taking the sin of the world – which he did completely! Therefore, he uttered, “It is finished.” Believe in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Amen.

‘Later knowing that all was now completed and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28)

Just as people long to quench their thirst after a physically exhausting activity, Jesus too asked for a drink and he was offered wine vinegar. He permitted his physical thirst to be quenched before his death because he was being human. To interpret that it was a spiritual thirst for souls, is to ignore his human dimension and portray him as super human. The gospel writers took note of his hunger, thirst and tiredness. Had it been a spiritual thirst, he should have declined to drink but Scripture says he received the drink. ( Vs 30) He would not have asked for a drink, if he intended to purposely decline to create an aura of his super human strength for everyone to see. But he showed himself to be human by just asking for a drink and it reminds us not to be super spiritual. Yet when he was offered wine to drink the first time, as he was about to be crucified, he refused to drink because after tasting it, he knew it was mixed with gall, a pain reliever of sorts. ( Matthew 27:34) It was the usual practice to give stupefying potions to those who were being crucified, to numb their senses so that they will not be able to sense the excruciating pain. Offering him gall and vinegar was in fulfillment of prophecy. ‘They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.’ (Psalm 69:21) He refused to drink because he was willing to face the full extent of the pain. He wanted to be alert and not sedated. He stayed sober and in his right mind throughout his ordeal. There are those who drink to alleviate their sufferings or indulge in food and entertainment or social media to forget their woes. But the Spirit gives a believer soundness of mind, just as he gave Jesus, so that we will have the presence of mind to endure our cross.

Before he let his physical thirst be quenched, he satisfied his spiritual thirst and hunger, of which he spoke many times. Once when his disciples had gone to buy food because Jesus was tired ( John 4:6), a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well and Jesus asked her for a drink. In the midst of the talk, Jesus forgot all about his thirst and she forgot to offer him a drink! Instead, he offers her ‘living waters’. Later on, when his disciples arrived with food, they urged him to eat (vs 31) but Jesus seemed to have had his fill! He said, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about … “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (Vs 32-34) So now having finished his work, he permitted his physical thirst, that he felt before his death, to be quenched. He was not overcome by the physical but was overcome by his zeal for God. He exhibited an order of priority – spiritual over the physical. He didn’t deny the physical but placed the spiritual over and above the physical. Jesus has given us a model to live by. How many times we have been overcome by the flesh! Our hunger doesn’t permit us to fast. Our sleepiness or tiredness wouldn’t permit us to pray at night. Those who cannot control their appetites are termed as ‘carnal’ or ‘worldly’ ( 1 Corinthians 3:1). Paul did not call them ‘unbelievers’ but ‘mere infants in Christ’, because though they believe, yet they are controlled by their appetites, just as infants are! Those overcome by their physical appetites are still controlled by the sinful nature and not by the Spirit. Esau, who could not control his hunger, was later called ‘godless’, though being a good man. ‘See to it that no one is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterwards, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind though he sought the blessings with tears’ (Hebrews 12:16-17) because ‘the one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction. The one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.’ (Galatians 6:8) Do not indulge in the physical at the cost of the spiritual! Amen.

At the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice,”Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani” – which means,”My God, My God why have you forsaken me.” (Matthew 27:46)

His first utterance was a prayer to God for the forgiveness of his persecutors. His second utterance was a promise to the one whom appealed to him for kindness. His third utterance was a sober charge to take care of his mother. These three utterances were made soon after he was crucified at the third hour (9 am). Then at the sixth hour (12 pm), darkness covered the land until the ninth hour (3 pm). It is interesting to note that he said nothing during these three hours. There was a prolonged silence as everyone awaited his death. His long hours of silence is a sign of his submission to God. He patiently bore the pain of his suffering and spoke nothing. In six hours he uttered just seven phrases and that reveals his fortitude (courage in pain or adversity). Our hours of agony would have been characterized by many words which would expose our character. He spoke, only if it was warranted or else he kept his mouth shut. That is a remarkable feat few of his followers have mastered ! Then at the ninth hour, after being on the cross for six hours; when it was time to give up his Spirit, he cries out something that those around him obviously didn’t understand. ‘When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He is calling Elijah.” ( Vs 47) He was probably speaking in an unknown tongue but the Gospel writer Matthew interprets it for us by the Spirit as, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” It was more a statement of submission than of unbelief! Those words were the fulfilment of the prophecy made by David in Psalm 22, where a righteous man cries out to God in distress but God seems to be distant and silent. Time seems to pass by slowly! He could have given up his spirit anytime because he had ‘authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.’ (John 10:18). So what was he waiting for? The wrath of God to pass? He was accursed (to be under a curse) ‘because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse‘. (Deuteronomy 21:23) ‘It was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer’ (Isaiah 53:10) for ‘God made him who had no sin to be a sin offering for us …’ ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 ) The darkness was therefore not an indication of God’s sorrow at his Son’s death but rather the wrath of God against sin. Could it be that as he cried out at the ninth hour, darkness left immediately? Thereafter knowing that the God’s wrath has passed by, says: ” I am thirsty”, in preparation for his death, because everything was fulfilled. This utterance on the cross gives insight into Christ’s absolute dependence and submission to God. Later on the Apostle Peter wrote: ‘Those who suffer according to God’s will should submit themselves to their faithful creator and continue to do good.’ (1 Peter 4:19) How our Lord has demonstrated it on the cross! His life simply agrees with his words, as if they are one and the same! Or in other words, his life and his words are in sync, unlike anyone we have known before! He is indeed a leader worth following. His life was a fulfilment of the prophecy made by David in Psalm 22 which is called the ‘Song of the cross’ because it describes the sufferings of a righteous man with no relief from God. It sounds like a mob scene, a lynching. The righteous man’s enemies have him. They surround him, jeering like a pack of dogs! He is helpless and exhausted! All he can do is to cry out to God. He wavers back and forth, first crying out in his misery, then taking stock of God’s goodness. Although, his cry has gone up day and night, God remains silent! A person might read Psalm 22 as an extravagant poetic description of David’s troubles because it doesn’t seem to fit David’s life but it does fit the life of Jesus. Infact Jesus and his disciples saw something more! When Jesus was dying, he had this Psalm on his lips. Afterwards, when his disciples wanted to explain Jesus’ life and sufferings, they turned to it. In it, the disciples saw a pattern and foreshadowing. The pattern is called ‘Redemptive suffering’, where a righteous man goes through tremendous suffering. But that suffering has a purpose. After it and because of it comes victory and power and salvation of the world. Hallelujah! If good men may suffer while God remains silent – if Christ himself knew these pains, though being the Son of God – then no one may be exempt! Scripture says that ‘during the days of Christ’s life on earth, he made petitions with loud cries to the one who could save him from death and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learnt obedience from what he suffered and once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.’ (Hebrews 5:7–9) This pattern helped Jesus’ followers to appreciate why Jesus, along with his followers had to suffer. Does this encourage us to submit to God today, no matter what! In the end, it will turn out for our good! Amen.

“Dear woman, here is your son” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” (John 19:26)

The passage names all who were present at the foot of the cross, which included his mother Mary, his mother’s sister Mary, wife of Cleopas, Mary Magdalene and John, the disciple whom Jesus loved. But many others were missing, notably his own brothers because they didn’t believe in him ( John 7:5) and his disciples who said they would never leave ( Matthew 14:19) but had deserted him, including Peter! ( John 18:15) Those present at the were those who believed in him and loved him. At the foot of the cross, a new family is formed called the ‘family of believers’. Also new responsibilities and bonds are formed at the foot of the cross. Once when his family came to meet him, he asked, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers and sisters?” Pointing to his disciples, he said,”Here are my mother, my brothers and my sisters. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:48-50) Elsewhere it says, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” (Luke 8:21) Why were they there to meet Jesus? ‘They went to take charge of him for they said, “He is out of his mind.” ( Mark 3:21) Jesus was very blunt with those who did not believe in him, be it his mother or brothers. At one point she seemed to be persuaded by his brothers but it is also said of Mary that she ‘treasured all these things in her heart’. (Luke 2:51)

Jesus looked around and saw his mother standing there together with a hand few of people who cared . All the rest had left the scene. His brothers were not to be seen for he was an embarrassment to them. Had not Mary been there, he would not have said what he said for there were his unbelieving brothers to take care of his unbelieving mother. Since she was there, he would not entrust his believing mother into the hands of his unbelieving brothers. Even in his agony, he was mindful of his mother’s state and made sure that she will be taken care of. He would rather entrust his mother to the only disciple present there, instead of letting Mary go back home to his brothers to face ridicule. ‘From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.’ Not that Mary didn’t have another home to go nor any relatives to look after her. But Jesus was sensitive to the situation. Until his resurrection, she had to be shielded from accusing voices. He wouldn’t let anyone abuse her; the very tenderness he showed to the Holy Spirit and would not let anyone rail against him. We see the heart of Jesus to care for those who are his family. His family, as he himself had pointed out, consists of those who believe. Just as Jesus is mindful of the ‘family of believers’, so should his disciples be mindful ! Jesus gave John a new responsibility without being told what to do. John took her home because he understood what Jesus meant. We know what we are supposed to do for the ‘family of believers’, without even being told what to do, but we refuse to go out of the way to help fellow believers because they are not afterall our family. But the Church too is a family and its members, though strangers, are related to one another by the blood of Jesus. Just as Joseph took care for his 72 blood relatives during the famine ( Genesis 45:11), even so Jesus will take care of those who are his blood relatives. We cannot walk away from the need of a fellow believer as if we didn’t see it. Jesus might ask us to accommodate in our homes those who are being persecuted for their faith, though they are not related to us by our blood but are related to us by the blood of Jesus, until everything is peaceful for them to return to their homes. Just as Jesus was mindful of his mother even in his agony, we should be mindful of others and forget not to show kindness. Often in our pain or lack, we do not have the presence of mind to hear or take note of someone else’s pain or lack but Jesus exhibited tremendous presence of mind, which is a fruit of the Spirit. ( 2 Timothy 1:7) We are told to ‘share with God’s people who are in need and to practice hospitality.’ ( Romans 12:13) ‘Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.’ (Galatians 6:10) Amen

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

The thief on the cross had a revelation about the identity of Jesus for he heard him pray: “Father forgive them …” Never in his life had he heard anyone pray that their killers be forgiven. The man had to be the Son of God to pray thus and he even heard him address God as his Father! What he heard was so profound that it moved his heart. He saw that the man did not exhibit resentment nor rant while on the cross but he silently bore the agony of injustice. He didn’t see the man trying to get down from the cross or trying to save himself. There was a peace about this man! He heard the rulers sneer at the man, saying, “He saved others . Let him save himself, if he is Christ of God, the chosen one.” ( vs 35) He also heard the soldiers mock him, saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” ( Vs 37) He saw the inscription above his cross, which read: ‘Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews’ ( Vs 38). All that he heard and saw overwhelmed him but he still maintained his silence! There were others who had heard and read the same but they had no revelation about the identity of Jesus but the thief on the cross perceived that this man who was being crucified with him was not of this world. He reasoned that if Jesus is a King, then he would have a kingdom which might not be of this world! Then when the other thief hurled insults at Jesus, he broke his silence to rebuke him, saying, “We are punished justly for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” It was after this that he turned to Jesus to make his appeal in response to the revelation he had. He probably had seen Jesus for the first time or might have heard of him before but got to see him now in a seemingly helpless state to appeal to him. Nevertheless, he did and he had to be quick, lest it be too late because Jesus was bleeding to death, so was he! He didn’t lose any time in responding to the revelation and spontaneously made his appeal to Jesus: “Remember me when you come in your kingly power.“ Those who heard him say this might have jeered at him but he unashamedly made his good confession of his faith in the person of Jesus. He was resigned to his fate and did not request like the other thief to save him from the cross but instead requested that he be remembered in the next life. What he said was so profound that Jesus could not be silent though he himself was in agony. Jesus had always acknowledged faith and he had to respond to this confession immediately before he himself would transcend death into eternal life. So his response was immediate and precise, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus entered paradise before the thief did as he died first, followed by the thief, making him the first to enter after Jesus. He who was the last became the first just as Jesus had predicted. “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:16) Jesus reached out to save a petty criminal whom the world had despised. True to his name he was a Saviour till the end. He died saving till the end. Jesus will reach out to anyone who calls on his name, for Scripture says: ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ ( Joel 2:32) While alive, he offered life to the dying. But now as he was dying, he offered eternal life to the dying. ‘In him was life and it was the light of men.‘ (John 1:4) How true to his statements were his last moments! He did not offer life the way the other criminal wanted but offered eternal life to the one who appealed to him. For he had said while he was alive: “I am the resurrection and life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.“ ( John 11:25-26) The criminal was least likely to be accepted by the righteous Pharisees but he was heartily welcomed to the kingdom by Jesus. No wonder the tax collectors and prostitutes were making their way into the kingdom when Jesus was the usherer. But his so called ‘disciples’ have been ‘exclusive’ throughout history, excluding many because they have been judgemental and narrow minded! Of them, it can be said: “You shut the kingdom of heaven at men’s faces. You yourself do not enter nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” (Matthew 28:13-24) The system judged him to be a misfit to live in this world but his faith in Jesus made him fit for the kingdom! Hallelujah! What a glorious salvation! It was Jesus’ forbearance of his persecutors that opened the doors of heaven for this criminal. Jesus did not consider him insignificant and beyond salvation. How long does it take to be saved? In an instant the thief received by faith what others have been striving for a lifetime! What does it take to be saved? Many like to believe that salvation is the reward for good works but it is not. The thief didn’t have any good works to boast about but he was saved by his timely confession, for Scripture says: ‘That if you confess with your mouth,” Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’ (Romans 10:9) The thief did believe that Jesus will be raised from the dead and that he will come back to his kingdom. Respond to the truth today, if it has been revealed to you as it was revealed to the thief. Not tomorrow ‘for today is the day of salvation.’ (2 Corinthians 6:2) The thief knew he too will be forgiven because Jesus had forgiven his killers. Ask boldly like the the thief. Jesus liked his boldness! It’s the proof of your faith! Amen.

“Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

What is it that they did not know?  They thought they were executing a criminal because Jesus was crucified with criminals. What was his crime? Blasphemy, because he claimed to be the Son of God, the Christ and equal with God. The Jews once gathered around him and said, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I did tell you but you do not believe … I and the Father are one …” Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him but Jesus said to them, ” … For which of these miracles do you stone me?” “We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy because you a mere man claim to be God.” ( John 10:24-39) Did Jesus ever claim to be God ?  “Who are you?”, they asked. ” Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied … “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be …” (John 8:25-28) The Jews knew him as Joseph’s son. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary and  aren’t his brothers … all his sisters with us? …” And they took offense at him.’ (Matthew 13:54-57) What they knew about him was so little compared to what they didn’t know about him!  They didn’t  know  that he is the ‘Christ, our Passover Lamb‘ (1 Corinthians 5:7) and that ‘He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.’ (1 John 2:2)  It is outrageous that inspite of all that Jesus said and did to prove his claim, they didn’t believe him. ‘He came to that which was his very own but his own did not receive him.’ ( John 1:11) The Jews who had the law and prophets should have known but the ‘god of this age had blinded the minds of the unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God ‘ (2 Corinthians 4:4)   However, the Gentiles were not expected to know. Jesus failed in his attempts to convince them his true identity. What seems to be a tragedy was in the perfect plan of God to get them to crucify him, for in doing so, they would unwittingly sacrifice the Passover Lamb of God. By all means the devil knew but  ‘none of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.’ (1 Corinthians 2:6-8) So what was Satan’s gamble? Probably, he didn’t expect Jesus to be resurrected from Hades, because no man had been raised from Hades before. Lazarus was raised from Paradise, so were the rest who were raised from the dead. Jesus was the first person to be raised from Hades. (Jesus did not go to Hell, as some presume because he went where men had gone. No man has gone to hell yet because the dead in Hades are waiting for judgement! The false prophet and the Antichrist will be the first to be thrown into hell. ) Guess the devil underestimated the power of the resurrection!

Who are ‘they’ that did not know?  Both the Jews and the Gentiles came together to conspire against Jesus. ‘Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed.’ (Acts 4:27)  The Jews with the help of Gentiles had crucified him.  ‘This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge and you with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.’ (Acts 2:23)  The very fact that Jesus was crucified and not stoned to death, proves that the Gentiles too were guilty because it was their form of execution. Not realising that the Gentiles too are guilty has resulted in the Church persecuting the Jews and calling them “Christ killers”. The atrocities committed by the crusaders and the Nazis were as a result of this misunderstanding. Both are guilty but the Jews are guilty of a greater sin because they knew from the law and the prophets that the Messiah was coming whereas the Gentiles were ignorant about these prophecies. Jews are therefore guilty of premeditated murder while the Gentiles are guilty of manslaughter because it was unintentional ! That is why Jesus told Pilate, “The one who handed me over to you is guilty of greater sin” ( John 19:11)  and they are the ones who have suffered the most  ( Luke 19:43-44) for they owned up the crime by saying, “Let his blood be upon us and our children.” ( Matthew 27:25)  The bloody and gruesome murder turned out to be the ultimate sacrifice! But just because God allowed it to happen, doesn’t mean the perpetrators of the crime are absolved from all guilt ! Therefore Peter said:  “You handed him over to be killed and you disowned him before Pilate though he had decided to let him go … You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.’( Acts 3:13-15)

Who are ‘them’ that he forgave?  If ‘they’ meant both the Jews and the Gentiles, then ‘them’ would mean the same.  Both Jews and Gentiles have been equally forgiven, whether their part in the crime was big or small. Both have been unconditionally forgiven since he forgave them even before they acknowledged or confessed their guilt. It was heartfelt forgiveness because Jesus knew that men were just pawns in Satan’s hand and that they were being used by him to vent his fury because he knows that his days are numbered! What else can explain the brutality that was displayed against Jesus? The rage of hell was being revealed through men. Yet he would not hold it against men though he suffered at their hands but forgave them from his heart. Jesus exemplified through his life that ‘our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’ ( Ephesians 6:12) Since he has forgiven all men, we ought to forgive as well, from our hearts or else it will be held against us. ( Matthew 18:35) But the Jews did not accept this forgiveness. As for those who accepted his forgiveness, they were spared from the consequences of their crime. When Jerusalem was surrounded by the Romans in 70 AD, the believers remembered the words of Jesus (Luke 21:20) and fled but those who didn’t heed to his words, died fighting the Romans and the rest were exiled. The Jews have suffered through the centuries because they didn’t believe and receive his forgiveness. Unless we believe and confess our sins, we will not experience the release. Believe and receive God’s heartfelt forgiveness today. Amen.

As I was pondering about the stand, the Church must take at such a time as this, I remembered this testimony about Dr.John G Lake. He ministered in South Africa between 1908-1913, when there was an outbreak of Bubonic plague. When the team of Doctors who arrived from Europe, questioned him as to how he could work without any protective gear, he testified to them that the ‘law of the Spirit of life’ was at work in him and he demonstrated under the microscope how the germs died when it came into contact with him. https://everestalexander.wordpress.com/2015/10/18/john-g-lake-bubonic-plague-testimony/

‘So we have this treasure (the Holy Spirit) in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us.’ ( 2 Corinthians 4:7) There is an inner security cordon that cannot be breached even while other outside layers of security may be compromised. This inner spiritual defence together with the outer physical protection should be our two pronged strategy against this pandemic. Therefore let no believer be found wearing just a mask and a glove without having worn the armour of God because when masks and gloves fail to stop the contagion, the armor of God will!

Let the Church take its stand, right in the midst of this pandemic, as Aaron did : ‘Aaron did as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered incense and made atonement for them. He stood between the living and the dead and the plague stopped.’ ( Numbers 16:47-48) It is interesting to note that Aaron wore the ‘Ephod’ and the ‘Breastpiece’, as he ran into the midst of the assembly when the plague started among the people and offered incense and made atonement for them. Let’s not forget to put on the ‘Belt of Truth’ and the ‘Breastplate of Righteousness’, as we take our stand against this pandemic. Without the ‘Ephod’, the ‘Breastpiece’ could not be held in place. So also without the ‘Belt of Truth’, the ‘Breastplate of Righteousness’ would not be held in place.
‘Therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit ...’ (Ephesians 6:13-18)
‘Let us then approach the Throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.’ (Hebrews 4:16)
At a time when the nation is struggling to contain the pandemic, let the believer be reminded of this promise : “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” ( 2 Chronicles 7:14) Just as God halted the plague abruptly, when Aaron interceded, so will God contain this contagion, if the Church would stand its ground, in truth and righteousness. Amen.

The greatest display of God’s power, since the creation of the world, was at work on the day of the resurrection, not because the situation required the display of such immense power but that the Church might know the infinite power that was being bestowed on them. (Though the ten plagues and the parting of the Red sea were phenomenal, yet they happened on earth! But the resurrection happened in the underworld; in the dominion of darkness which was undoubtedly more powerful than all the nations on the face of the earth. Only the Church is more powerful than the Kingdom of darkness! )
Paul uses the following superlatives to describe that power, but I wonder whether words can fully describe this infinite power!
‘I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know … his INCOMPARABLY great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion …’ (Ephesians 1:18-21)
‘We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this ALL-SURPASSING power is from God and not from us.’ (2 Corinthians 4:7)
Paul didn’t claim that he knew this power, but said, ‘I want to know Christ and the power of the resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow , to attain to the resurrection from the dead.’ (Philippians 3:10-11)
Qn : Why did this man who encountered Jesus, on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-5), still say, ‘I want to know Christ’?
Qn : Why did this man who was stoned at Lystra and dragged outside the city, thinking he was dead (Acts 14:19-20), but got up and went back to the city, after he came back to life (2 Corinthians 12:2), still say, ‘I want to know the power of the resurrection’?
Qn : Why did this man who describes in detail his sufferings for the gospel in his epistles (2 Corinthians 11:23-29), still say, ‘I want to know the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings’?
Ans : In Paul’s own words : ‘I am becoming like him (Christ) in his death, and so, somehow, to attain the resurrection from the dead’ ! (Vs 11)

Is it so difficult to be part of the first resurrection ?
‘If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.’ ( Romans 6:5)
As we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ (erroneously called Easter), let us like Paul say, ‘Not that I have obtained all this or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me … Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 3:12- 14)
Amen.