This week's Truth Keepers for Truth Seekers column talks about why we celebrate resurrection day- either the biggest hoax in History or the biggest truth, we all have to be answerable.
After having gazed upon the most beautiful girl – born just three weeks back, held in my arms, then having to let go of her and mother- another most beautiful creation of God- I realised again how wonderfully God keeps creating and never gets tired of it in spite of “us”. Wonderfully knit in a mother's womb. Perfect, yet for awhile He had to be separated from it till it would be time to be reunited again. Which would mean that growing being, would have to make that choice and follow that home yearning device inside of them, to get back into fellowship with the Father, where it came from. Know this: He has done whatever it takes to get us back in fellowship and harmony with Him.
That is why we celebrate resurrection day. Either the biggest hoax in History or the biggest truth, we all have to be answerable to at one point.
This is for each one of us to personally find out. This write up is not to convince you but to at least consider a research on your part if this is so or not. Because one day we will have to answer to this truth if it is indeed so.
Imagine – Stepping into a world that is so contrasting you just came from (Heaven), knowing what is ahead of you before you touch the earth, and yet saying a whole hearted “yes, whatever it takes!" The One who did so was Jesus Christ Himself. If you have ever travelled to another foreign country, having to look for the one you love most, being determined to find him or her ,you know the feeling. The question might arise too, “Will I be able to get back once I find him or her or leave them behind again, for whatever reason?”
What did it take Him to reach us? We highly underestimate it, but here a little snapshot what it took Him to get you and me!
2000 years ago Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became the Son of man. He lived the perfect life we could never live. But then he died the horrible death that we deserve- Why? Because everyone, our leaders, our friends, our family—we all do things that go against God and His ways. He wanted us back! His greatest suffering began at Gethsemane. Once there, in the middle of the night he told his disciples to pray. He himself got on his knees and prayed: “Father, if it is your will, take this cup from me- yet not my will but yours be done,” He prayed so intensely that the Bible says he literally sweat blood. There's a medical condition called hematidrosis that when a person is under immense pressure and stress, their capillaries can burst. Jesus was praying so intensely, so full of stress and desperation for what awaited him that his capillaries burst and he sweat blood and it was literally just pouring off him as he prayed over and over and over. “Father, if there's any way take this cup from me”. What was the cup he was referring to? This was a cup of suffering He knew he was about to undergo. It was the cup of wrath you see throughout the Old Testament and New Testament. The cup of wrath represents all of the hatred of God towards sin. He loves sinners but he hates sin and this cup of wrath must therefore be poured out on all of humanity. God is a Holy Perfect God. He's a God who loves us but He absolutely despises our sin. Jesus knew that cup of wrath would be poured out on Him at the cross. Just the thought of that just made him sweat blood quite literally. So He asked: “Is there any other way to pay for the sin of humanity?” Jesus knew that while on the cross all the wrath of God for all of humanity's sin from anyone who's ever lived, whoever will live would be compressed into that one finite concentrated cup and poured out in full measure on Him on the cross. “God if there's any way take this cup from me” He said it for three hours. He prayed in agony. Almost like a wrestling match with God the Father. But at the end of that three hours He knew what must be done. “Whatever it takes, not my will Father, but yours be done. He learned submission- He said yes to the Father. He stood up and from that moment on He was the calmest one in every scene.
When Judas came to Jesus, He kissed him on the cheek which was a sign to the soldiers to arrest him that this was Jesus.
He had then to undergo six trials- three illegal religious ones , three illegal civil ones – in the midst of these trials, they mocked Him, blindfolded and taunted Him, slapped Him. Yet, He answered not a Word.
Being brought before Pontius Pilate, who knew He was innocent, He choose to continue. Being handed over to Roman soldiers, experts at torture and execution, He then had to go through being beaten by a “cat of nine Tails” which is a rod with nine strands of leather with nails and broken pieces of pottery and sharp objects at the end. They aimed it at his back, his buttock and his legs to flung it in to his back again and again. Each sinew and muscle ended up like a shredded mess. Many died at this point. Not Jesus. He knew he had to pay the full price. Mockingly they put a purple robe and then banged a crown of thorns into His skull with a rod -- excruciating painful -- ripped his beard out of His face- and kept on mocking Him. One whisper and legions of angels would have come to His rescue. But….He knew He had to pay more to rescue you and me.
They put a heavy wooden cross on His back but He had already lost so much blood, He could not carry it to Calvary. They got someone else to carry it there. Once arrived, it says: They crucified Him- The three big iron nails, going through His wrists and feet, with each blow made Jesus scream in agony. The cross went up and with each breath for 6 long hours He struggled to stay alive till He knew the cup of wrath was to be poured on Him. At that point, the Father forsook Him because of that sin of you and me and all man kind ever lived and will live. “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?" when He looked at the mocking crowd He looked at them with the eyes of forgiveness and could still whisper: “Father forgive them, they don't know what they're doing.” The Father was holding the cup of wrath and then poured it out in full measure on the body, the spirit and the soul of Jesus. The wrath for all of all of humanity's sin. In one finite moment, it was poured out on Jesus and He screamed “My God, My God why have you forsaken me”. In that moment there was a tremor in the trinity as the Father turned his back on his Son and Jesus felt and suffered the wrath of God for the first time which was in our place for our sin. Then He said the three words that would change the course of humanity “It is finished". He bowed his head and he died. Why? Hebrews 12 2 tells us the answer. Your eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy set forth before Him endured the cross. That was the joy set forth before him. He could see that moment of surrender in your eyes then! It was you and it was me. We were the reason Jesus suffered that torture and died. He was willing to suffer the wrath of his Father on the cross. When He said “it is finished” the price of our sin had been paid in full. He went down to hell as a conqueror although it still took three days before He could get out of there. Jesus did whatever it took to get to us- to rescue us, to save us, will you do whatever it takes to get to Him?
The eyes of them who already looked at that cross and surrendered, will know. Those who haven’t: “Will you now?”
Blessed Resurrection day! He is alive! Now! For you, me and us all.
Blessings
Akhrienuo