The
death of Christ on Good Friday and the resurrection of Christ on Easter morning
go hand-in-hand. You can’t have the resurrection without Jesus’ death. The
resurrection presupposes death.
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that
was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
Christ didn’t
just merely die; He endured a miserable death on the cross with all of mankind’s
sin poured on Him. God poured out judgment for all of our sins onto Christ.
You see, all sin (even a tiny sin) must pay the penalty of death. Not only did
He endure the cross, He despised the shame of being crucified with other
criminals. You may wonder why did He suffer so much for me. The author of
Hebrews tells us that the reason He endured this horrible death is a future
joy.
Christ was not conquered by death, instead He joyfully conquered death
Himself. Since He overcame death He is alive today with the Father in heaven.
That is true joy . . . being in heaven with God Himself. Another type of joy
that Christ knew would come after the cross is a future reward. The Father
rewarded Christ for His obedience and suffering.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient
to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has
highly exalted Him and given Him the name which above every name, that at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth,
and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:8-11
Since Christ
obeyed the Father and overecame death, the Father honored and exalted Him. All
mankind will one day bow to Jesus as King of the world. He is Lord now and
forever!
As
I think about this season of celebrating Christ’s death and resurrection I am
reminded how hopeless I would be without Him. Without Christ’s death, there can
be no resurrection. Without Christ’s death, there is no salvation for man.
Without Christ’s death, there is no freedom from sin. Without Christ’s death, I
have no Savior. Without Christ’s death, there is no redemption for my sin.
Without Christ’s death, there is no salvation for anyone.
But
remember Christ’s death and resurrection go hand-in-hand. Without the
resurrection, there is no hope. Without the resurrection, there will be no
eternal life for you & me. Without the resurrection, there is no glory for
God. Without the resurrection, there is no joy. Without the resurrection,
there is no future reward.
Christianity is the only religion that has power over death. Christ is the only
one who has ever risen from the dead and lives today. He died on the cross so
you would not have to die for YOUR sin. If you have never believed that Christ
died and suffered for you, I urge you to do so today. Once you believe, you can
join other Christians in their hope. Not just a wishful hope, but a full
expectation of joyfully living with Christ forever.
Kerry
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