21. Calvary
April 2007
Topics:
Forsaken?
What was finished?
The Resurrection
Some are tempted to believe that the trial and crucifixion of Jesus represented merely the failure of His ministry. Others, taking an opposite tack, accuse the Jews (or the Romans) of killing Christ. Worst of all are those who look on the Jews as "Christ killers", ignoring the fact that the early Christian church was a Jewish church. Jesus Himself gives His answer:
18 "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father" (John 10:17,18).
The Plan of Salvation was made "from the foundation of the world." Jesus willingly gave His life. There are clues in the trial itself showing this to be true. When the mob accosted Jesus at Gethsemane, "As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground" (John 18:6). Jesus could have walked away, but didn’t.
When it appeared that Jesus would not defend Himself, "Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear" (John 18:10). Jesus immediately stopped Peter, and healed Malchus’ ear. Did the disciples have a chance against the mob? They might have. A mob is usually made up of cowards. Eleven determined men would quickly cut through the front line and start pushing them back, eventually driving the whole mob away. Jesus knew that His hour had come, and He was determined to meet it with no unforeseen delays.
There was a midnight hearing before the court of Annas. Annas tried to establish a charge of sedition, and questioned Jesus directly. Possibly aghast at the illegality of this maneuver (a prisoner was not to be convicted on his own testimony), "Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said" (John 18:20-21).
Jesus had continually been followed by spies. Why not ask them? He denied saying anything in secret. This silenced Annas, embarrassed the court, and almost stopped the proceedings. But Jesus knew His hour had come. Many times in His ministry He had met these men, and repeatedly exposed their ignorance, hypocrisy, and criminal intent. But now He must not delay what has to be done. He remembered Isaiah 53:7, "as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." From that point on He was careful to not defend Himself.
Next, Jesus was examined by Caiaphas in the presence of the Sanhedrin (Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were not invited). Not everyone in the Sanhedrin were against Jesus (John 11:42). Those who did not oppose Him, would need to be persuaded, and Caiaphas was having a hard time doing so. Failing with contradictory witnesses, he questioned Jesus Himself. "I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God."
This question was given with an oath. Jesus knew that His answer would condemn Him to death, but He also knew that His answer would be heard by millions throughout the ages to come. Many would come to believe on Him. "Jesus saith unto him, thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven" (Matthew 26:63, 64).
In his own mind, Caiaphas was suddenly confronted with his own judgment with Jesus as the judge. He paled in terror at the thought. Then, malignant hatred taking possession, he rent his robe and declared, "What further need have we of witnesses?" A speedy verdict of blasphemy, worthy of death was given.
During this time, Peter and John managed to gain entrance to the court. John made no attempt to hide his identity. Peter trying to mingle with the crowd was confronted three times. Finally with cursing and swearing he said, "I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew" (Matthew 26:74). "And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. . . . And Peter went out and wept bitterly" (John 22:61, 62).
All during this tragic affair, there was One and only One who was calm and at peace. Only One who knew where He was going. Only One who was in control. Jesus came to give His life a ransom for many. He held his peace, did not defend Himself, and allowed the Father to direct in affairs. There was one thing He could do, and this He did. He gave evidence to all participants that He was the Son of God, and appealed to their souls.
Before the mob in Gethsemane, he declared Himself the "I am", and he healed Malchus’ ear. Before Annas, He showed a greater knowledge of the illegality of the proceedings, yet He did not accuse him. Before Caiaphas, He startled him with a mental picture of the coming judgment. Caiaphas could yet accept Him and be saved. He did not. For Peter, in his misery, all He did was to look at him with the deep love that existed between them. Peter’s heart was broken, and forever after he willingly and enthusiastically confessed that Jesus is Lord!
Before Pilate, He explained the nature of His kingdom. Pilate believed, and tried to save Him. But he lacked courage and was unwilling to sacrifice position for truth. Simon of Cyrene carried His cross. It was the chance of a lifetime for him, and his life was forever changed. Jesus recognized belief in the appeal of the crucified thief, and gave him forgiveness and hope. Even the rough centurion confessed, "Truly this was the Son of God" (Matthew 27:54).
How about those who engineered His crucifixion? Wasn’t Jesus’ death prophesied? Wasn’t His death necessary in the plan of salvation "from the foundation of the world"? If there is one thing that we need to learn, it is that God Himself will see to the outworking of His covenant and His plans are best. Human devising was not necessary. Those humans who engineered the crucifixion were not needed. "The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born" (Matthew 26:24). See also Luke 17:1; 22:22.
Pilate, quickly noted that Jesus was no ordinary prisoner and took this case seriously. But he was at a disadvantage. Worldly people just cannot understand the issues of the church and it is not fair to embarrass them by bring them our problems. However, Pilate not only assessed Jesus correctly but he also knew the Jews. He quickly came to the conclusion that Jesus was innocent, and not worthy of punishment of any kind, much less death. Pilate tried repeatedly to save Jesus.
The Jews also knew Pilate. One wonders what might have happened if Pilate took immediate strong action and used his soldiers to defend Jesus. But the Jews knew his history, his weakness, and his fears. Using mob action and threatening his relationship with Caesar they were able to secure what they wanted—crucifixion.
On the cross, at the ninth hour, Jesus "cried with a loud voice, . . . My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me" (Matthew 27:46)?
Did God really forsake Him? Does God forsake His people ever? Would God forsake a faithful believer at the time of death? No! No! No! Why then did Jesus say, "why hast thou forsaken me?" Remember the struggle Jesus faced in Gethsemane. At that time He took the sins of the whole world on His shoulders. He knew that sin is offensive to God. Sin separates a person from God. Would the sins of the world, taken vicariously by Jesus serve to separate Him from the Father? The rank unfairness and the inhuman abuse He suffered during the trial accentuated His burden. The crucifixion itself, the earthquake, the darkness made it worse. And the surging, angry, abusive crowds. There was only a glimmer of hope here and there, the thief on the cross, His mother Mary and disciple John, a few others. These gave Him a shred of courage. He could not see through His approaching death. He could not know but that His burial would be permanent.
He had only His faith: "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased" was said at the Jordan and at the Transfiguration. He remembered the hours of prayer and fellowship with the Father. The throngs of people, not the ones who were now abusive, but those who so much needed Him and appreciated Him. These bolstered His faith. He hung on by faith, desperate faith. It is the faith OF Jesus, that hangs onto God when it seems that all hope is gone.
In saying, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" during His dying agony, Jesus was tasting the second death. The death of a person without hope. But He hung on by faith:
45 "And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
47 "Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man" (Luke 23:45-47).
From the story of Adam and Eve we learn that God is Creator and source and sustainer of all life. "In Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). God is not in His creation, but he works through His creation on a continual basis. Without His sustaining power, life would cease. Thus God could say: "in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:17).
To refuse God, to rebel against Him is to cut off the source of life. This dire result is held in check only by the promise of a Redeemer who has Himself paid the price. Only the Lawgiver can pay the price of breaking the law. This plan was made from before the foundation of the world. Jesus offered Himself, the Father offered His only begotten Son, the Holy Spirit sustained Him on this earth.
Jesus, the second person of the Godhead, became a man. He lived in every way as a man. He lived a sinless life under severe provocation. And this life He gave freely to pay for our sins. This was climaxed by a trial and crucifixion which, I believe, was much worse than what even Jesus expected. But He did not flinch. He followed the will of the Father even unto death.
Satan failed to lead Jesus, even by a thought, to sin. His sinless life He willingly offered for us. He "became sin for us" with its burden of disapproval from the Father. Because of His sinless life, He also came forth on the third day, a victor. The reign of sin would now come to an end. The work He came to do, Jesus did. "It is finished." He atoned for man. Grace applied during Old Testament times through faith in the blood of a lamb was now confirmed. Faith in His shed blood continued to provide grace to overcome sin in the succeeding centuries.
50 "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 "and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 "and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 "Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God" (Matthew 27:50-54).
When Jesus came to this earth, Satan tried desperately to overcome Him. Do you think he assigned this task to an "associate demon?" No, he took charge himself. The crucifixion was Satan’s last chance and his greatest failure.
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He failed to kill Him as a baby
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He failed to tempt the youth, Jesus, to sin, or to turn from His God appointed task
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He failed to tempt Jesus in the wilderness to doubt God or to take the easy way
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He failed during the next three and half years to wear Him down or to make Jesus sin
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He failed at Gethsemane to make Jesus turn away when things looked dark
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He failed at the crucifixion to overcome Jesus by insult, pain, or a sense of being forsaken
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He failed to prevent the resurrection
What was left for Satan to do. He could no longer reach Jesus Christ. But he could and he did reach the church. And the church has been viciously assailed ever since then. There was just one thing left. Satan would try to prove that grace was not sufficient to save! He began immediately, using converts to the church!
While Satan failed, at the same time, Jesus gained a glorious victory. We might ask: what was finished by Jesus’ death on Calvary? Jesus came to:
• meet the demands of the broken law of God
• demonstrate that God is a God of justice and mercy and unfathomable love
• reconcile man to fellowship with God
• restore in man the image of God
• give him eternal life. See John 3:15, 16.
• wrest from Satan the lost dominion.
The covenant was now confirmed and ratified. The centuries of animal sacrifices were now made effective only in the offering of the real sacrifice, Jesus Christ. The ceremonial law had come to an end, fulfilled in Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary.
The story of the resurrection is the most fascinating story in the Bible. Jesus was most certainly dead. He lay in the tomb until early on the first day of the week. Pilate and the chief priests, still unbelieving, think that they can hold Him in the tomb and order the tomb sealed. A guard was set. There would be witnesses to a stupendous event. Was it not the purpose of God that the disciples also be witnesses? Had not Jesus told them He would rise again? Instead, they were totally discouraged and were in hiding. Could God be telling us today things that would open our eyes and give us courage? And we fail to listen?
Early on the first day of the week, "there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men" (Matthew 28:2-4).
"Before anyone had reached the sepulcher, there was a great earthquake. The mightiest angel from heaven, he who held the position from which Satan fell, received his commission from the Father, and clothed with the panoply of heaven, he parted the darkness from his track. His face was like the lightning, and his garments white as snow. As soon as his feet touched the ground it quaked beneath his tread. The Roman guard were keeping their weary watch when this wonderful scene took place, and they were enabled to endure the sight, for they had a message to bear as witnesses of the resurrection of Christ. The angel approached the grave, rolled away the stone as though it had been a pebble, and sat upon it. The light of heaven encircled the tomb, and the whole heaven was lighted by the glory of the angels. Then his voice was heard, ‘Thy Father calls Thee; come forth’
"If the soldiers at the sepulcher were so filled with terror at the appearance of one angel clothed with heavenly light and strength, that they fell as dead men to the ground, how will His enemies stand before the Son of God, when He comes in power and great glory, accompanied by ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of angels from the courts of heaven" (SDA Bible Commentary, vol 5, 1110)?
The Roman soldiers abandoned their post and entered the city, still trembling with terror. They were met by the chief priests and the elders, who were now unable to counter this astounding event. They were unable to deny Who Jesus was. They added to unbelief, determined rebellion. They bribed the soldiers with money to tell a lie, "saying, say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept" (Matthew 28:13). A lie which could bring the soldiers certain death for abandoning their post of duty—except that Roman officials collaborated with them in perpetuating that lie (Matthew 28:12-14).
There is much evidence from this story that it is true.
• Men and nations have been changed by the story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
• How could twelve disciples silently steal the body in the presence of one hundred soldiers?
• If a Roman soldier should sleep or abandon his post in the line of duty, he pays with his life.
• Only a substantial bribe from government officials could get them to support the lie.
• The disciples were terrified and in hiding before the resurrection, joyful and bold afterward.
The resurrection served to make effective the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary. The disciples were energized. The chief priests and elders deepened their hatred of Christ and were more fixed in their rebellion to Him. It seems that the closer a person comes to God, the more he loves and adores Him, or the more he hates Him. But to the disciples and most of the new converts to Christianity, the resurrection helped them to finally understand Jesus’ mission and gave power and impetus to their message.
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