A little over 2,000 years ago a man called Jesus of Nazareth walked the regions of Judea and Galilee in the area we know as Israel today. He was known as a teacher and rabbi to those who followed him. His message was one of love, forgiveness and repentance. He befriended tax collectors, ate with the so-called “sinners” of that day, and was comfortable in the presence of thieves and prostitutes. He met each one with the same compassion, but was quick to remind them that while he did not condemn them that they needed to leave behind their life of sin.
The religious leaders of that day found Jesus to be a threat to their power and way of life. Jesus confronted the pharisees on more than one occasion and challenged their attitudes of sin. He called them hypocrites and son’s of hell, and accused them of blocking people from entering the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 23:13-15). When those who followed him began to refer to him as the Christ (Messiah), this became more than the religious establishment could handle. Something had to be done.
All the while Jesus began rising in popularity as he healed the sick, made the lame to walk again, and helped the blind to see. Jesus became the “rock star” of his day drawing large crowds. Those who believed him to be the promised Messiah were looking forward to his overthrow of the Roman government and the return of Israel as a mighty nation. The religious leaders continued their pursuit to show Jesus to be a fraud. Jesus then began to give his disciples a clearer picture of his purpose. He reminded them that his kingdom was not of this world. It was an eternal Kingdom that begins in the heart (Luke 17:21). Then Jesus lowered the boom. For this kingdom to exist he would have to die.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”- Mark 10:45
Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time with shouts of jubilation as the people shouted ”Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9). These shouts of Joy and praise would change to shouts of hate a few days later as many of the same people shouted “crucify him!” The teachers of the law and Priest began their plot to turn the tide against Jesus. They found false witnesses, and paid one of his very own disciples to betray him. Jesus was tried and convicted and sentenced to death.
So Jesus of Nazareth was executed on a cross between two thieves for crimes he did not commit. Around 750 years earlier the prophet Isaiah would write the following words.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.- Isaiah 53:5
Jesus died for us. He paid the debt for our sin. But the story does not end at the cross. This would be a tragedy of epic proportions if Jesus died and that was it. You see if Jesus was still dead he would be no different from any other religious leader that has come along. If Jesus were still dead then our faith would be nothing more than another religion attempting to connect people to an unknown distant god.
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.- 1 Corinthians 15:17-19
Jesus rose from the dead. He is alive! This is good news for us because we now can have life in him. Without the resurrection we would still be lost in our sins. But because Jesus lives we can have hope. Not only in this life, but in the life to come. But the story does not even end there. Jesus told his disciples that he was going to prepare a place for them and that he was coming again (John 14:1-4).
We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.- 1 Thessalonians 4:14-16
Jesus is coming again. This is not the end. This life is not all there is. Isn’t that good news? We can have hope in this life because we know that one day death, pain, and sorrow will be defeated along with its author Satan. We can have hope in this life because death is not the end.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”- Revelation 21:3-4
Stealing a line from the great Paul Harvey, Now you know the rest of the story!
