Tomorrow morning, April 9th 2023, is the day that Christian believers around the world will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ; The day He arose from the grave where his body was placed after being crucified on a wooden cross by Roman soldiers acting on behalf of the Jewish religious leaders in the Sanhedrin, the Supreme governing body for the Jewish people at the time of Jesus.
Those Jewish leaders claimed that Jesus had blasphemed God by proclaiming he was the Son of God and, by doing so, was worthy of death according to Jewish Law. Since Rome occupied and ruled over the land of Israel at the time, they called upon Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judea, to carry out this sentence of death, and forthwith, Jesus was put to death by Roman crucifixion.
Jesus was arrested on Friday, put to death on Saturday, and arose from the grave where they had placed his body on the following day. He became the Passover Lamb of Jewish Prophesy, and the Resurrected Christ whom Christians celebrate on what has become known as Easter Sunday around the world.
But did you know that it was actually impossible for Jesus Christ to die? According to Ezekiel chapter 18 verse 20 of the Old Testament, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Jesus had never sinned therefore He could not die. Like a fisherman’s bobber pulled down under the water by a fish, when all was accomplished and the line was broken, Jesus popped out of the grave and rose to the surface again, free from the chains of death that could not hold him.
The fact of the matter is dear friend that Jesus merely borrowed death so that He could go into the realm of the dead, defeat Satan who reigned over the fallen world, and take back the power of death on behalf of all those who would believe in Him as Savior and Lord.
Though they killed his body by hanging him on the cross of Calvary, on the Third Day Jesus arose from the grave, (just as He had told them He would), triumphant over death, hell and the grave.
According to 1 Peter 1:19-20 and Revelation 13:8, This was the Divine Plan of Redemption formed in the Godhead before man was ever created. God, by His Divine foreknowledge, foresaw that man, who was given free will at his creation, would rebel and sin against his Creator, and so God, in his Divine Mercy, prepared a way to bring man back to the original plan and relationship for which he had first been created.
After being born in Bethlehem into the human family through the body of a virgin named Mary, God took upon himself the sins of the world, lived a perfect life, died a sinless death and arose from death by the Power of a Sinless Life. After accomplishing this great feat of Power and Love on behalf of the Godhead, Jesus returned to His place at the right hand of the Eternal Father where He now reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords over all Creation.
You may or may not believe this right now, but Scripture says you will one day. Philippians 2:9-11 says that because of these things:
“God also hath highly exalted him [Jesus], and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
And so, as I prepare to celebrate this memorial Day of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, I am grateful beyond measure that Christ came to the earth and laid down his life for me, and for all mankind. God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
As Jesus hung on the Cross He looked down on the crowd that had just denied him and those who crucified him and prayed:
“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
With his last words He cried out: “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. Three days later he came out of the grave victorious over death having completed the task He had come to accomplish.
On April 28th 1974, I came to understand the power of this great Truth and surrendered my life to Jeus Christ. Having recently turned seventy-five, I have a great sense of gratitude for the compaasion of the Lord Jesus and the Power of His Resurrection.
Death could not contain him in the grave and neither can it keep you from receiving Peace with God and entrance into the Eternal Kingdom when you pass from this life. Trust in the risen Christ as the Lamb of God who was sacrificed on your behalf to bring you back into right relationship with God.
Revelation 3:20-21 says:
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
May God bless you with the Power and Truth of these words
during this time of celebrating the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God bless you,
Craig Marlatt