The Death and Resurrection of Jesus

Verses

The Father’s plan to redeem us from our sins would require two gifts from our God. The first gift required would be for our Father to send His only Son to earth, to become a man, Jesus Christ, live a sinless life, and die as atonement for our sins. The blood of Jesus alone would be accepted as a sacrifice to forgive our sins. The second gift needed was an unfathomable love for us by our God. A love great enough that the Son would offer His life for the sins of a wretched, sinful person such as I am. Our God proved His tremendous love for us when Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Proved He was an all powerful God when the Spirit brought Jesus’ human body back to life on the third day.

*Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. 1Ti 1:15 NIV+

*You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! Ro 5:6-9 NIV+

*On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" Lk 2:1-7 NIV+

On Easter morning we can proudly proclaim “He is risen,” and expect an equally confident reply “He is risen indeed.” Easter commemorates the events leading up to Jesus Christ’s death and celebrates His resurrection from the dead, the beginning of God’s New Covenant with us. To fully understand what has happened, what has taken place, we need to know the background leading up to this monumental event which happened nearly 2000 years ago. Jesus’ death and resurrection would change the way the world would live, would finally free believers completely from their sins.

*And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; Matt 28:5-7 ASV

*For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ro 6:23 KJV

Jesus was crucified and arose from the dead during the annual festivals of Passover and The Feast of Unleavened Bread around the years 28-30 A.D. These Old Covenant ceremonies were required by God and held annually in Jerusalem in our months of March or April. Our Lord instituted these ceremonies when He freed His chosen nation of Israel from Egyptian slavery. This happened after Israel had been in captivity for 400 years, almost 1500 years before Jesus would die for our sins.

God put plagues on Egypt until their Pharaoh freed Israel. The last plague was the death of all the first born males in Egypt. To protect the Israelite’s first born from this plague, the Lord told them to choose a lamb without blemish on day 10 of what was to become their first month. On day 14 of their first month, at twilight they were to slaughter the lamb, marking their door with its blood so the angel of death would “pass over” their homes, their firstborn would be then be spared. This plague devastated the Egyptian Pharaoh and he set Israel free. The Jewish nation hurriedly left Egypt, eating unleavened bread as they left, not having the time to use yeast, to let the bread rise.

The Lord also commanded Israel annually to celebrate these same Passover and Unleavened Bread Feasts, on the same day of the month the Feasts originally occurred. The Passover on day 14 of the first month, followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread on day 15 of the first month, and lasting for seven days. The Passover Lamb was to be eaten as it was during the original Passover. During the Feast of Unleavened Bread no yeast was to be eaten, nor in their possession, and the first and last days were to be Sabbaths.

*For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance. Ex 12:12-14 NKJV+

Our Heavenly Father wanted the Israelites to always remember their bondage and that He alone saved them from captivity. But our Lord also wanted to use these celebrations to symbolize the Messiah He had promised to send Israel. Christ would come as the lamb, would be the lamb, His sacrificial blood alone would forgive our sins, was our Father’s plan of salvation devised before creation. Promised to us when Adam and Eve first sinned, completed when Jesus Christ became the New Covenant Passover Lamb to save us. Jesus alone was qualified to become the Passover Lamb, for only He had no blemishes, no sins. Our Savior was sacrificed for our sins, willingly dying in our place. Our Heavenly Father can now “pass over” any transgressions covered by the blood of Jesus, forgiving our sins, remembering them no more.

*The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Jn 1:29 NKJV+

*They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." Rev 17:14 NIV+

Jesus is the Son of God, and on the third day He arose from the dead. Jesus is alive, He has risen indeed! But we must go farther than that. Just as Israel’s first born were saved by the blood of the lamb, we through the blood of our lamb Christ have been saved from all of our sins. We have been freed from the power of Satan, our sinful flesh, the evil of the world. We have been freed from the fear of death, from the threat of eternal damnation in Hell. Through Christ’s atoning death our spirits can now be made holy, perfect, we can become one with our God again, come into His spiritual Kingdom. Our soul and spirit can live in God’s heavenly Kingdom above when we our bodies die. And like Jesus body was raised up from the dead, ours will to on the last day, when Jesus comes again. Jesus will reunite our spirit and bodies, glorify our body like His. Take us to a new heaven, a new earth to live with Him forever.

*But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. Mk 16:6-7 NKJV+

*and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, Rev 1:5 NIV+

Christ has also set us free from all ceremonial laws and regulations, because through His death and resurrection He has fulfilled them all. Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, offering His body and blood to replace the lamb as our Passover Supper of life. We need not worry about religious festivals, new moon celebrations or the regular Sabbath. We no longer need a priest or anyone else to approach God for us, Christ is our mediator. We can go directly, anytime, to Jesus, our eldest brother, our best friend, and talk with Him, have our sins forgiven by Him. This is what Christianity is all about. Faith, love and hope in a risen Savior who has set us free to be Children of God.

*Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Col 2:16-17 NIV+
*We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Thess 1:3 NIV+

All God’s plans were made before creation and it is easy to notice the little things that fit perfectly into place, which made it possible for Christ to die for our salvation, to arise as the Son of God. The situation at the time, Rome’s occupation of Israel, the Jewish Church trying to remain as a functioning body and not be destroyed by the Roman oppressors, made the perfect background for Christ’s crucifixion. The church’s leadership was trying to keep their people from striking out against the hated Romans, scared of Roman reprisals which would strip power from the Jewish religious leaders. The High Priest and other leaders of the Sanhedrin believed it was better for one man die, than have Rome turn on the whole nation. Getting rid of Jesus, killing Him would help bring political peace, stability.

*Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. "What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish." Jn 11:47-50 NIV+

Many Jewish believers at that time believed Jesus was the chosen Messiah, but incorrectly believed He who would set them free from Roman oppression. Jesus was not trying to establish a physical kingdom here on earth. Jesus was the true Son of God, the Messiah who came to establish His Father’s Spiritual Kingdom once more. Jesus came as atonement for our sins, so believers could become spiritually holy, spiritually children of God once more. Our Savior’s battle is not for physical things, but is for our spiritual souls, trying to push out all evil so He alone can live in our hearts.

*Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." Jn 18:36 NASB+

*And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matt 10:28 ASV

As Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread approached, Jesus raised His friend Lazarus from the dead, gave him life again, in Bethany. Word of this miracle had spread, Jesus’ notoriety was at its highest and growing. This made Jesus a serious threat to the Church leadership, they had to respond, and they wanted to kill Him. The chief priests also wanted to kill Lazarus so there would be no miracle. But they had to be careful not to stir up the crowds who supported Jesus and would be coming for the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread celebrations. The chief priests eagerly accepted the offer of Judas to help capture Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Judas would now be looking for the first opportunity to turn Jesus over to them.

*Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. "But not during the Feast," they said, "or the people may riot." Mk 14:1-2 NIV+

*Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?" And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus. Matt 26:14-16 NASB+

Jesus had avoided His enemies by going away to Ephraim which was near the desert. Here Jesus would not be caught prematurely, for He was to die as the lamb at the Passover celebration. Jesus avoided Jerusalem on the regular Sabbath before Passover, for the chief priests had many watching for Him. Just as the Passover Lamb had to be tested, it could have no blemishes, so Jesus must be tested by the people, the Pharisees, the Chief Priests, and all the leadership of the church. Their accusations would keep getting more severe until the end. They would try and make Jesus an imposter, someone who did not know the law, someone who should be killed for teaching against the Word of God, blaspheming God’s holy name, opposing Caesar.

*And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. Mk 8:31 NKJV+

Jesus withstood all testing, some believed in Him, others still refused to believe even with all the miracles He had performed. Jesus came out of seclusion on Sunday, Nisan 9, by going to Bethany, where He was well known, where His most famous miracle had been performed, to be with friends and believers in Him. Many of these believers would be at Jerusalem for His triumphant entry riding a donkey the next day, Monday Nissan 10. They would also get the word around so Jesus would be accepted, cheered while being chosen as the favorite, the Passover Lamb, of the people. Yet this entry on a donkey meant Jesus was claiming to be the Messiah, a claim which would infuriate the Jewish leaders even more.

*The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" Matt 21:6-9 NIV+

Jesus on Preparation night, Nissan 14, the night before the Passover Lamb was to be eaten, offered His own body and blood in the Lord’s Supper to replace the Passover Lamb that was eaten (See Lord’s Supper). Jesus then initiated His death by telling Judas to go and get the guards who would capture Him. Jesus was in control of when He would die, the same time as the Passover lamb, which Jesus would replace, would become.

Later that night Jesus had to face the most agonizing test He would ever face, to follow His Father’s will, be crucified for the sins of the world in the morning. It was more than physical punishment Jesus would suffer. Spiritually our Savior would have the sins of the world placed upon Him, dying as a replacement for all sinners. Our Father hates sin, would spiritually forsake His Son for all the believers’ sins He bore.

*And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." Matt 26:26-29 NKJV+

*Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Lk 22:39-44 NKJV+

Jesus would be abandoned by His disciples. Judas would betray Him with a kiss, identifying Jesus, so the chief priests, elders, and guards of the Jewish temple could arrest Him. Peter at first remained loyal, tried to defend Jesus. Peter used a knife Jesus had the disciples get to fulfill Scripture, and cut off the ear of the High Priest’s servant. Jesus would rebuke Peter, heal the servant’s ear, and allow the temple guards to take Him. All other disciples would flee as Jesus was led away. Peter would follow the mob to the High Priest’s house where Jesus would be mocked and beaten. Here even Peter would abandon Jesus. Claiming three times he did not know his Savior, the last with a curse. Fulfilling Jesus words to Peter, before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.

*But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" Lk 22:48 NKJV+

*And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly. Matt 26:75 NKJV+

All alone Jesus was tried early on preparation morning by the Jewish Leadership of the temple. Jesus was falsely accused of many things, but when He told the truth, told them He was the Son of God, they condemned Jesus to death for blasphemy. They spat in His face and beat him. Then they took Jesus before the Roman governor Pilate. Pilate could find no fault in Jesus, sent Him to King Herod who had jurisdiction over Galilee, where Jesus was from. Herod mocked Jesus and returned Him to Pilate. Pilate then tried to save Jesus, for it was the custom to release one prisoner during the Passover Feast. Pilate offered the crowd the choice of freeing either Jesus, or Barabbas a known criminal. The angry crowd chose Barabbas, demanding Jesus be crucified, and began chanting “crucify Him.” Pilate then relented, putting the responsibility of Christ’s execution upon the crowd, who readily accepted the liability for shedding His blood. Pilate then had Jesus severely flogged, scourged, and sentenced Him to be crucified. The Roman soldiers put a royal robe around Jesus and crown of thorns on His head. They mockingly called Jesus the King of Jews, and then took Him away to be crucified.

*Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. Jn 19:1 NIV+

*Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified. Matt 27:27-31 NKJV+

The Roman soldiers took Jesus to Calvary, a hill outside of Jerusalem where crucifixions were done. They drove nails through Jesus wrists and feet, securing Him upon a cross that stood between two criminals condemned to die. The crowd jeered Jesus, but many left when it suddenly turned dark in the middle of the day. While Jesus was being strangled to death upon the cross, He asked the Father to forgive those who were crucifying Him, for many went along with the crowd and did not know what they were doing. One of the criminals being crucified asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus assured him that today he would be taken to Paradise. Jesus also told John to take care of His mother as they stood close by the cross. Suddenly Jesus would cry out in agony, for His Father had forsaken Him, for the sins of the world were put upon Him. Then Jesus would call out saying it was finished and give His spirit back to the care of His Father. Later the Roman soldier would stick a spear in Christ, and the blood mixed with water showed that He had died, there was need to break His legs to quicken His death.

*Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. Jn 15:13 KJV

*But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Ro 5:8-9 NKJV+

When Jesus died the ground shook, dead believers arose from their graves. Guards who crucified Jesus trembled with fear, knowing they had crucified the Son of God. The curtain in the temple where only the High Priest could go before God was split in half. It is needed no more, for all through Jesus can come directly to their God once more. Jesus suffered the pain of torture, crucifixion, physically dying to defeat death. Spiritually Jesus went to Hell, suffering the greatest pain that could be inflicted upon Him, rejection as a sinner by His Father. Jesus had won the battle, had redeemed us, paid the price for our sins, all the sins believers would ever commit. The great pain Christ suffered in redeeming believers, showed His love for us, glorified His Father in Heaven. Our Savior had atoned for our sins.

*Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Is 53:10-11 NIV+

*Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, Jn 17:1 NASB+

Though Christ’s physical body was dead, was laid in the grave, His Spirit is God, has been and will always be alive. After His physical death, Jesus would spiritually descend into Hell, Hades, leaving the sins all of believers’ there, proclaiming His victory. He would then spiritually ascend into the Kingdom of God, announcing His victory there. It was finished, our Savior would now be able to give all redeemed souls under the Old Covenant laws complete forgiveness, finally bring them into His Father’s Kingdom which they had been waiting for. That day Jesus would also welcome home to Paradise the soul and spirit of the criminal on the cross, the sinner who had found faith while dying with our Savior.

*he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. Ac 2:31 NKJV+

*But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) Eph 4:7-10 NIV+

Then just as Jesus had foretold, on the third day from His death, the Spirit would reunite Christ’s spirit with His dead body, making it physically alive once more. The Father would present His Son as His first fruits from the dead. Jesus’ physical resurrection was announced to the world by a violent earth quake as an angel rolled away the stone from the grave. The guards at the tomb were so scared that they became like dead men. Jesus showed Himself alive to the women, to Mary Magdalene, then to the men on the road to Emmaus, to Peter, then to His disciples. Before Jesus ascended into Heaven over 500 hundred would see their risen Savior. Christ is risen indeed! As Christ died and was raised from the dead, so to will all believers, death has been defeated, we will live in Paradise with our Lord forever.

*For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming. 1Co 15:22-23 ASV

*In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Jn 14:2-3 KJV

The true meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection is love. Jesus was not killed, He freely gave His life, endured Hell to save us. Because He Loved Us !!!!

*For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Jn 3:16 KJV

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