We will first talk about the necessity of Jesus’ crucifixion. In it, we will talk about three events when Jesus was nailed in the cross and why He mentioned them. Next, we complete what happened on the cross by mentioning another four events. Thirdly, we mention what Jesus did in those forty days after His resurrection. Finally, we talk about His ascending and His promise of coming again.
First, we see that Adam made sin enter the world due to disobedience [1]. His offspring then have his image and likeness [2]. Jesus is born from the Holy Spirit [3], so He started with no sin and never committed sins [4]. The concept of substitution starts with garments of skin in Genesis [5], continued with the event of the offering of Isaac from Abraham [6], and nowadays is the Jesus’ substitution for us just like what said in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” His precious blood can then clean our sins as stated in 1 John 1:7, “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
We are all sinners [7]. The wages of sin is death [8]. Jesus must be crucified to die for us, we have to be in Jesus for him to substitute for us. Therefore, the Bible says clearly that we have to be conformed to the image of Jesus [9]. Let us then take a look at what the image is when He was nailed in the cross. First in Luke 23:33-34, it says, “When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, … But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” …” Although He was crucified, He still prayed for His enemies even in the cross.
In Matthew 26:36-39, we can see that He is willing to obey God even to death. It says, “Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”” His death completed the salvation just like what said in the cross, “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” …Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” (John 19:28-30)
Now let us take a look at what else He said when on the cross. In John 19:25-27, it says, “…But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, …When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.” Jesus cares about not only spiritual things, but also about what we should do in this world. Often in this world, we encounter mishaps not by our own arrangements, but such mishaps may be blessings in disguise. If we are sure that these are the results due to the attacks from the fallen angels of Satan, we should be cheerful. Why? Because we are worthwhile to have such attacks. Sort of like what Job encountered described in Book Job. Furthermore, we know that God will protect us when needed [10].
In Matthew 27:46, it says, “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”” With Jesus bore all sins of humankind, from the past, the present, and the future, how can God not forsake Him?
In Luke 23:45-46, it says, “because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.” Notice that He committed His spirit only to the Father. Here we see that salvation was completed once again as the veil was torn physically so we can now enter the Holy of Holy directly. In Hebrews 10:19-20, it says clearly, “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh.”
Final statement on this topic described in Luke 23:39-43. Earlier we can see that there are two criminals crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. In Luke 23:43, it says, “And He (Jesus) said to him (one of the criminals), “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”” Here in some verses, we can see that the criminal acted out of faith. Why? In Luke 23:39-41, it says, “One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”” We can see from the verses that he believes that Jesus is God. And he was taking action by saying, “…”Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!”” (Luke 23:42) We can also see that Christians go to Paradise after death.
Let us talk about what Jesus did after resurrection and before ascending. In Acts 1:1-5, it says, “The first account I composed (Gospel Luke), Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.””
Therefore, Gospel Luke talks about what Jesus did and taught, and we can also see His promise about the coming of Holy Spirit requiring waiting. Waiting is needed not only for those days, but also that we need to wait upon the God and His appointed time. In the Book of Acts, we indeed saw the coming of Holy Spirit and His guidance.
Regarding His ascending, there are two places that talk about it. In Luke 24:50-51, it says, “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.” Another place is in Acts 1:6-9, which described in more detail, it says, “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”
He promised that He would come again in John 14:3, which says, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” In terms of how He comes again, it says clearly in Acts 1:10-11 “And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.””
Some related verses
[1] Romans 5:12, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.”
[2] Genesis 5:3, “When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.”
[3] Matthew 1:18, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.”
[4] Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”
[5] Genesis 3:21, “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.”
[6] Genesis 22:13, “Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.”
[7] Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
[8] Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
[9] Romans 8:29, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.”
[10] 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
(Verses refer to those in NASB unless otherwise specified.)
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