Jesus crucifixion | kdmanestreet

Amidst the heinous bombings at the Boston Marathon shine the heroes who risked their lives to help the wounded. One story in particular keeps replaying in my mind.

(Photo credit: United States Marine Corps)

Carlos Arredondo, the “Latino cowboy” immigrant, cheered for a friend who was running in honor of his son, who died fighting in Iraq almost 10 years ago.

Immediately after the blast, instead of running away, he ran toward the scene. He crossed the street and tore pieces of a fence that separated the runners from the crowd. Then he scaled the fence and tended to victims.

This American hero reminds me a little of my action hero.

God the Father―who also knows the pain of losing a son―cheers for us as we run our Christian race (Romans 8:31; Hebrews 12:1).

Jesus crossed the universe, defied physics, and hurdled time by entering earth’s history (John 1:1-15; Isaiah 7:14).

Instead of running away from sinners, the light of the world ran to us (Luke 15:2-7).

Jesus tore away obstructing sin that separated us from our holy God (Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:9).

Through Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, God triumphed over Satan’s rule of sin and death (Hebrews 2:14).

After Jesus ascended to heaven, He distributed His plunder by giving gifts to His children/church (Ephesians 4:8). Paul, during his imprisonment in Rome, compared Jesus to a conqueror marching to the gates and taking tribute from the fallen city (Psalm 68:18). The following links open to a study of these spiritual gifts:

http://www.bible.org/seriespage/spiritual-gifts-1-corinthians-121-11

http://www.qualityoflifeministries.info/purpose-of-gifts

Christ’s resurrection helps us find meaning, even in great tragedy.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” – Hebrews 6:19-20

“For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2

I find it interesting that there are hundreds of messianic prophecies in the Old Testament of the Bible―God’s revelation predicting the coming Messiah. These 39 books were written between 1450 B.C. and 430 B.C. God chose to reveal His plan to redeem mankind, and each of His proclamations about the coming Messiah has been revealed in Jesus.

God revealed to the prophet Amos, who lived 700 years before Jesus was crucified, that “on that day” the sun will set at noon and darkness will cover the earth (Amos 8:9). And then Matthew, one of many eyewitnesses, confirms that the entire land became dark for three hours (Matthew 27:45). This darkness at Jesus’ crucifixion is Matthew’s first supernatural sign before God’s salvation of the world.

When darkness swallowed the sun, Jesus swallowed death in victory.

The Psalmist in Psalm 118:15b-17 (HCSB) predicts Christ’s rising from the grave:

“The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly! ¹⁶The Lord’s right hand is raised. The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly!” ¹⁷I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the Lord has done.

Mark 16:6 (NIV) records an angel saying,

Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”

The Father raised Jesus up in the power of His Holy Spirit, seating Him at His right hand―to His original position before Jesus took on flesh (John 1:1-5). Jesus reigns victoriously (Philippians 2:9-11) and will one day reign in justice over His new earth (Revelation 21). The question I must ask myself: Does Jesus reign victoriously in my heart, or am I harboring sin?

I love that the apostle Paul gives the image of God’s children sitting victoriously with Christ in the “heavenly realms,” replacing the image of us as being objects of God’s wrath due to our sin (Ephesians 2:1-9). This is made possible only because our sinless Lord took our deserved punishment upon Himself (Isaiah 53:4-12). Our eternal life is secured only through Jesus Christ (1 John 5:11-12).

As God’s children, do we embrace God’s grace and extend it to others?

Maybe you’re unsure whether or not you are God’s child. This is a decision only you can make. The church can’t save you. Your good works or parents’ faith can’t save you.

There are no guarantees for tomorrow. Isaiah 55:6-7 says,

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.⁷Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.”

If God is knocking on your heart’s door, please don’t ignore Him. I encourage you to call out to Christ, seek His forgiveness, and ask Him to save you. He loves you!