We are all guilty of sin in our lives. We are all born in sin. We can’t escape it. We can’t cover our sin. We can’t erase it or undo it.
This week, Jews and Christians worldwide celebrate Passover and Easter. Passover deals with the Israelites shutting themselves in, eating a specific meal while dressed, and ready to go. God instructed them through Moses to prepare a lamb, apply its blood on the doorposts and lintels of their home. The roasted lamb was to be eaten in haste. God’s Angel of Death would be passing by at midnight to strike dead all the first-born (human and beasts) of the Egyptians. When the Angel saw the blood on the Israelite’s home on the two side posts and the top beam, he passed over it.
Christians believe Jesus to be the Sacrificed Lamb of God which was slaughtered for all mankind. It happened on Passover. At the time of the evening sacrifice, Jesus died outside the city just like the Jews had to do with the lamb taken out of the camp. While the first lamb was a representation of forgiveness, the second was actual. While the first one was to be repeated yearly, the second was eternal (Hebrews 10:12-But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God). He took our sins once and for all time. While the first sacrifice brings remembrance of sins, the second erases all memory of them (Hebrews 10:17-And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more) for Christ deposited them in the sea of forgetfulness. And separated them as far as the east is from the west signifying perpetually because east and west never meet. (Psalm 103:12).
While it’s so true that the Jews arrested Jesus, also a Jew, illegally and tried Him likewise, breaking a multitude of laws, had they not done so, we wouldn’t be here today. The world, as well as Christians, many times forget that because of the Jews rejection of Jesus, we were grafted in. An opening or a pause in history was created by God so that we, the gentiles, might have a chance to enter in to God’s presence and reap benefits otherwise unavailable to us.
This Good Friday is more than just the suffering of a good man or of ‘the suffering servant’ as He is known to the Jews. It is more than just the shame and unfair treatment he received. There was a battle raging for centuries for your soul and mine. Satan and his demonic host haven’t wanted us to know God one-on-One. He hasn’t wanted for us to be rescued, redeemed by God for God. Good Friday is a victorious day! Passover shows us what was to come and Good Friday reminds us that the suffering was necessary for an Easter to be fulfilled. Jesus needed to die in order to be raised from the dead. No one group really took His life. He laid it of His own volition and took it back. While mankind and Satan thought they had Him cornered and defeated, they were actually helping Him fulfill His destiny: God’s plan for mankind for the ages.
Your suffering, however great, is a small snapshot of Christ’s sufferings, deaths, and resurrection to give you eternal life with no more pain, sickness, death or sorrow, but perpetual joy in the hereafter. *In the original scriptures, it reads; ‘In His deaths, indicating he didn’t only die His death but several deaths; the deaths of others; your death and mine. He died for all your sins and for all of mine. He’s declared us: “NOT GUILTY!” But, you have to claim His sacrifice! You have to believe He died for you and that He wants you to live for Him.
Tomorrow will remind us Jesus rose from the dead once and for all! He’ll never die again and He’ll never be raised again! He conquered the grave, He defeated darkness. Believe on Him, accept His sacrifice for you and you too will live forevermore! Happy Passover and Happy Easter!