LOOK UNTO JESUS
While it was tempting to write again about the corona virus pandemic, it is better to have less and not more input on the pandemic because worse than the pandemic itself is the fear generated by the media with its endless coverage and hysteria surrounding it. God will put an end to the pandemic sooner than most people expect it to and God will provide grace for his people to endure through it till the end. Through the most difficult times, the apt message for his people is to look unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith. Next Friday we remember the death of Jesus on the cross for our sins. Matthew captures a scene from his death,
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:50-54)
The Bible teaches us that both eternal and physical death are a sequel of sin and if Jesus was sinless as the Word says, it would have been impossible for him to die. Hence Matthew accurately teaches us that Jesus had to voluntarily give up his spirit to accomplish the physical death that was necessary for our salvation on the cross.
The curtain in the temple represented the partition between the innermost holiest place where God resided and the rest of the temple. There was no access to the innermost place except for the high priest once a year. The symbolism represented the reality of sin being incompatible with a holy God. The sinfulness of man prevented God from having unhindered fellowship with man and hence the iron like curtain. When Jesus died, the curtain was ripped and because Jesus became man’s mediator, God could fellowship with man through His Holy Spirit. What was unattainable had now come within reach.
Physical manifestations followed Jesus’ death. The sun was darkened and the earth shook. Not surprising considering that the earth and physical universe was created by Jesus who was now physically dying on the cross. That the physical realm was shaken only appears a natural accompaniment of the death of its creator. Also accompanying the death on the cross was Jesus carrying the sins of humanity on himself, thus necessitating the transient separation between God the Father and God the Son. To think that love could drive God to voluntarily cause a self-rupture in the divine Godhead that has always been One is beyond comprehension!
Saints of God who had died previously came to life transiently and appeared to many in the holy city. Jesus could not die and when he embraced death voluntarily, resurrection was a foregone conclusion. And with his resurrection, came the possibility of resurrection for all those believe in him. The coming alive of prior holy people also signified how Jesus’ act of bringing salvation transcended time and was equally applicable to those who served God before Jesus time here on earth.
Seeing all that occurred surrounding Jesus’ death brought the centurion to his knees in worship. Jesus could have chosen to come down to earth as the most glorious king alive. Instead he chose to live amidst us as an ordinary man. Yet he left enough evidence for the honest seeker to believe in him and become a servant for his Kingdom. And through the centuries that pattern has continued. While kings rule and kingdoms wax and wane, the extraordinary work of God has continued to prosper through ordinary means. Today for an honest seeker, the evidence for Jesus as a Savior is strong as it was then for the centurion.
But there is a choice to be made- to either follow him or reject him. And when all is said and done, regardless of pandemics, politics and prosperity, that choice will determine one’s destiny.
