Ask for the Holy Spirit!

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! Luke 11:13 (NIV).

Who is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is God and the active presence of God on earth. He moved over the face of the waters in Genesis, came upon Moses in the wilderness, inspired the prophets and the apostles, rose Jesus Christ from death just to name a few of His mighty works. The Holy Spirit is the greatest gift God gives people through faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and Jesus Christ living inside of believers—God's Presence.

The Holy Spirit is a part of the Trinity —God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. When a person sincerely trusts Jesus Christ for salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of him or her and fills that person’s innermost being. The Holy Spirit transforms people from within to become more Christ-like. A believer’s moral conduct and love for God and others proves God’s presence in our lives. The Holy Spirit brings about Christ-like behavior and obedience to God (Galatians 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit living inside believers brings empowerment, direction, and strength to live and serve others according to the teachings and commands of the Holy Bible. Most importantly, the Holy Spirit transforms believers so they are able to live, act, and look more like Jesus Christ and want to become part of God’s plan to build up His church. Simply put, the Holy Spirit within believers helps us please God every day.

Moreover, the Holy Spirit is the presence of God at work in the world. Because the Holy Spirit’s presence, people are made aware of sin and their need for God. Many people are unaware of the Holy Spirit’s presence and activities. However, to believers who receive and love God through Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit gives a whole new way to look at life. The Holy Spirit provides an overwhelming heart peace with God and comfort through prayer. Unlike worldly peace, which is usually defined as the absence of conflict, this peace is confident assurance in any circumstance God is present!

By faith, believers of Jesus Christ can call upon the Holy Spirit’s power each day for daily use and help in any of life’s situation. The Holy Spirit directs a believer’s heart, path and helps a believer choose right from wrong. Also, the Holy Spirit counsels, helps, encourages, and strengthens a believer of Jesus Christ. As the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit teaches believers the truths of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, His physical presence left the earth. The God through Jesus Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit as our Comforter and Advocate to care for, guide, and help His disciples and also to provide instruction, sanctification, and guidance. Jesus Christ kept His promise at Pentecost that continues today. This same God through Jesus—who lived with the disciples, who died and was buried, and who rose from the dead—now lives on the in the hearts of believers to love and be with them always. As promised during His earthly ministry, God through Jesus Christ poured out the Holy Spirit so that His spiritual presence would still be among His people.

During the Old Testament period, the empowering gift of God’s Holy Spirit had previously been given only to select individuals such as Judges, priests, kings, and prophets. With the New Covenant today, the Holy Spirit now comes to live in ALL people, regardless of race, gender, or status, who have sincerely trusted Jesus Christ for their salvation and acknowledged Him as Lord and Savior. In essence, you can receive the Holy Spirit simply through heart faith in Jesus Christ and through asking in prayer for His presence to come live in your heart.

The Holy Spirit begins the Christian experience with God through Jesus Christ. No believer can be united with Jesus Christ, adopted as God’s children, nor become a part of the body of Christ except by baptism in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the power of believers’ lives. He begins the lifetime process of changing believers to become more like Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit works in believers to help us become like Jesus Christ. When we receive Jesus Christ by faith as Lord and Savior, believers begin a personal and intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Moreover, the Holy Spirit unifies the Christian community in Jesus Christ and He can be experienced by all. He works through all people through faith. 

Many people think of the Holy Spirit as being an experience of divine power. The Holy Spirit in both the Old Testament and the New Testament is the core of the experience of new life, strength, and energy and liberation from sin and death. As God, the Holy Spirit brings spiritual refreshment and renewal. The Holy Spirit is the power of God that transforms the individual into the image of God and makes the believer like Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the agent of holiness for the church and its leaders. He keeps the church pure and He promotes holiness in its members.

The Prophet Zechariah calls the Spirit “a spirit of grace and prayer” (Zechariah 12:10-12). In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps believers in our weakness. Often, we do not know what we to pray for, but the Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. All of these benefits of the Holy Spirit are available by simply asking God to fill you with the Holy Spirit once you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 

No matter how impure your life is right now, God offers everyone a fresh start through faith in Jesus Christ. Through heart faith in God through Jesus Christ, a person can have his or her sins washed away and receive a new heart and spirit from God. The Holy Spirit has the power to make new people and creates a new life.

The Holy Spirit’s presence is in believers’ lives, not only spiritual and mystical. The Holy Spirit is a powerful Person on our side, working for and around us. He teaches, helps, and guides believers toward all truth. Moreover, the Holy Spirit ministers to both the head and the heart and gives us the power, strength, and ability genuinely to love and to overcome hatred and evil in our world. A believer does not have to wait for a certain feeling or emotion to know that the Holy Spirit has come within. You will know the Holy Spirit has come because Jesus Christ promised He would in John 14 - 16.

A believer’s complete focus and hope must be on trusting God, relying on His Holy Spirit, and loving others. In essence, if people live their lives guided and directed by the Holy Spirit, loving God and others, they are in perfect harmony and obedience with the intent of God’s Law. People who produce and reveal the fruit of the Spirit satisfy the Law of God. At the right time, believers will reap a blessing from God walking in step with the Holy Spirit.

So, yield your life fully to God. Ask God for His Holy Spirit in every area and circumstance of life. Then, live and pray each day by the Holy Spirit.

What God Wants

7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God (see also 1 Corinthians 13). 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son (Jesus) into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him (see also John 1:18; John 3:16). 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins (see also 2 Corinthians 5:21). 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God (see also Exodus 33:18-23). But if we love each other, God lives in (among) us, and His love is brought to full expression in us. 13 And God has given us His Spirit as proof that we live in Him and He in us (see also Romans 5:5; Romans 8:9; 2 Corinthians 1:22). 14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 All who confess (acknowledges) that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face Him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love. 19 We love each other because He loved us first. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And He has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their brothers and sisters (people). 1 John 4:7-21.

What does God want from us? Jesus Christ answered that question simply. God desires our total and wholehearted love, dedication, and obedience to Him. Next, God desires love for our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). Love given and shown for God and our neighbor fully satisfies all the laws and commands of God (Romans 13:8-10). Both the Old Testament and the New Testament stress the importance of wholehearted love for God and our neighbor.

In reality, being loved is the most powerful inspiration in the world! Love is the greatest and most significant reality we can experience. The Good News is that Jesus Christ revealed to us how to love God’s way. Jesus Christ loved sacrificially for others by dying on the Cross at Calvary for our sins and obediently loved God in every way. God wants us to love like Jesus Christ’s unselfish love, even for those who hate us.

Love is the essence of God’s message to the world, which goes beyond the limits of race and nation. Loving God and our neighbor are the foundation for all biblical ethics in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In fact, Jesus Christ summed up the entire Holy Bible in love. God wants us to love not only people who look and act like us but also people much different from us, including our enemies. People never get tired of this kind of sincere love.

Love is more than simply passionate feelings. Love is NOT trivial bickering, jealousy, and selfish desires. God’s love means helping others, by giving, listening to others, committing time to others' welfare, encouraging one another, and by getting hurt without fighting back.

If we have a right relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ, we will have no problems with His commandment to love. If we love God, we will love our neighbor and we will not want to do anything to harm him or her. God Himself has taught us to love one another through the life and teaching of Jesus, the Cross at Calvary, and the Holy Spirit. Love should characterize all people, especially people professing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. If we are full of God's love, God’s love will overflow to others. Your love for God and other people will show that you are genuinely a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Passion of Jesus

Apostle Paul: I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. [Jesus] Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He [Jesus] was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, He was seen by more than 500 of His followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then He was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I [Apostle Paul] also saw Him [Jesus]. 1 Corinthians 15:3–8 (NLT).

The climax of Jesus’ life occurs with His Passion—Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and resurrection.  All four Gospels of the New Testament describe this world changing event. Jesus’ death and resurrection is the heart of the Gospel message (1 Corinthians 15) and the entire truth of the Christian faith rests on Jesus’ resurrection (Luke 24:6–7; 1 Corinthians 15:12–58). The resurrection of Jesus from complete death is the unique and central fact of Christian history. Without the resurrection, there would be no Christian church today. The Christian church is built entirely on the resurrection.

The entire New Testament bears witness to the personal and bodily resurrection of Jesus from complete death. The New Testament Scriptures unanimously depict the resurrection of Jesus from the dead by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. The four Gospels contain a detailed narrative of evidence of Jesus’ resurrection, focusing on the empty tomb and resurrection appearances (Matthew 28:1–20; Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–53; John 20:1–21:25). Furthermore, the Book of Acts is the story of the apostles’ proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 1:3; 2:24–35; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30–32; 13:33–37). The Epistles state that Jesus is living and reigning in heaven as Savior and exalted head of the church. The Book of Revelation repeatedly shows the resurrected Jesus as reigning in heaven with God the Father and the heavenly hosts.

Moreover, the empty tomb confirms and verifies Jesus’ resurrection. After His resurrection from complete death, Jesus appeared to many people over a forty-day period (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20–21; Acts 1:3) in Jerusalem, Galilee, and the Mount of Olives. Jesus made physical and bodily appearances to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11–17); several other women (Matthew 28:9–10); to Peter (1 Corinthians 15:5); to two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35); to the ten disciples (Luke 24:36–43); to the eleven disciples (John 20:26–29); to seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1–23); to more than five hundred (1 Corinthians 15:6); to the eleven remaining disciples at His ascension to heaven (Matthew 28:16–20); and to Paul (1 Corinthians 15:8). Essentially, everyone who saw the risen Jesus went on to turn the world upside down and change history.

Jesus experienced a physical, bodily resurrection from complete death (John 20:20). His body was identified as the same one laid in the tomb (John 20:25–29). Jesus had a physical body that could be touched and handled after His resurrection (e.g., Matthew 28:9; Luke 24:30). The resurrected Jesus proved that He was indeed alive and no evidence has every contradicted His resurrection. Jesus body has never been located!

Jesus rose from the dead as the “first fruits” (1 Corinthians 15:20–23) of a new kind of human life, a life in which the body was made perfect, no longer subject to weakness, aging, or death, but able to live eternally. His resurrection involved all three persons of the Godhead (John 10:17–18; Acts 13:30–35; Romans 1:4). Jesus’ resurrection transformed His humanity to enable Him to appear, vanish, and move unseen from one location to another (Luke 24:31, 36). Jesus’ body was now fully glorified and deathless (Philippians 3:21; Hebrews 7:16, 24).

Jesus’ death and resurrection occurred in Jerusalem around AD 30 or 33. He arrived in Jerusalem one week before Passover, a festival celebrating the Jews’ deliverance from Egypt and the high point of the Jewish’ calendar (Mark 14:1). This trip was Jesus’ third Passover visit to Jerusalem. As He approached Jerusalem for the last time, when Jesus made His triumphal entry, He was recognized as the King coming in the Name of the Lord (Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–10; Luke 19:29–44; John 12:12–19).

During the week leading up to Passover, Jesus cleansed the Temple of moneychangers and merchants (Matthew 21:12–16; Mark 11:12–18; Luke 19:45–47; John 2:13–16), cursed the fig tree for being unfruitful (Matthew 21:19–22; Mark 11:20–26), and taught the people on the Mount of Olives about the coming judgment. In addition, Jesus debated with the Jewish leaders regarding the correct interpretation of the Old Testament Law. On the night in which Jesus was betrayed and arrested, He introduced the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:17–30; Mark 14:12–26; Luke 22:7–23). The Lord’s Supper (also called the Communion, Mass, or Eucharist) refers to the New Covenant as being sealed by His sacrificial blood on the Cross (Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18; 1 Corinthians 11:26). At this Supper, Jesus predicted His betrayal by Judas, His desertion by all of them, and the giving of His body and blood for the forgiveness of humankind.

Afterwards, Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane by Roman officers and Temple guards (Matthew 26:47–56; Mark 14:43–52; Luke 47–50; John 18:3–11). After His arrest, and before His death, Jesus had four “trials”—a meeting with Annas (John 18:12-13), then with the Sanhedrin, a trial before Pontius Pilate, and a meeting with Herod Antipas (Luke 23:7–12). At His trial, His accusers made many false charges. Although Pontius Pilate knew that Jesus was an innocent Man, because of the demands of the Jewish crowd, he sentenced Him to death by crucifixion.

In the New Testament, atonement refers specifically to the reconciliation between God and humanity as a result of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:19–21). The focal point of God’s atoning work and the heart of the Gospel is Jesus’ death on the Cross at Calvary and His shedding of blood for humanity. God the Father, through His Son Jesus, entered our world to die and pay the penalty for all human sins. The Apostle Paul wrote, “when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son” (Romans 5:10). Jesus paid the penalty that we deserved to pay for our sin. In essences, Jesus bore God’s wrath on the Cross for the sin of all humanity. Through faith in Him, Jesus takes away our clothes of sin and replaces them with God’s righteousness (Zechariah 3:1–10; Ephesians 4:24; 1 John 1:9). A person is made right and reconciled to God through faith in Jesus’ atonement for sin on the Cross (Romans 3:21–23).

Because Jesus shed His own blood for humanity, His sacrifice is greater than any Old Testament offering (Hebrews 10:5–10). Through His own death, Jesus cast aside the Old Testament ceremonial system of sacrifices that involved shedding and offering the blood of unflawed animals. The ceremonial law of the Old Testament prepared people for Jesus’ coming. There was no longer a need for that ceremonial system after Jesus’ death and resurrection. However, Jesus did not eliminate God’s moral law (e.g., the Ten Commandments).

The New Testament regularly refers to the perfect blood sacrifice of Jesus for human sin (e.g., Romans 3:25; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 1:5). As the perfect sacrifice for sin (Romans 8:3; Ephesians 5:2; 1 Peter 1:18–19), Jesus’ death was our redemption that paid the price to free humanity from the enslavement to sin and God’s wrath against sinners (Romans 3:24; Galatians 4:4–5; Colossians 1:14). Jesus’ death was God’s act of reconciling us to Himself, and sweeping away His own hostility to us that our sins provoked (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians. 5:18–19; Colossians 1:20–22). Essentially, Jesus’ death on the Cross propitiated God (e.g., quenched His wrath against our sins and removed our sins from His sight).

At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus was identified as the Old Testament Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). John the Baptist expressly proclaimed Jesus as “the Lamb of God,” which takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus lived a perfect, sinless human life in full obedience to God. Thus, Jesus was the sinless, spotless Lamb of God or the Passover Lamb (Exodus 29:38–46; Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29, 36; Acts 8:32–35; Revelation 5:5–14) without any defects or sin (Exodus 12:5; Hebrews 4:14–16; Hebrews 7:26–28; l Peter 1:19). As the perfect and sinless lamb, Jesus voluntarily sacrificed His life on the Cross to atone for humanities’ sin (Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 2:24) and create a new way to God (Hebrews 10:20). Jesus voluntarily bore upon Himself all the sins of those who would one day be saved (Isaiah 53:12). It is because of Jesus’ obedience and sacrifice on the Cross that humanity can have Jesus’ sinless life counted for their own through faith in His work (Romans 3; Romans 5:19).

The purpose of Jesus’ coming was to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Jesus came into the world to save people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). In fact, Jesus saved humanity of sins both through the obedient life that He lived for God and through His death on the Cross. Jesus’ death on the Cross absorbed, soaked, and quenched sin and God’s wrath against sin. On the Cross, Jesus took our place for our sins and He bore the curse due to humanity (Galatians 3:13). Through His death, Jesus made peace for us with God (Ephesians 2:16; Colossians 1:20). In this context, peace means a pardon for all the past, present, and future sins through faith in Jesus’ work on the Cross reconciles or unites us to God through faith in Jesus’ work (Romans 5:1–11).

Jesus died the most humiliating death imaginable. On the Cross, Jesus suffered four kinds of extreme pain: (1) physical pain and death by crucifixion (one of the most horrible forms of execution ever devised by mankind); (2) the pain of bearing the evil and sins of humankind; (3) God and His disciples’ abandonment (Mark 14:34; Matthew 26:56; Matthew 27:46); (4) bearing the WRATH of God on the Cross at Calvary, Jesus was stretched out and fastened by nails and His arms supported most of the weight of His body. Even more, with His chest cavity pulled upward and outward, breathing was grueling. He forcibly endured a slow death by suffocation, brought on by the weight of His own body. The crucifixion of Jesus portrays Him as the Righteous Suffering Servant of the Lord as predicted by the Prophet Isaiah of the Old Testament (see Isaiah 52:13–53:12). At Jesus’ death, the Roman officer cried out, “Surely this Man was innocent” (Luke 23:47). Nonetheless, Jesus died this horrific death to save humans from their sins and separation from God (Matthew 1:21).

Jesus’ death was as the perfect Man and the perfect offering. He gave all of Himself to God and others so humans could have fellowship, peace, and reconciliation with God—both now and for all eternity. Because of Jesus’ death, our sins have been completely forgiven and fellowship with God restored. Because of Jesus’ final sacrifice on the Cross, there is no longer a need for animal sacrifice, as previously practiced in Old Testament times and many Middle Eastern cultures. Now, all people can be freed from the penalty and consequences of sin by simply believing (faith) in Jesus and accepting fully His atoning sacrifice on the Cross. There is no other path to salvation from God’s wrath against sin than faith in Jesus’ life and atoning death (Acts 4:12).

The death of Jesus made these Old Testament sacrifices unnecessary. On the Cross, Jesus became a substitute for and the salvation of sinful and guilty humans so that we would be spared the punishment our sins deserved (Hebrews 10:1–14). The blood of Jesus brings atonement (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:20) and obtains eternal redemption for believers (Hebrews 9:12). Jesus as God’s Lamb reconciles believers to God (John 1:29; Hebrews 9:14). Jesus paid the debt that our sins deserved (expiation) and in doing so, He satisfied God’s judgment against us and our sins (propitiation). Thus, Jesus’ death on the Cross was as our substitute or in our place. This simply means that Jesus died in the place of and for the benefit of sinners (2 Corinthians 5:21 and 1 Peter 3:18). Even more, Jesus’ death on the Cross reconciles or merges people to God and we are no longer alienated from Him (2 Corinthians 5:19). In essence, through faith in Jesus and His atoning work, a former state of hostility and estrangement from God changes into one of becoming a member of God’s family.

As holy, God hates all sin. The atoning death of Jesus propitiated (appeased or satisfied) God and His wrath against our sins (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2). Because Jesus died on the Cross as an atonement for our sin, God is satisfied forever because He is propitiated (appeased or calmed down) by the death of Jesus. With the sacrifice of Jesus, God is completely satisfied and His wrath against our sins, as a believer of Jesus, is taken away or averted.

Even more, the death of Jesus takes away from believers the reigning power of our sinful nature (Romans 6:1–10). The Apostle Paul teaches that our wholehearted love, faith, and union with Jesus takes away our sins and makes sin effective in our lives. The blood (death) of Christ is the basis of our constant cleansing from sin (1 John 1:7). The once-for-all death of Jesus provides constant and continually cleansing of our sins as believers by our confession.

Moreover, Jesus’ atoning death provides redemption to believers (Romans 3:24), reconciliation with God (2 Corinthians 5:19–21), forgiveness (Romans 3:25), deliverance (Colossians 1:13), acceptance (Ephesians 1:6), future glorification (Romans 8:30), and justification (Isaiah 53:11; Romans 3:24). Anyone can accept all these benefits simply by accepting through faith Jesus’ life and atoning death on the Cross as our Lord and Savior (see Romans 10:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21). A person’s evil and sin is removed forever through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 4:22–24).

When we trust in Jesus, we make a great exchange—Jesus trades His righteousness for our sins. In other words, Jesus became the offering for our sin (or sin itself; see Isaiah 53:10) on the Cross—when He took sin’s penalty on Himself and died. Our sins were poured into Jesus at His crucifixion. Although He never sinned, Jesus made this exchange (John 8:46; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5), so that we would be made right and thus be accepted by God (see Galatians 3:13). Consequently, with faith in Jesus’ work on the Cross, Jesus’ righteousness pours into us humans. This great exchange is what is regarded as Jesus’ atonement for our sin.

Jesus’ atoning death confirmed the beginning of the New Covenant. The Old Testament spoke of a New Covenant where people would know God and the Law of God would be written on their hearts (see Jeremiah 31:31–34; Ezekiel 37:1–14; 2 Corinthians 3:1–18). With His sacrificial death, Jesus established this New Covenant between God and those who respond in faith. With the arrival of Jesus and His death on the Cross, the Law of Moses, which formerly ruled over God’s people, has been left behind. Our new relationship with God stands separate from the Law of Moses and now in Jesus Christ, who perfectly obeyed the law (Matthew 5:17; John 1:17; Romans 6:14, 15; Romans 7:4–6; Romans 10:4; Hebrews 10:1). Jesus is the guarantor and mediator of this Covenant and our sacrifice of atonement (Romans 3:25). Through faith in the atonement of Jesus on the Cross, any person can have full acceptance, reconciliation, and fellowship with God (Romans 3:25; 2 Corinthians 5:19–21). All who come to Jesus in faith will find mercy (John 6:35, 47–51, 54–57; Romans 1:16; Romans 10:8–13).

On the eve of the Jewish Sabbath (Friday), outside the city of Jerusalem (John 19:20), Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world (Mark 10:45) at a place called Golgotha (Mark 15:22). He was crucified at 9:00 a.m. on Friday morning. By 12 noon, the Golgotha site in Jerusalem had turned completely dark. Jesus died at 3:00 p.m., hanging on the Cross at Golgotha between two thieves (Matthew 27:38). He gave up His life before the Jewish Sabbath arrived (Saturday), so there was no need to hasten His death by crurifragium (e.g., breaking His legs (John 19:31–34). With His sacrificial life and death, Jesus has been called “Man of Sorrows.”

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Jewish Council, requested (from the Roman government) the body of Jesus after He was crucified. Jesus was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea (Mark 15:43; John 19:38) on the eve of the Jewish Sabbath (Friday evening). That Friday, before dusk, Joseph gave Jesus a royal burial in the unused tomb (Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42). Jesus was in the tomb until Sunday morning. By Jewish calculation, three days and nights equals as follows: Friday to 6 p.m. = 1 day; Friday 6 p.m. = day 2; Saturday 6 p.m. to Sunday a.m. = day 3). 

On the first day of the week, which was the third day and Sunday morning, the GREATEST miracle of the world occurred (Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 1-12; John 20:1-10). God raised Jesus from complete death by the Holy Spirit. Discovered on Sunday morning, the empty tomb of Jesus was undeniable evidence of His resurrection from the dead. Jesus rose victorious from the dead, just as He had predicted. Jesus’ death and resurrection confirm that He is truly the Son of God and the Christ (Messiah). No other religious leaders had ever predicted their own death and resurrection.

Jesus’ enemies went to great lengths to prevent the news of the Resurrection. In reality, no real evidence has ever been found to refute the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus lives! He is the Risen Lord No evidence in history found the recovery of Jesus’ body! Jesus’ resurrection demonstrated His victory over death (Acts 2:24; 1 Corinthians 15:54–57) and revealed His divine identity (Romans 1:4).

After Jesus’ resurrection, He was on earth for forty days (Acts 1:3). Then Jesus led His disciples to Bethany, just outside Jerusalem, and “lifting up His hands blessed them.” While He blessed them, He ascended from His disciples, and was carried up into heaven (Luke 24:50–51; see also Acts 1:9–11). Jesus did not suddenly disappear from His disciples; instead, He ascended into heaven and then a cloud (apparently the cloud of God’s glory or the Glory Cloud) took Him from their sight. However, the angels with the disciples at Jesus’ ascension also said that Jesus would come back in the same way in which He had gone into heaven (Acts 1:10-11).

When Jesus ascended into heaven, He received glory, honor, and authority (Acts 2:33; Philippians 2:1-9; Ephesians 1:20–21; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:4). Jesus is now in heaven at the right hand of God, the Father (Psalms 110:1; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 4:14–16; Revelation 5:12). Jesus reigns in heaven with God the Father, as our Great High Priest, interceding or mediating with God on the behalf of believers (Hebrews 4:14–16). Furthermore, Jesus is preparing a place in heaven for all true believers (John 14:2). This ascension into heaven with God the Father indicates the completion of Jesus’ work of human redemption. As promised during His public ministry (John 15:26; John 16:7), Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit on the Church at Pentecost to spread His Good News of God’s saving love to the world (Matthew 28:18–20; John 21:1–25; Acts 2:33).

Jesus said, “I AM. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14:62 (NLT). One day, Jesus will return to earth on the clouds of heaven (see Daniel 7:13) to judge the world (James 5:7–9; Revelation 20:11–13; see also Isaiah 26:21; Micah 1:3). Jesus will shine like a star in His full glory (see Luke 1:78; Ephesians 5:14; Revelation 2:28). No one knows except God the Father of Jesus’ second coming (Matthew 24:36). The time of Jesus’ return remains completely unknown and no dates can be determined from Revelation or any other book of the Bible. The return of Jesus will be the end of life on this world and the start of a new life (John 14:2–3). When Jesus returns to earth, the promises of God’s Kingdom will finally be complete. All of creation will also be rescued from the curse that started in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve disobeyed God (Genesis 3:17–18). Sorrow, tears, mourning, and death will no longer exist (Revelation 21:4–5).

In 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17, the Apostle Paul describes Jesus’ second coming as taking the form of a descent from the sky, heralded by a trumpet fanfare, a shout, and the voice of the archangel. Jesus will raise His followers to a resurrection and life like His own (1 Corinthians 15:20–23; Philippians 3:20–21). His followers who are alive at His second coming will be instantly transformed (1 Corinthians 15:50–54), while those who had already died will experience a glorious recreation (2 Corinthians 5:1–5). 

Until Jesus returns, the Holy Scriptures instruct all believers to endure (James 1:4), resist evil (James 4:7), continually pray (Matthew 6:10; Revelation 22:20), remain faithful to God (James 5:13–17), and wait patiently for Jesus’ return (James 5:7–8). Jesus instructed His followers not to speculate as to the dates for His second coming (Mark 13:32; Acts 1:7), but they should live honorably (1 John 2:28) and be prepared (Matthews 24:36–25:30). At Jesus’ second coming, all true believers will receive the crown of eternal life (James 1:12).

After Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus made a number of appearances to different people. Jesus appeared to:
(1) Mary Magdalene and some other women at the tomb on Sunday morning (Matthew 28:8–10; Mark 16:9–11; John 20:11–18);
(2) Peter in Jerusalem on Sunday (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5);
(3) Disciples on the Emmaus Road on Sunday (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13–35);
(4) Disciples in Jerusalem, except Thomas, in the upper room on Sunday (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36–43; John 20:19–25);
(5) Disciples in Jerusalem, including Thomas, on the next Sunday night (John 20:26–31; 1 Corinthians 15:5);
(6) Disciples beside the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1–25);
(7) 500 people at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6);
(8) James, the brother of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:7);
(9) The disciples who witnessed the ascension of Jesus to heaven (Matthew 28:18–20; Mark 16:15–19; Luke 24:44–53; Acts 1:3–12).

References
Butler, Trent. Holman Bible Dictionary. Broadman & Holman Pub., 1991.
Douglas, J.D. NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible. New York: Zondervan, 1989.
Life Application Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005.
New Student Bible. New York: Zondervan,1992.
NLT Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2008.
Zondervan NIV Study Bible. New York: Zondervan, 2008.
Packer, J. I. Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 1993.
Green, Joel. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1992.
Meek, James A. One Great Story: Study Guide to the Bible, 2007.
Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 1995.
 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

In 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, the Apostle Paul provides the fullest explanation on the meaning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His saving act on the Cross at Calvary.

11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. 12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. 13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know Him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. — 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (NLT).

In 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, the Apostle Paul explains that God was in Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry (2 Corinthians 5:19) to plead to the world to “Come back to God!” God was in Jesus Christ to reconcile and bring humankind back to Him and cancel any and all sins of people. The Apostle Paul taught that Jesus Christ has commissioned all believers as ambassadors to continue His job of reconciling people to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). Jesus Christ makes His appeal and pleads through His followers to “Come back to God!”

The Apostle Paul explained in his writings, teaching, and preaching that God made Jesus Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for humankind’s sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. Once a person accepts, trusts, and believes on Jesus Christ, that person becomes brand-new on the inside with a new heart through the working of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings this new believer into Jesus Christ and makes a person’s life and heart anew. “The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT). Furthermore, the Apostle Paul teaches that believers in Jesus Christ are united God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

God reconciles Himself to believers of Jesus Christ by blotting out their sins (see also Ephesians 2:13-18) and declaring them righteous, holy, and NOT guilty of sin! Believers are no longer God’s enemies, but are now friends of God through Jesus Christ (John 15:15). Because we have been reconciled to God, Jesus Christ wants believers as His ambassadors to tell others of this same privilege of reconciliation, union, and friendship with God (Romans 5:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:20; and Colossians 1:15-20).

Perfection of Jesus

21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps. 22 He (Jesus Christ) never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when He was insulted, nor threaten revenge when He suffered. He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. 24 He personally carried our sins in His body on the Cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed. 25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian (Bishop) of your souls. 1 Peter 2:21-25 (NLT).

 

Through Jesus Christ’s obedience and suffering on the Cross, God saved the entire world from sin and sin consequences. “My Righteous Servant will justify many” (Isaiah 53:11). Humankind now finds salvation, healing, forgiveness, peace and reconciliation with God through faith in the life and work of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ suffered so that everyone through faith in Him can be saved.  The suffering of Jesus Christ was part of God’s redemption plan of history and substitutionary atonement for our sins.

Light of the World

1 In the beginning was the Word (Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His Name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' " 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. John 1:1-18 (NASB).

As the Creator of all, Jesus Christ existed long before King David. Jesus is the One who in the beginning was the Agent of God’s creative activity on earth as the “Word” (Greek Logos) (Genesis 1:1–28; John 1:1). Jesus was “in the beginning” with God (John 1:1–3; Hebrews 1:2–10). The Gospel writer John states that this Word or Logos became flesh and lived among us as a human (John 1:14). The “Word” became flesh and lived among us means that Jesus became a man and moved among us as a man. “The Word became flesh” (John 1:14) means Jesus was both the powerful, creative Word of God in the Old Testament by which the heavens and the earth were created (Psalms 33:6, 9) and to the organizing and unifying principle of the universe.

“The Word became flesh” (John 1:14) relate both to the Wisdom of God in the Old Testament (Proverbs 8:22–31) and to the Law of God (Deuteronomy 30:11–14; Isaiah 2:3) as these are revealed and declared in the going forth of the Word by which God creates, reveals Himself, and fulfills His will in history (Psalms 33:6; Isaiah 55:10–11; Isaiah 11:4; Revelation 1:16). Through Wisdom, God extended Himself into the cosmos, creating the world (Proverbs 8:22–31). In the New Testament, the Word is not only a message proclaimed but also Jesus Himself (Colossians 3:16).




 

The Suffering Servant of God

13 See, My Servant (Messiah, the Lord Jesus) shall prosper; He shall be highly exalted. 14 Yet many shall be amazed when they see Him—yes, even far-off foreign nations and their kings; they shall stand dumbfounded, speechless in His presence. For they shall see and understand what they had not been told before. 15 They shall see My Servant beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know it was a person standing there. So shall He cleanse many nations. Isaiah 52:13-15 (The Living Bible).

1 But, oh, how few believe it! Who will listen? To whom will God reveal His saving power? 2 In God’s eyes He was like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. But in our eyes there was no attractiveness at all, nothing to make us want Him. 3 We despised Him and rejected Him—a Man of Sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way when He went by. He was despised, and we didn’t care.

4 Yet it was our grief He bore, our sorrows that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God, for His own sins! 5 But He was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; He was lashed—and we were healed! 6 We—every one of us—have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on Him the guilt and sins of every one of us!

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He never said a word. He was brought as a Lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He stood silent before the ones condemning Him. 8 From prison and trial they led Him away to His death. But who among the people of that day realized it was their sins that He was dying for—that He was suffering their punishment? 9 He was buried like a criminal, but in a rich man’s grave; but He had done no wrong and had never spoken an evil word.

10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to bruise Him and fill Him with grief. However, when His soul has been made an offering for sin, then He shall have a multitude of children, many heirs. He shall live again, and God’s program shall prosper in His hands. 11 And when He sees all that is accomplished by the anguish of His soul, he shall be satisfied; and because of what He has experienced, My Righteous Servant shall make many to be counted righteous before God, for He shall bear all their sins. 12 Therefore, I will give Him the honors of One who is mighty and great because He has poured out His soul unto death. He was counted as a sinner, and He bore the sins of many, and He pled with God for sinners. Isaiah 53:1-12 (The Living Bible).

The humanity of Jesus is brought to light in passages that recall the Suffering Servant of the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 52:13–53:12). There was nothing beautiful or majestic in the physical appearance of Jesus while on earth. The people who saw Jesus considered Him an ordinary man. He was not physically attractive nor was He personally charismatic. Jesus did not attract a large following based on His physical appearance (Isaiah 53:2). Indeed, while on earth, He appeared with no greatness or self-evident royal splendor. However, the “Servant” Jesus was “marred beyond human likeness” through His human suffering to cleanse the world of sin (Isaiah 52:13–15). Jesus’ humility, suffering, and mercy demonstrate his true strength (Isaiah 53:1).