Reflections of the Resurrection-6

The Victory of the Resurrection

Use Diatessaron

It Is Finished

Friday night I read the last words of Jesus from the Cross:

The Matthew and Mark basically say the same thing: Mark 15:37 (NASB95) And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.

Luke 23:46 (NASB95) [records… ] … Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.” Having said this, He breathed His last.

Only in John do we read:

John 19:28–30 (NASB95) After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

Even though I read this Friday night, those who didn’t hear it NEED to hear it. Those who DID hear it will be edified to hear it again.

I quoted AG Pastor and Evangelist Samuel Rodriguez who encourages us to remember that there were …

Three words that shifted the trajectory of humanity. Three words that shook the very foundations of hell. Three words that prompted the veil in the temple to tear in two. Three words that provoked the dead to come out of their graves. Three words that changed absolutely everything! It is finished! It is finished! It is finished! I’m here to tell you the following:

those three words are as powerful today as they were 2,000 years ago. It is finished!

What about my life of sin? It is finished! What about my sickness? It is finished! What about the depression that ran through my family for generations? It is finished! What about the trauma and the drama? It is finished! What about my life as a spiritual orphan? It is finished! What about my life without purpose? It is finished! What about my pathway to hell? It is finished! Shame? It is finished! Condemnation? It is finished! Let’s look at these three words carefully: It is finished!

Jesus never said, “I am finished.”

He said, “It is finished.”

In other words, do not confuse the process with the promise. The process of redeeming humanity is finished. The transaction of paying the debt for all our sins—past, present, and future—is finished. The sacrifice God required to give man access to the throne room of grace? It is finished. Glory to God—IT IS FINISHED!

And then I heard more this about these words.

First of all, in the Greek it is only one word: TUH-tell-uh-sty

One word that was used in 3 different contexts.

In the business context of ancient times it was written on a receipt to indicate a debt had been paid in full.

In a judicial context it was used to indicate that a sentence was FULLY served.

Not somewhat

Or with time off for good behavior…

COMPLETELY served

In a military context the word TUH-tell-us-sty was used to indicate that a battle had been won — it was like a shout of triumph or victory.

So, when Jesus cries out TUH-tell-uh-sty, he was declaring:

The debt of your sin, my sin, was paid in full.

The judgement, the sentence for our sin has been fully served.

And

The spiritual war against death, sin and satan has been fully won.

The work of salvation, victory, reconciliation and a new life is fully yours.

That was the loud cry of Jesus from the cross.

It is finished.

The Fire Bible says:

“It is finished” was not a cry of termination, but a shout of triumph, declaring the completion of Christ’s work on the cross.

This triumphant declaration was a signal that Jesus had

(1) completely fulfilled his earthly mission given by the Father (18:37);

(2) fulfilled OT prophecy about the Messiah’s suffering (e.g., Ge 3:15; Isa 53);

(3) completed the work of spiritual rescue and restoration by providing the perfect sacrifice for sin (cf. 1:29; 1Co 5:7; Eph 1:7; Heb 9:12, 22);

(4) secured the decisive victory over Satan and his network of demons (Col 2:15);

and (5) achieved the means of restoring God’s relationship with his creation and sinful humanity (2Co 5:18–19, 21; Col 1:20–22).

Nothing can be or needs to be added to Christ’s finished work on the cross—and the results are ongoing.

Because he endured the punishment for our offenses and rebellion against God, He opened the way for people to have a relationship with Him (see Mt 27:50, note; Lk 23:46, note).

All who accept Christ’s sacrifice for themselves and yield their lives to Him receive God’s gifts of forgiveness and eternal life.

Considering all of God’s wonderful and creative acts, it may seem somewhat ironic that Jesus’ highest purpose—to bring eternal life—came through death.

That the Creator (Jn 1:1–3) was sacrificed for His creation.

But through this horrific event, Jesus’ mission was accomplished.

The God/man had paid the perfect price for sin and bridged the gap between a holy God and sinful people.

Through faith in Christ, we now have full access to God (see Mt 27:51, note).

If we surrender our lives to the One who went to this extreme for us, we can experience the life he intends for us.

Today we not only celebrate TUH-tell-uh-sty, It Is Finished, but also the fact that the Cross is NOT the final word.

There is an empty tomb.

Keys of the Kingdom

As we think about Jesus’ death on the Cross we realize Jesus accomplished some things after His physical death.

First of all, Jesus promised Peter and I believe us, as Peter’s spiritual descendants in

Matthew 16:19 (NASB95) “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

Included in those keys are the keys Jesus took from satan after His death on the Cross.

When Jesus died He marched into hell itself, right into the throne-room of satan and demanded the keys satan had stolen:

John says in Revelation 1:17–18 (NASB95) When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Ephesians tells us when this happened:

Ephesians 4:7–10 (NASB95) But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.” 9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)

Before the Ascension was Jesus

going into satan’s domain and taking the keyys of hell and death

Then He went into Paradise to take the dead who died before the Cross to heaven to be with Him

Then He rose from the dead

He spent 40 days with His followers

And THEN He ascended to the Fathger’s right-hand where He intercedes for us

The Stone Rolled Away

But, after securing the keys.

After fulfilling the prophecy that He Himself repeated with full knowledge:

Matthew 12:40 (NASB95) … just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Apparently the evil Pharisees and chief priests who opposed Him understood Jesus better than His own disciples.

They went to Pilate and Matthew 27:63 (NASB95) [tells us they told Pilate], “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’

They asked for a guard to stop it from happening — as if they could!

But on the third day we read in the Diatessaron [a blending together of the 4 Gospels]…

From Matthew 28:2–4, 8; Mark 16:1–7; Luke 24:1–11; John 20:2

[That] behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat down on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his garments were white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became as dead men.

Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might go and anoint Jesus. And on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And as they went, they said, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?” (for it was very large). But when they came within sight of the tomb, they saw that the stone had been rolled back. And they went in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

Then Mary Magdalene hurried away to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one whom Jesus especially loved, and said, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him!” And the other women entered the tomb and saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting over on the righthand side, and they were amazed and alarmed.

“Do not be afraid,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, and is not here. See, here is the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples, and Peter, that he will go ahead of you into Galilee, and you will see him there, as he told you.”

While they were still amazed by all of this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling garments; and the women were afraid and bowed their faces to the ground. But the men said to them, “Why are you seeking the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and on the third day rise.”

And they remembered [Jesus’] words, and departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy.

And they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. But their words seemed to them as an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

From John 20:3–10

Peter and the other disciple set out for the tomb, hurrying along together. But the other disciple outran Peter and, arriving first at the tomb, peered inside and saw the linen winding cloths lying there, but did not go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside the tomb and saw the linen winding cloths lying there, and the napkin which had been around his head—not lying with the linen winding cloths, but wrapped round and round and lying in a separate place. Then the other disciple, who had arrived at the tomb first, went inside and saw these things and believed (for as yet they had not understood the scripture, how that it was necessary for Jesus to rise from the dead). Then the disciples returned to their homes.

From Matthew 28:9–10; Mark 16:11; John 20:11–18

But Mary stood before the tomb and wept. And as she wept, she peered inside the tomb and saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain—one at the head, and one at the feet.

“Woman,” they said, “why are you weeping?”

“Because they have taken away my Lord,” said Mary, “and I know not where they have laid him.”

Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but was not aware that it was Jesus.

“Woman,” said Jesus, “why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

“Sir,” said Mary (supposing him to be the gardener), “if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

“Mary!” said Jesus.

Mary turned to Jesus and cried, “Rabboni!” (that is to say in Hebrew, “Master!”).

“Do not hold me,” said Jesus, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brethren and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.’ ”

Then Mary Magdalene went away to the disciples and said, “I have seen the Lord!” and told them the things he said to her. When they heard that he was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

As the women went to bring his disciples word, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Hail!” And they came and clasped his feet and worshipped him. “Do not be afraid,” said Jesus. “Go and tell my brethren that they are to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

The stone was rolled away.

Jesus appeared to Mary.

As Ginny sang about: To Peter

To the disciples

To more than 500 of His followers.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:3–8 (NLT) I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 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. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.

Death could not hold Him.

As Peter told the crowd on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:23–24 (ESV) this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Our Response

So, today is Resurrection Sunday.

Jesus is not on the Cross.

He is not in the tomb.

He is alive.

How will we respond?

We read in John 20:24–29 (ESV) Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

As the worship team comes…

Do you believe in the Resurrection?

Have you repented of your sins?

Have you put your trust in the Risen Lord?

Have you surrendered your life to Him?

Prayer:

For the lost.

For believers to live like we have a living Hope in the Resurrected Lord.