No coincidence – No tragedy – A divine plan
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[edit] No coincidence – No tragedy – A divine plan
- - How can God’s messenger be crucified by men?
- John 10:17.18
The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.
- Many protest and complain: “How is it possible that Jesus, whom you worship as God, is treated like a scoundrel by men and in the end killed in a horrible way? If he were really God, then he could have easily prevented it, he could even have conquered and destroyed his enemies”.
[edit] I. An eternal plan
[edit] A. The man was chosen:
Jesus Christ was not just mistreated and deceived by malicious people, but he was obedient to a divine plan; he accepted a duty that had been planned from eternity. Ephesians 1:4.5, For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- Before this world was created with all of its creatures, God chose people out of all other creatures to be his children through Jesus Christ, this was his eternal plan. But the Holy Trinity knew in advance that mankind would fall into sin. Only someone who is holy and innocent can be with God in eternity; in order to free people from sin Jesus took on this duty, to take mankind’s place and to accept the death sentence for him. If the in is paid for then it is taken away and the sinner is justified.
[edit] B. His hour had not yet come:
The powerful people of his time tried several times to kill him but they never reached their goal; they could not carry out their plan. Why? Because the hour in which to carry out God’s plan had not yet come. John 7:30, At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. Jesus was always more powerful than his attackers and enemies, even though he was alone. In Luke 4:28-30 we read, after he had spoken in the synagogue: All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way. The mob from the city of Nazareth was very angry, full of rage and emotionally charged, and they wanted to through his over a cliff, but he walked away through the crowd as if nothing had happened. Such a dynamic power emanated from him that the people did not dare to touch him. When in Jakarta or some other city in this world a mob goes on a rampage, then a whole company of soldiers cannot do anything. All that remains is a road of destruction, wounded people, even dead people. Not only in far away Nazareth, but also in Jerusalem the capitol of Israel, something similar happens. We read in John 7:44, Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him. Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why didn't you bring him in?" "No one ever spoke the way this man does," the guards declared. In John 10:39 as well, the same thing happened at a different time, Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. The scriptures testify here clearly that Jesus was untouchable; he had more power and authority than all of the powerful people of his time; this was more than clear during his whole life on earth. They could not make him into a playing ball of their lust for power.
[edit] II. The Cross and Suffering of Jesus were often prophesied
[edit] A. In the Old Testament
When we read in the Old Testament of the Bible and study each text then we see that the texts often prophesy the crucifixion and death of Jesus. An impressive prophecy is in Isaiah 53:5.7.9.12: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,so he did not open his mouth. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. In Psalm 22 we find the description of the sufferings of Jesus on the cross, seen a thousand years beforehand in the spirit, how someone suffers who slowly dies on the cross: Psalm 22:1-24: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me. Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. The word of God (Genesis 3:15) to the snake already in the Garden of Eden: And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." No, Jesus was not surprised by the people’s animosity, nor by his death on the cross; the prophecy which Jesus knew well had already foretold everything. All of this was God’s plan from eternity.
[edit] B. Jesus himself prophesied his crucifixion:
Jesus Christ himself often told his followers that he had to suffer for the salvation of mankind: Luke 9:22.44b-45: And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life… The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. Luke 18:31-34: Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again." The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about. In John 3:14,15 he speaks with the teacher of the law Nicodemus: Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. This lifting up is a clear indication of the cross and at the same time shows us the meaning and purpose of the cross. Jesus went this way very deliberately and did not allow anything to divert him from it. On the day before the crucifixion he prayed, John 17:1.4: After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Jesus glorified the Father by being obedient and by being ready to die, yes to die on the cross. On the afternoon after his resurrection he explained to his followers: Luke 24:25-27: He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Jesus deliberately points out to his followers that in the last days nothing happened that had not been planned beforehand. It was the deliberate plan that Jesus had accepted. See also Luke 24:44-46!
[edit] III. The divine plan is carried out
Now it had to be decided how this divine plan would be carried out; the gospels tell us this very clearly and in detail. If we study the verses carefully we will see how God’s hand was involved as if someone had been directing this mighty drama from eternity. God’s enemies were used to carry out a plan that was not their own.
[edit] A. His hour had come,
namely the Jewish feast of the Passover (the day when Israel was freed out of Egypt), Mark 14:12: On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" John 13:1a It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come, In John 12:23 Jesus speaks: "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. In John 17:1 he prays to his Father in heaven: Father, the time has come. These verses from the gospels show clearly that Jesus consciously went towards the cross.
[edit] B. His enemies wanted to murder Jesus,
but not on the day of the feast John 11:53: So from that day on they plotted to take his life. Mark 14:1.2 reports for us: Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. "But not during the Feast," they said, "or the people may riot.” Jesus’ enemies had decided long ago to kill him, but not during the Passover feast, but from eternity the Holy Trinity had decided that Jesus should die during the Passover for the sins of mankind, and to take the punishment in place of mankind. Which plan was carried out? The plan of God’s enemies or the divine plan?
[edit] C. An eternal principle:
Jesus explains in John 12:24.25, I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. This is one reason Jesus has to die, before HE was able to safe mankinfd.
[edit] D. The lamb that was slaughtered on Passover
was since the Exodus from Egypt a sign for Jesus’ action; for this reason Jesus’ sacrifice had to be made on the Passover. Johannes 1:29: Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 1 Corinthians 5:7b: For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. See also the prophecy of the high priest, John 11:49-53: Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish." He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they plotted to take his life. Yes, even Jesus’ enemies must speak the eternal truth; without knowing it they are used by God to declare the eternal plan. Who is in charge here? Who is in control?
[edit] E. A public announcement:
The people in power wanted to know where Jesus would spend the night, because he was in the temple every day and taught the people there; so they gave an official order to search for him. Johannes 11:57: But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, he should report it so that they might arrest him. Obviously no on except Jesus closest friends knew where he spent the night; towards evening he left the city and the rulers did not know where he went. Every morning he came back to the city and went to the temple, where the masses were already waiting for him, as it is written in Luke 21:37,38: Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
[edit] F. Judas (a disciple of Jesus) was ready to help the people in power,
because he was one of Jesus’ closest friends and knew where Jesus spent the night, Mark 14:10.11, Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. The right time to betray Jesus to the powers and to turn him over to them is a time and place that is quiet and where there are no people. This definitely had to be after the feast days.
[edit] G. Judas got the command from Jesus immediately to do
that what he had planned already, John 13:27,30: As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. With this command Jesus Christ forced the people in power to act immediately. For Judas only knew on this evening where Jesus would be. The opportunity was gone for the next days for Judas could not go back to Jesus. The people in power had to act now and take Jesus prisoner on that evening or the chance would be gone. They did not want to miss the chance.
[edit] H: Judas knew where Jesus would spend the night,
John 18:2,3: Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Now the decisive moment had come, the divine plan would now be carried out.
[edit] I: The soldiers were ready to take Jesus prisoner
but they were not able to do it. They fell on the ground; only when Jesus encouraged them to get up could they take Jesus prisoner. Johannes 18:4-9.12: Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?" "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." "I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him. This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me." Jesus could have called 12 legions of soldiers if he wanted to, Matthew 26:53: Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? but then God’s word would not have been fulfilled. Matthew 26:54.56: But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way? But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled. Markus 14:21a: The Son of Man (that is Jesus) will go just as it is written about him. Again we see how the divine plan is carried out. Even though the enemies think that they are doing what they want, in reality they must obey the LORD of heaven and earth without wanting to or knowing it.
[edit] J. The trial,
where false witnesses are called, was quite confusing; because the capture had been a surprise there had been no time to tell the false witnesses what to say so that their testimonies would agree. Jesus Christ was quiet in the trial, he was composed and master of the situation while the others lost control of their emotions, Mark 14:55-59: The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: "We heard him say, `I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.' "Yet even then their testimony did not agree. But Jesus was quiet and his silence made the other even angrier. In the end even they had to admit that he was divine, Matthew 26:63,64: But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
[edit] K. Three crosses were prepared on the place of execution,
but for Jesus no cross had been prepared on the previous day; so Barabbas was set free, so that Jesus could be crucified on the cross that had been put up for Barabbas. Lukas 23:18.25: With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us! He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
[edit] L. One of the thieves who was crucified together with Jesus
was saved through Jesus’ death, Luke 23:39-43: One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. "Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." He is the first one who experienced salvation through Jesus’ sacrificial death. Many millions of people from all nations of the earth would follow him.
[edit] M. The divine plan is carried out,
John 19:28-30: Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. After he had drunk he said: “It is finished!” Jesus knew in this moment that the divine plan was fulfilled. He carried the punishment in the place of others.
[edit] N. Jesus chose the minute of his death himself,
Luke 23:46: Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. After Jesus knew that the divine plan was fulfilled he gave up his soul and his spirit into God’s hands; his body became a corpse. Jesus himself was in control here, too, the moment of his death was not decided by his enemies. He had the power to give his life. Jesus’ personality did not stop existing through his death, but only his body became a corpse; his personality continued to exist. Not our body is the most important part of our personality, but our soul and our spirit.
[edit] O. The witness of the commander of the execution squad,
who had already seen many people die on the cross, was more than surprised. He noticed that someone had decided himself when he would die; that is why he called out; Mark 15:39: And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!" Here what we read at the beginning as Jesus’ own words becomes clear: “I have the power to leave it and the power to take it up again!”
[edit] IV. Resurrection
Even though the grave was carefully guarded by soldiers, Jesus could not be kept prisoner in the grave, Matthew 27:62-66: The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, `After three days I will rise again.' So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first." "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. With his resurrection he placed a seal on the fact that God’s Word is true. Jesus not only gave his life for others, he also had the power to take it back.
[edit] V. Summary/Conclusion
HE is God, he has a divine plan, HE was obedient to the Father in heaven so that mankind would be saved from an eternal judgment. No one could take Jesus’ life, he had such dynamic power that no one dared to touch him. He gave up his life, on the day of resurrection he took it back in order to show that he had the power and authority over his own life. HE is the LORD, there is no other. For this reason he can tell his followers after his resurrection, Luke 24:46,47: He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. In Romans 10:9-13 we read that people receive eternal salvation through Jesus’ substitutionary suffering: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile -- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.". For “Whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” How do you react to this? God’s Word is clear, people did not play with Jesus, but rather he fulfilled a divine plan so that everyone who accepts it for himself will be saved!
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