I can’t even begin to imagine what it would have been like to be present when Jesus walked and talked with his disciples. As we come into the last part of Lent and we focus on Jesus suffering, I am again reminded that what Jesus endured was far greater than I can imagine.
Many years ago I was making a Hospital visit to the grandmother of one of my members. It was Good Friday and she said something that I have remembered ever since. “Easter is wonderful, but it really is all about Good Friday. It is Jesus death on The Cross that changes everything.
Trying to understand Jesus pain is beyond our comprehension. We do better imagining how the disciples felt. Peter, James and John on Mt. Transfiguration seeing Jesus Glory. Seeing Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, and his entry into Jerusalem. Then seeing him arrested and executed on the cross. The complete grief and despair they must have felt. All their hopes turned into fear and utter despair.
All that turns around when Jesus rises from the dead. The ladies going to the tomb to properly take care of Jesus Body. James and John running to the tomb after hearing Jesus body was no longer in the tomb.
The Ten Disciples hiding in the upper room when Jesus suddenly appears before them.
What a roller coaster of emotions must have filled them.
But, there is one that I believe was more overwhelmed then all the others. He was not a disciple. He did not want to see Jesus succeed. In fact it was his goal to make sure Jesus failed. The one I am talking about is Satan.
I imagine he had it all planed out. Twisting the thoughts in Judas’ head and the heads of all the Jewish leaders.
As the plan unfolded I imagine Satan was feeling closer and closer to succeeding. As the trial progressed. As the sentence was made. As Jesus proceeds to Golgotha. As Jesus is nailed to the cross. As he cries out in agony, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me.” Finally, as Jesus is laid in the tomb.
I imagine Satan feels He has won. So Sunday morning, when suddenly Jesus breaks the chains of death, no one is more overwhelmed than Satan. He knows Jesus beat him.
Suddenly, His victory becomes defeat and Jesus defeat become victory and the scariest day in History becomes the greatest. The day our victory was won and all our sin became righteousness and Jesus defeated death.
As St. Paul writes, “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Many years ago I was making a Hospital visit to the grandmother of one of my members. It was Good Friday and she said something that I have remembered ever since. “Easter is wonderful, but it really is all about Good Friday. It is Jesus death on The Cross that changes everything.
Trying to understand Jesus pain is beyond our comprehension. We do better imagining how the disciples felt. Peter, James and John on Mt. Transfiguration seeing Jesus Glory. Seeing Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, and his entry into Jerusalem. Then seeing him arrested and executed on the cross. The complete grief and despair they must have felt. All their hopes turned into fear and utter despair.
All that turns around when Jesus rises from the dead. The ladies going to the tomb to properly take care of Jesus Body. James and John running to the tomb after hearing Jesus body was no longer in the tomb.
The Ten Disciples hiding in the upper room when Jesus suddenly appears before them.
What a roller coaster of emotions must have filled them.
But, there is one that I believe was more overwhelmed then all the others. He was not a disciple. He did not want to see Jesus succeed. In fact it was his goal to make sure Jesus failed. The one I am talking about is Satan.
I imagine he had it all planed out. Twisting the thoughts in Judas’ head and the heads of all the Jewish leaders.
As the plan unfolded I imagine Satan was feeling closer and closer to succeeding. As the trial progressed. As the sentence was made. As Jesus proceeds to Golgotha. As Jesus is nailed to the cross. As he cries out in agony, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me.” Finally, as Jesus is laid in the tomb.
I imagine Satan feels He has won. So Sunday morning, when suddenly Jesus breaks the chains of death, no one is more overwhelmed than Satan. He knows Jesus beat him.
Suddenly, His victory becomes defeat and Jesus defeat become victory and the scariest day in History becomes the greatest. The day our victory was won and all our sin became righteousness and Jesus defeated death.
As St. Paul writes, “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
RSS Feed