JESUS- THE KING OF KINGS

On Sunday, prior to His crucifixion, Jesus and His apostles came to the village of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of His disciples into the village to get a young donkey. They found the colt and brought it back to Jesus. Throwing their cloaks across the donkey’s back, they lifted Jesus up and sat Him on the cloaks.

As Jesus rode down the hill toward Jerusalem, people spread their cloaks on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and scattered them in front of Jesus (Matthew 21:8-9). A large crowd of people began praising God and shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:9). “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38).

Some Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” (Luke 19:39). In other words, “Tell them to shut their mouths!”

Jesus replied, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (Luke 39:40). Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah.

The King in Prophecy

Approximately 500 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Zechariah described the coming king. Zechariah wrote, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).

Instead of riding into Jerusalem on a magnificent horse, Jesus rode on the back of a pack animal. Some people think Jesus was trying to demonstrate humility, but that was not His primary objective. He rode on a donkey to identify Himself as the promised Messiah. He rode into Jerusalem, not to conquer the city politically, but to conquer the hearts of men and women.

Why were the Pharisees so upset with Jesus’ followers when they shouted praises to Him? They were angry because his followers recognized Jesus as the Messianic king of Zachariah’s prophecy.

Jesus entered Jerusalem exactly one week prior to his resurrection. He came into the city as a king with a peace treaty. His aim was to reconcile all things to Himself “by making peace through his blood shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:20). King Jesus died so that we might have a friendly, peaceful relationship with God.

The King Fulfills Other Messianic Prophecies

Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies that pointed to Him as the true King. (Genesis 49:10; 2 Samuel 7:16; Psalm 110:1-2; Isaiah 2:2-4; 9:6-7; 16:5; 32:1; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Daniel 7:13-14; Micah 5:2; etc.). Jesus is referred to as king fourteen times in Matthew, six times in Mark, five times in Luke, and fourteen times in the gospel of John.

No wonder people shouted, “Hosanna”, meaning “save now”, as Jesus rode into the city. They realized that Jesus was the King who had come to save them.

Gabriel Predicts the King’s Birth

Before Jesus was born, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and said to her, “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. . . his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:31-33).

Jesus was destined to sit on a throne in His eternal kingdom.

The King Is Crucified

While on trial before Pilate, Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place” (John 18:36).

Pilate said, “You are a king, then!”

Jesus replied, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” (John 18:37b).

Jesus is a different kind of king. His kingdom is not an earthly kingdom maintained by military might. It is a spiritual kingdom. People who seek truth listen to Him and submit to His kingly authority.

When Jesus was crucified, Pilate had a sign made and fastened it to the cross. The sign read, “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS” (John 19:19).

The King Rises from Death

As we saw in Jesus-The Lamb Of God, Jesus prophesied that He would be killed and that He would rise again on the third day. Three days after the crucifixion, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body (Mark 16:1).

When they arrived, they discovered that the stone had been rolled away from the mouth of the tomb. Two angels appeared to them and said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:1-6).

Forty days later, Jesus ascended back to the Father.

Jesus, the Lion, Lamb, and King

In the book of Revelation, Jesus is referred to as a lamb twenty-eight times. But now, He is a different kind of lamb. In a heavenly vision, John saw God sitting on a throne with a scroll in His right hand. The scroll was sealed with seven seals, and no one could remove the seals to look inside. John wept in disappointment, wondering what was written on the scroll. One of the elders said to him, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5).

The lion is a symbol of strength, courage, and royalty. The lion is “king of the jungle”. It’s roar can be heard five miles in every direction. The sight and sound of a lion strikes fear into the hearts of many other animals.

John looked up expecting to see a lion, but to his amazement, he saw a lamb instead. The lamb looked “as if it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6). At first glance, the Lamb in Revelation appears to be the same sacrificial lamb that we have seen elsewhere in the New Testament. But a closer look reveals that it is different. This Lamb is “standing” (Revelation 5:6). It has been slain, but it is alive again, and it is standing in the center of the throne of God.

Moreover, this Lamb has “seven horns” (Revelation 5:6). In scripture, a horn is the symbol of strength and power, and the number seven indicates perfection. The Lamb in Revelation has enormous power. He has seven-fold strength. Only He has the authority to remove the seven seals from the scroll (Revelation 6:1-14).

Here, the Lamb and the Lion are one and the same. Both symbolize Jesus. The Lamb took the scroll from the right hand of God, and millions of angels encircled the throne singing “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12). The lamb that has seven horns now receives seven-fold praise from the angels.

The Lamb Is the King of Kings

In his vision, John saw that the forces of evil will “make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is LORD OF LORDS and KING OF KINGS” (Revelation 17:14).

Jesus, the Lamb of God, has received all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18-20). He is the king of the universe. He alone has infinite wisdom and majesty. He alone is perfect in character and judgment. He alone can give us a full and meaningful life. He alone can erase our sins and guarantee eternal life in heaven.

John wrote, “I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-16).

This is symbolic language depicting the power, authority, and sovereignty of Jesus Christ. He has sacrificed his life for us. He has made God known to us. He has revealed the truth to us. He has warned us of the pitfalls of sin. He has set an example for us. He has invited us into His kingdom, and He has promised to bless us. He was the perfect man. He is the Prince of Peace. He was the Son of Man. He is the Son of God. He was a miracle worker. He is the Light of the World. He is the Lamb of God. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. And now, we see Him as the King of Kings and Lord of lords.

The King Is Coming Again

Jesus also prophesied about His second coming. He said, “When the Son of Man comes in glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father’” (Matthew 25:31-34). “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’” (Matthew 25:41). As King of kings, Jesus has the authority to make such judgments, and His judgments are right.

The Wrath of the Lamb

The Lamb in Revelation has qualities not usually associated with sheep. This lamb is capable of wrath.

As the sixth seal on the scroll is opened, John sees two groups of people. The first group consists of kings, princes, generals, rich and mighty people, slaves and free men who are hiding in caves and calling to the rocks and the mountains, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:15-16).

The second group consists of a great multitude of people dressed in white robes. They are from every nation, tribe, people, and language, and they are standing in front of the Lamb shouting, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (Revelation 7:10).

One of the elders says, “These are they who have. . . washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14). These are the people who have believed in Jesus, turned away from sin, and have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. What will you do with King Jesus?

JESUS - THE RISEN LORD

Prior to His death, Jesus prophesied that He would “suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31).

In the previous article, we saw that Jesus fulfilled the first part of this prophecy by dying as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). But, did He fulfill the second part of the prophecy? Did He rise from death? Is there any evidence that the resurrection of Jesus is a historical fact?

The resurrection of Jesus is extremely important –so important that Paul said to the Corinthians, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). The resurrection of Christ is proof that God accepted the sacrifice of Jesus as payment for our sins and that justice and mercy have mingled. The resurrection took away the sting of death and assured us that we too will be raised from death, never to die again.

A Law Professor’s Testimony

Dr. Simon Greenleaf, noted law professor at Harvard University, believed that the resurrection of Jesus was a hoax. So he decided to expose the resurrection as a myth. After extensive research, he reversed his thinking. In his book, An Examination of the Testimony of the Four Evangelists by the Rules of Evidence Administered in the Courts of Justice, Dr. Greenleaf concluded that “it was impossible that the apostles could have persisted in affirming the truths they had narrated, had not Jesus actually risen from the dead” (page 29).

What changed Dr. Greenleaf’s mind? What evidence did he find that he could not ignore? Why did this skeptic become a believer and give his life to Christ?

In this article, we will examine some of the evidence he found.

The Dramatic Transformation of the Apostles

When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, the apostles ran away. “Everyone deserted him and fled” (Mark 14:50). Peter had just promised Jesus, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you” (Mark 14:31). But that night, Peter denied Him three times (Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:56-62).

The next morning, Jesus was crucified. He died in shame, humiliation, and disgrace. The apostles were stunned. Their hopes were dashed. They had left everything and followed Jesus. They had seen Him heal the sick, cast out demons, walk on water, still a storm, and raise the dead. They had given three years of their lives to Him thinking that He was the Messiah. Now, He was dead, and they were dejected, disheartened, and defeated. The apostles hid behind locked doors fearing for their lives (John 20:19).

Now, fast-forward fifty days. Something has happened to these frightened, dejected men. They are standing in the temple courts preaching with boldness and power.

Peter stands up with the other apostles and proclaims, “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles and signs which God did through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you . . . and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead” (Acts 2:22-24). “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact” (Acts 2:32). What transformed a group of frightened men into bold advocates of Jesus? What changed these cowards into fearless activists? Listen.

The Jewish high court arrested Peter and John and commanded them not to speak about Jesus again. Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).

The apostles continued preaching, and they were arrested again. The high priest said to them, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood” (Acts 5:28).

The apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead–whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things” (Acts 5:29-32).

What had the apostles seen that transformed them from lambs to lions? They had seen the resurrected Jesus. Jesus had appeared to them after He arose from death.

Jesus’ Post-Resurrection Appearances

Jesus had appeared to Mary Magdalene (John 20:15-18; Mark 16:9-11), to other women including Mary, the mother of James, Joanna, and Salome (Matthew 28:1, 9-10; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10). He had appeared to Peter privately (1 Corinthians 15:5), to two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-33), to ten apostles on the day of the resurrection (John 20:19-25), to eleven apostles, including Thomas the following Sunday (John 20:26-29; Mark 16:14), to seven apostles by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-2), to 500 followers at once (1 Corinthians 15:8), to His half-brother James who had been an unbeliever (1 Corinthians 15:7; John 7:5), to eleven apostles on a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20), to the apostles in Jerusalem (Luke 24:36-49), and to the apostles on the Mount of Olives at the time of his ascension (Acts 1:3-11).

Later, Jesus appeared to Stephen in a vision (Acts 7:55-56), to Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-8; 18:9), and to John on the Island of Patmos (Revelation 1:12-20; 22:20). All of these people were eye-witnesses of the risen Christ.

Persecution and Martyrdom

Many of these eye-witnesses endured persecution, torture, suffering, and death rather than renounce their testimony. This virtually rules out deception on their part. They could have avoided persecution and saved their lives by simply renouncing their claims. But, there is no record of any first-generation eye-witness denying the resurrection in order to avoid persecution. They all chose to suffer and die rather than renounce their eyewitness testimony. All of the apostles, except John, suffered horrific deaths as martyrs.

The apostles’ martyrdom was quite different from what is happening today. The hijackers who flew airplanes into the twin towers on September 11, 2001 were sincere. They were willing to die for their faith. However, they did not know, and they could not know, if their beliefs were true. They simply trusted the teachings that had been passed down to them through the centuries.

In contrast, the apostles knew whether or not Jesus had been raised from death. Either they saw the living Jesus after His resurrection, or they were lying. Why would they cling to a lie in the face of social rejection, mockery, persecution, imprisonment, torture, and death? People in their right minds do not die for a lie when they know it to be a lie. You can search the annals of history, and you will not find a group of eleven men who died for a lie, knowing it was a lie. The apostles chose to be tortured, and killed rather than change their testimony about the resurrection of Jesus.

The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus

The men who stoned Stephen to death laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul (Acts 7:58). At that time, “Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison” (Acts 8:3).

Saul breathed out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples (Acts 9:1). He went to Damascus intending to arrest Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem as prisoners (Acts 9:2).

As Saul approached Damascus, Jesus appeared to him in a blinding light (Acts 9:3-6). This encounter with the resurrected Christ changed Saul’s life. Saul, the skeptic, became a staunch believer in the risen Lord.

In Damascus, Saul fasted and prayed for three days. Finally, the Lord sent Ananias to him with a message from heaven. Ananias said to him, “The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16).

Saul was baptized by Ananias (Acts 9:18), and immediately, he entered the synagogues in Damascus and began preaching that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:20).

Saul, the violent persecutor became the great apostle Paul who wrote half of the New Testament. Saul the killer became the world’s greatest missionary. As a result of his unswerving belief in the resurrection of Jesus, Paul was beaten with rods, whipped, stoned, imprisoned, and finally beheaded. Even at the point of death, he never denied the resurrection of Jesus.

What caused this violent persecutor to do an about face? Why did he leave a promising career as a Jewish rabbi to become a hated, rejected, abused preacher of the gospel of Christ? The answer is, he had seen the risen Savior and had heard his voice. The conversion of Saul is strong evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Conversion of James

Prior to the resurrection, James, the half-brother of Jesus, did not believe Jesus was the Messiah (John 7:5). Following His resurrection, Jesus appeared to James (1 Corinthians 15:7), and James became a believer, a leader in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:12-14), and the author of the epistle of James in the New Testament.

What caused James to change his mind and to become a devout follower of Christ? He had seen the risen Lord.

The Empty Tomb

After Jesus died, Joseph of Arimathea received permission from Pilate to remove Jesus’ body from the cross and bury it in a tomb. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw where the corpse was laid. Then, they went home to prepare spices and ointments for Jesus’ body (Luke 23:55-56).

Early Sunday morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus” (Luke 24:1-3). Suddenly, two angels stood beside them and said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you while he was still with you in Galilee: The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and on the third day be raised again” (Luke 24:5-8).

Jesus had been publicly crucified and buried. Now, the tomb was empty. If the tomb had not been empty, nobody in Jerusalem would have believed that Jesus had been raised from death. The Jewish high court and the Roman soldiers would have produced the body to prove that the resurrection story was a hoax. But they did not. Instead, they tried to explain the empty tomb by accusing Jesus’ followers of stealing the body. That was a lame cover-up. How could the apostles have broken the Roman seal, rolled away the stone, and stolen the body while armed soldiers were standing guard?

Some people think that Jesus did not really die –that He only faked His death and later escaped from the tomb. That, too, is absurd. Jesus was whipped thirty-nine times with a Roman scourge. The scourge had nine tails, each of which had imbedded bits of metal, glass, or bone that cut through the skin and into the flesh. So much blood flowed from the wounds that many people died from the flogging. After being whipped, Jesus was forced to carry His own cross until He collapsed. Large nails were driven through His hands and feet as He was crucified. After six hours, soldiers were asked to break Jesus’ legs to hasten His death, but they discovered He was already dead. One of the soldiers thrust a spear into Jesus’ side, into His heart, releasing blood and plasma. It is foolish to think that Jesus revived in the tomb without medical attention, rolled away the stone weighing several tons, and appeared to His followers hale and hearty. Who could believe such a story?

Women Witnesses

All four gospels indicate that women were the first eye-witnesses of the risen Lord. This fact indicates that the gospels were not fabricated. In Jewish and Roman cultures, women were not highly regarded. Their testimony was not admissible in a court of law. If someone had manufactured the resurrection story as critics claim, He would not have made women the primary witnesses.

The fact that women were the first to discover the empty tomb can only indicate one thing. They were, in fact, the first to see the risen Savior.

Conclusion

Prior to His ascension, Jesus met with His apostles in Jerusalem and said to 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. You are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:46-48).

Jesus had died and had been raised from death. Now, He was sending the apostles into all the world to preach that good news to men and women everywhere. Those who believed, repented, and were baptized were forgiven and saved (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).

Jesus is coming again. His resurrection paved the way for our resurrection and our ascension into heaven.

JESUS - THE LAMB OF GOD

When John the Baptizer saw Jesus coming toward him, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The next day, he said it again (John 1:36).

It is virtually impossible for us to understand the impact these words had on the Jews who heard them. Most of the people in John’s audience were expecting the Messiah to be the Lion of the tribe of Judah –a second David who would lead the armies of Israel in battle and drive out the Romans. They certainly did not expect the Messiah to be a Lamb.

Lions are symbols of military strength, but not lambs. Lions kill; lambs die. Lambs were sacrificed at the temple every morning and evening to cleanse people from sin. In fact, lambs have been killed and offered to God in worship since the time of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4).

Passover Lambs

But there was a special time each year when numerous lambs were sacrificed at the temple in Jerusalem. On the fourteenth day of the Jewish month of Nisan (in early spring), many people from far and near celebrated the Passover Festival in Jerusalem. This festival commemorated Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage –the premier act of salvation in the Old Testament.

The Passover season was near at hand when John pointed to Jesus as “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29, 36). And it was during the Passover season that Jesus died. He died at 3:00 p.m. (Mark 15:34-37) on “the day of Preparation” (John 19:30-31). Jesus died at the exact time when Passover lambs were being slaughtered in preparation for the Passover Festival.

The apostle Paul recognized the link between Jesus and the Passover lamb when he said, “For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed” (1Corinthians 5:7b). As the blood of the Passover lamb saved the Israelites from death in Egypt (Exodus 12), so the blood of Jesus Christ saves us from eternal death today.

Why Did Jesus Die?

When Adam and Eve sinned, they died spiritually, and eventually, they died physically. Their sin separated them from God because God and sin cannot coexist. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins by dying physically and spiritually on the cross. While hanging on the cross, he cried out, “My God, my God; why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Spiritual death is being separated from God.

Jesus died because all of us have sinned (Romans 3:23), and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Jesus died as our Passover Lamb to save us from death. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

The Prophecy of Abraham

Portraying Jesus as the Passover Lamb, however, only partially describes what Jesus accomplished by His death. The practice of sacrificing lambs is rooted in Old Testament history.

Perhaps the best-known case of animal sacrifice in the Old Testament is found in Genesis 22. God put Abraham’s faith to the test by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac. God was not endorsing human sacrifice. He was anticipating the time when He would offer His own Son as a sacrifice for all humanity.

Abraham obeyed God’s command and took Isaac to Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:2). On the way up the mountain, Isaac said to his father, “The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:7). Abraham replied, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (Genesis 22:8). This prophecy was partially fulfilled when God provided a ram for Abraham. The prophecy was ultimately fulfilled by Jesus Christ.

When Abraham and Isaac arrived at the place of sacrifice, Abraham built an altar and prepared to offer his son to the Lord. Abraham believed God was able to raise Isaac from death (Genesis 22:5; Hebrews 11:17-19). As Abraham took the knife to slay his son, the angel of the Lord called to him, “Abraham! Abraham! Do not lay a hand on the boy. . . Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son” (Genesis 22:10-12).

Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So he “took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son” (Genesis 22:13). One life was substituted for another. The ram died in the place of Isaac. Mount Moriah came to be known as “the mountain of the Lord” (Genesis 22:14). Later, King David purchased the top of this mountain from Araunah the Jebusite (1 Chronicles 21:18-26). It was there that Solomon built the temple (1 Chronicles 22:1; 2 Chronicles 3:1). And it was there, near the crest of Mount Moriah, that Jesus died as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”.

During His ministry, Jesus said, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). The Greek word that is translated “for” is anti, meaning “in place of”. As the ram was substituted for Isaac, so Jesus was substituted for us. He died in our place.

The Prophecy of David

One thousand years before Jesus was born, King David described the crucifixion of Jesus in these words: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1). “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’” (Psalm 22:7-8). “My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. . . 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” (Psalm 22:15-18).

A millennium later, these prophecies were all fulfilled. Soldiers pierced Jesus’ hands and feet with nails (John 20:25, 27). They stripped Him naked, and everyone could count His ribs. The soldiers at the foot of the cross divided His clothes among them by casting lots (Matthew 27:35; John 19:23-24). On the cross, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads (Matthew 27:39). The chief priests, teachers of the law, and elders mocked Him saying, “He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him” (Matthew 27:43). Jesus was thirsty, so His tongue stuck to the roof of His mouth (John 19:28). Every detail of David’s prophecy was fulfilled.

The Prophecy of Isaiah

Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah described the purpose of Jesus’ death. Isaiah said,

• “He was pierced for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5a).
• “He was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5b).
• “The punishment that brought us peace was upon him” (53:5c).
• “By his wounds, we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5d).
• “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
• “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7).
• “He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken” (Isaiah 53:8).
• “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death” (Isaiah 53:9).
• “The Lord makes his life a guilt offering” (Isaiah 53:10).
• “After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied” (Isaiah 53:11a).
• “My righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11b).
• “Therefore, I will give him a portion among the great, . . . because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).
• “For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).

Jesus fulfilled ALL of these prophecies. For our transgressions, He was pierced by nails and a spear. By His punishment, He brought us peace and healing. He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. He was crucified between two thieves and buried in the tomb of a rich man. God made His life a guilt-offering that took away our sins. After Jesus suffered, He saw the light of life when He was raised from death. He has borne our sins and is now making intercession for us.

Peter said, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins . . . by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

The Prophecies of Jesus

1. At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus began explaining to His disciples that “he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Matthew 16:21). This prediction is also recorded in Mark 8:31 and Luke 9:22.

2. Later, Jesus took the twelve apostles aside and said to 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” (Luke 18:3133). This prophecy is also recorded in Matthew 20:17-19 and Mark 10:32-34.

The Jewish high court fulfilled these prophecies when they spat in Jesus’ face, struck him with their fists, and slapped Him (Matthew 26:67). The Romans fulfilled them when they flogged Him, mocked Him, placed a crown of thorns on His head, spat on Him, and struck Him on the head with a staff again and again (Matthew 27:26-30; Mark 15:1620). Yet, Jesus remained silent like a lamb. He graciously took our punishment for us. We are redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19).

All Spiritual Blessings Are in Christ

All spiritual blessings are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). “In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7-8).

How do we get into Christ?

1. We must believe in Him (John 8:24).

2. We must repent of our sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38).

3. When we experience points 1 & 2, then we receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). We are cleansed by His blood (Romans 5:9; 6:3-5; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; 2:12-13; Revelation 5:9; 7:14). We arise to live a new life, and Jesus’ blood “purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

4. Then we must be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Mathew 28:19). Baptism is a symbol of our experience described in point 3.

JESUS - THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

At the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

What did Jesus mean by that? In what way is Jesus the light of the world? And what does it mean to walk in darkness?

Light and Darkness in the New Testament

In the New Testament, “light” symbolizes spiritual illumination, and “darkness” symbolizes ignorance, evil, and spiritual blindness.

Jesus said, “Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God” (John 3:19-21).

Jesus is an example of true enlightenment. He received His spiritual light from God, not from meditation. Those who love truth and pursue it are quick to accept the light. Those who love evil, hate the light of Jesus because they dislike having their evil lifestyle exposed for what it is.

Toward the end of His ministry, Jesus said to his disciples, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light” (John 12:35-36). Then, Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” (John 12:46).

The point is, Jesus would soon be leaving his followers, and He urged them to walk with Him in the light while they could. After He was gone, the Holy Spirit would come into them, and they would become lights shining in the midst of darkness (Philippians 2:14-15). In His sermon on the mount, Jesus told His followers, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Now, He is challenging us to “walk in the light as he is in the light” (1 John 1:7a).

Paul said something similar to the Ephesians, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness” (Ephesians 5:8-11).

Jesus, the Enlightened Teacher

As a teacher, Jesus was a source of light. He taught on the roads, by the seaside, in houses, in synagogues, and in the temple. Jesus is addressed as “Teacher” thirty-one times in the gospels.

Jesus, the master teacher, fulfilled the prophecies of Isaiah who wrote, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse [the father of David]; from his roots, a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him–the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:1-3). The Spirit of God came upon Jesus and gave Him wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, and reverence–all signs of enlightenment.

As a teacher of morality, Jesus remains unmatched. He demonstrated the truths He taught by the way He lived and died. He was the embodiment of truth. He, alone, could truthfully say, “I am . . . the truth” (John 14:6). Throughout His life, Jesus maintained His integrity and taught by example. He was the light of the world.

Jesus’ Methods of Teaching

In addition to teaching by example, Jesus used various methods of teaching to enlighten others.

1) He asked penetrating questions that caused people to think, to search their hearts, and to discover things within themselves they had never seen before. His questions led to enlightenment.

2) Jesus used short, memorable proverbs that gave insights into human nature and divine truth. These proverbs enlightened His followers and influenced their behavior.

3) Jesus taught in parables using things well-known to His listeners as object lessons. He drew illustrations from birds, flowers, salt, light, water, old and new clothing, bread dough, old wine-skins, mustard seeds, fig trees, wedding feasts, farming, fishing, shepherding, and building houses on a solid foundation. Jesus spoke in parables to reveal truth to His followers and to conceal the truth from those who were trying to entrap Him.

4) To receptive listeners, Jesus also taught truth and shed light in straightforward teaching.

Enlightenment on True Greatness

Jesus revealed that worldly standards are often upside down. The world thinks that a great person is someone who has power and authority over others, or someone who is rich and famous.

One day, a dispute arose among Jesus’ disciples as to which one of them was the greatest. Jesus said to them, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave” (Matthew 20:25-27).

Jesus reveals to us that true greatness consists not of power, or military might, or autocratic authority, but of humble service. To illustrate this truth, Jesus washed His apostles’ feet. He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). True greatness is loving people and humbly serving them.

Enlightenment on True Riches

Untold millions of people in the world today dream of getting rich. They spend most of their time making money and spending it. Their goal in life is to build up their bank account and a big retirement fund. They think that a new car, a new house, a new boat, a new wardrobe, or a new thrill will make them happy. But they eventually learn that wealth alone does not satisfy. Many of the world’s richest people have died in misery.

Jesus saw through the folly of chasing material wealth. He said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?”(Matthew 16:26). Our material wealth will do us no good when we die. We can’t take it with us when we die.

A man said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:13,15).

Then, Jesus told a story to illustrate the point. The ground of a rich farmer produced a huge crop –so big his barns would not hold it. Instead of sharing his abundance with the poor, he decided to tear down his old barns and build larger ones. He said to himself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19).

But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Luke 12:20).

Earthly riches can be snatched away in a moment –by a flood, tornado, hurricane or typhoon, a tsunami, economic depression, or by death. What then? Have we invested in eternity? Our treasure in heaven will not perish. It can neither be stolen nor destroyed. Enlightened people lay-up treasures in heaven.

Enlightenment on the Primacy of Love

A lawyer stood up to test Jesus. He said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25). Jesus replied, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” The lawyer answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus replied, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live” (Luke 10:26-28). In an effort to justify himself, the lawyer asked, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29).

In response, Jesus told a story about a man who was traveling between Jerusalem and Jericho when a band of robbers stripped him, beat him, and left him half dead. A priest and a Levite happened to be traveling on the same road, and both of them passed by on the other side to avoid having to deal with the wounded man.

But a Samaritan came by, saw the man, and had pity on him. He bandaged his wounds and poured oil and wine on them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn. There, he took care of him through the night. The next morning, he gave two silver coins to the innkeeper and said, “Look after him, and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have” (Luke 10:30-35).

Jesus asked the lawyer, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”  The lawyer replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus said, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37).

Notice that it was a Samaritan (a man despised by the Jews) who was a good neighbor. Jesus was shedding light on the virtue of showing compassion for strangers and helping those in need regardless of their race, religion, or nationality. The question is not, “Who is my neighbor?” The real question is, “How can I love my neighbor as myself?”

Jesus said to his apostles, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). To walk in the light is to walk in the love of God (1 John 1:7; 2:9).

Enlightenment on the Importance of Forgiveness

It is human nature to resent people who insult us and do us harm. The natural tendency is to hold grudges and to take vengeance. But if we do not forgive, we become slaves to our own emotions. Negative emotions eat on us inside. They cause ulcers and other psychosomatic illnesses. But forgiveness sets us free.

Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus replied, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:21-22).

Then Jesus told a story about a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. One of his servants owed him millions of dollars and was not able to pay him. The king decided to sell the servant and his family to settle the debt.

The servant fell on his knees before the king and begged, “Be patient with me, and I will pay back everything.” The master took pity on his servant and canceled the debt.

Afterward, the servant went out and found a fellow-servant who owed him a few dollars. Grabbing him by the throat, he said, “Pay back what you owe me.”The fellow-servant begged, “Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.” But the unforgiving servant refused and had the man put in prison until he could pay the debt.

When the king heard about this, he summoned the servant and said, “You wicked servant. I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” In anger, the king reinstated the servant’s debt and punished him severely (Matthew 18:23-34).

Forgiveness is one of Jesus’ primary themes. In his Sermon on the Mount, he said, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).  Forgiveness involves giving up the right to be angry and resentful. Others will treat us badly, and we will need to forgive them in order to practice the golden rule (Matthew 7:12). We, ourselves, will inadvertently offend others, and we will need their forgiveness.

Think what a difference it would make if all of us would forgive those who dishonor us –if we loved our enemies, did good to those who hate us, and prayed for those who mistreat us (Luke 6:27-28).

While Jesus was hanging on the cross, he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Jesus shed light on the importance of forgiveness.

A Call for Change

There are many barriers to spiritual growth and enlightenment. Pride, self-righteousness, complacency, selfishness, resentment, bitterness, lust, greed, dishonesty, addictions, and hopelessness all prevent us from seeing the light.

These negative qualities must be unlearned before we can walk in the light. There must be a change of nature and disposition –a change that begins when we are born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5) –a change that continues as we allow the Spirit of God to transform us into the likeness of Jesus, the light of the world (2 Corinthians 3:18).