Jesus - Part 3, The New Day's Light
2003 : Week 15  |  Website Version

This week we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the many triumphs that accompanied it. The story of Jesus doesn’t end in sadness and defeat on the cross. The story of Jesus is one of victory, because He remains our living God. The accounts of the crucifixion show that many people, groups and entities conspired to kill Jesus. They all had reasons for wanting Him dead, and they celebrated as Jesus breathed His last.

Some religious leaders celebrated. They were jealous of Jesus, since they did not recognize who He was. They had misread the scriptures and failed to see His deity. He opened the eyes of the common people to the scriptures and the prophets. Upstaged by His preaching and miracles, they were happy to have an innocent man murdered.

The Roman government celebrated. They had no idea what to make of Jesus. Some Jews loved Him and called Him God. Other Jews wanted Him dead. There was a tension between these two groups, and riots were beginning. Further, the Romans feared that Jesus might inspire a Jewish uprising. Rome did what was easiest; they killed Jesus. Rome was happy to have this distraction put to death.

The Roman soldiers celebrated. Jesus could no longer stir up trouble at the temple. There would be no more riots as He preached controversial topics. With great pleasure, they punched Him, spit on Him and beat Him. The troublemaker was now gone.

Satan celebrated. He took a personnel interest in the death of Jesus. We read in Luke 22:3-4 that Satan entered into Judas who had been one of Jesus’ disciples. Judas then betrays Jesus by turning Him over to the authorities. Satan believed that darkness had finally destroyed light and hate had finally conquered love.

For a brief moment, the opposition celebrated: darkness, hate, sin, death, the government, the religious leaders, the soldiers and Satan declared victory; they soon learned their victory was simply a mirage.

Three days later the tomb was empty; Jesus was alive! Death could not contain Him, and He reigns eternally! Further, He made a way for us to escape the clutches of sin and its penalty of death. Through our belief in His death and resurrection, we are granted eternal life:

⁵² …the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
⁵³ For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
⁵⁴ But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written," DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.
⁵⁵ "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?"
⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
⁵⁷ but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:52-57 (NASB)

That Jesus had victory over flawed religious leaders is a lesson that God Almighty must come before any religion, denomination or its leaders. This is not a condemnation of the church; the Bible tells us to be part of a church and pray for its leaders. However, this is a reminder that no denomination or leader should be our focus; God must always be our focus. As we have seen, our leaders are only human and can err. They did nothing to help spread the word of Jesus Christ as He lived. The message from God is clear; His word will go forward, with or without the help of established religion.

That Jesus had victory over the government of His day is a lesson that God Almighty must come before any government. We obey the rules of the lands in which we live, but they do not take God’s place in our hearts. Jesus has revealed that He is above any government, and our allegiance should be with Him. Rome tried to kill Jesus but failed. The message from God is clear; no government will impede the progress of His kingdom; His word will go forward.

That Jesus had victory over the soldiers is a lesson that the worst Christians can face is torture and death. They will kill some of us, as they did our Savior, but like Him, we will rise to life everlasting. The message from God is clear; violence against Christians will not impede the progress of God’s kingdom; His word will go forward.

That Jesus triumphed over Satan is a lesson that God did what we could not. That He, in one act of love and sacrifice has crushed our adversary Satan and rendered Him useless. Satan’s darkness could not hold back the forces of God’s light. Satan’s hate could not hold back the power of God’s love. The message from God is clear; Satan will not impede the power of His kingdom; His word will go forward.

Christ’s death at Calvary was part of the battle plan leading to God’s victorious triumph. It was the strangest war the world has ever seen. Jesus would not win by physically opposing the enemy. Instead, victory would come when He willingly sacrificed His life for our sins. In one act that shines eternally, Jesus defeated all His opposition. They had all conspired to destroy Him, and now they all share in a humiliating defeat. Jesus Christ has crushed them all.

In the end, Jesus is above all, and the disciples understand this; they bow at His feet to worship Him. He is the Almighty King of the universe. Our warrior King has carried us to a new day: an eternal day, and Jesus is our new day’s light. He is worthy of all praise.

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you today and always…

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