Child of Promise. Jesus was a remarkable Man. He was born a Baby of promise. The prophets had foretold His birth. Mary and Joseph knew the Baby was special. His life was relatively uneventful after the return of His family from the flight into Egypt. Outside of His encounter with the teachers and priests in the Temple at age 12, nothing was of great import until His baptism by John and His earthly ministry beginning at age 30.
Molded in Humanity. But the life of Jesus did not begin at age 30. God's Word teaches that for all human life, things don't just happen. Life is shaped by the many storms of life. Our problems help define us and our attitudes. The Bible is clear that Jesus Christ pre-existed the very creation of the universe and was its Agent of creation. He foresaw our problem with sin and volunteered to deal with it. This meant becoming part of His creation, becoming human, as it were. Jesus’ human upbringing molded the Person that we know as the God-Man, both human and divine.
Some Human Lessons. Jesus learned some human lessons by becoming human. This does not mean that He did not “know” these things, but it does mean that He “experienced” them. He learned that “many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all” (Ps 34:19). Life hurts and has its growing pains because mankind learns from these kinds of events. He learned that “for whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights” (Pr 3:12) . God doesn't leave people hurting. He guides them just as a father does his child. Our Heavenly Father used the life experiences of Jesus Christ to grow and cultivate and nurture Him into
the perfect sacrifice for sin.
Sinners All Around But No Sin Within. All people encounter sin as they grow up. Our Lord Jesus Christ saw sin all around Him--He was fully human, and He experienced the consequences of sin. That’s why He has such compassion for us in our weakness, because He has seen sin up front and personal, even on the cross of Calvary. This is why His close friend and disciple John could say, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:8-9). The consequences of sin is alienation from God. Jesus Christ’s compassion is linked to our failures. Isaiah explains that “ ...your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you...” (Is 59:2).
Simply put, sin messes people up. That was as true in Jesus’ day as it is in ours. We can deny reality all we want, but the facts of the matter are that there are a myriad of things in our lives that separate us from God and from one another. Jesus Christ came to tell us that we don't have to be this way, that there is hope for being right with God and with one another. That hope is spelled out in Easter.
Carried Our Burdens. Here's what Jesus did. “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. We are like sheep who have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him [on Jesus] the iniquity of us all” (Is 53:4-6 ). Jesus took on our grief, our punishment.
Consequences of Sin Were Ours, Not His. The Bible is clear that the wages of sin is death. Our punishment for our choices in life, is death, but Jesus Christ showed us the way out of our bondage to sin. He gave His life that we might see our way clear to come to our Heavenly Father and be saved. There can be no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood. Jesus’ sacrifice for us brings forgiveness of sins. The Lord Jesus explains it like this, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. ... Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death” (Jn 8:12, 51) . The Gospels explain exactly what Jesus did, how He enabled us to be right with God, because “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 Jn 1:7b). “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 ).
Easter Can Change Us. God changes people through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is the blood of Christ in dying for the sins of the world that frees us from what separates us from God. The death on the cross was a milestone, but the resurrection is the assurance that we are saved through Jesus Christ. The psalmist writes, “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (Ps 37:5). Our Heavenly Father send His Son. It is God Himself that tells us, “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Is 41:10 ). When we come to the risen Jesus Christ, He clearly welcomes us, “‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear’” (He 13:5b-6a).
Plan of Salvation. The Bible tells us God planned how to save us from sin before the creation of the world through Jesus. Christ did the plan. Jesus Christ is the One who can be trusted. Yes, “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (He 9:27). So death is still around, but Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (Jn 11:25-26a). “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (Jn 10:27-28 ).
Trust Jesus. He was human and he was God-Incarnate. He did what we could not do for ourselves. The Bible is clear. Jesus Christ is there for us in life. And Jesus Christ is there for us in death. And Jesus Christ shall reign forever. And the bottom line? You and I have confidence and faith because of that plan that the Son of God implemented before the creation of the world.
~Pastor Dave
