Rome crucified hundreds of people. Why was this one so special? Why does Jesus’ crucifixion matter anyway? Then, did he actually rise from the dead? The entirety of Christianity rests on these two huge events.
Jesus’s death and resurrection were foretold in Scripture
Jesus was born to save the world. In order to save humanity, he had to fulfill the necessary punishment, put in place from the beginning of history. The punishment for sin is death. And this punishment was passed through the generations. There is nothing men and women could do to right this wrong on our own. For many years animal sacrifices were necessary to pay for people’s sin, but God had a plan to end the sin cycle and the sacrifices. We see glimpses of God’s redemption plan: Jesus’ coming death and resurrection, already showing up in Genesis.
Genesis 12:3 God promises Abram “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you”
The only way all families on earth can be blessed is through Jesus, who came through Abraham’s lineage. In Isaiah we see a prophecy of Jesus’ crucifixion and the foretelling of his willingness to go through with his sacrifice on our behalf. He let Rome beat him and crucify him. And he did it for you and for me.
Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was lead like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.
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Jesus’s death and resurrection were fulfilled according to Scripture
Because of our sin, Jesus was separated from the Father – as he became sin for us.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Our sin debt was paid by Jesus stepping in and taking our place. When he rose from the dead, he appeared to many people, and they knew it was him. It matters if this event did not take place, and the Bible clearly states why it matters in 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 15:3-6a I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the twelve. After that he was seen by more than 500 of his followers…
1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.
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Humanity can be reconciled to God
People matter to God. Not only do we matter, but we are deeply loved by him. Jesus rose from the dead and the stone in front of his temporary tomb was supernaturally rolled away- not so he could get out, but so we could see in.
2 Corinthians 5:14b-15 Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receives his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
2 Corinthians 5: 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
Do you believe that your life is so important to Jesus that he actually chose to take your punishment and pay it with his own life? He did it to set you free from the bondage of sin! He did it so we could be reconciled, or made right, with God.
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