What Did Christ Accomplish on the Cross?
Last week, we followed Jesus’ arrest, the apostles’ desertion, Christ’s abuse at the hand of the Sanhedrin and Pontius Pilate. (See Stab in the Back and the Passion of Christ.)
Friday (cont.):
When Pilate refused to continue to be a part of Jesus’ death sentence, the Roman soldiers took Him back into Pilate’s residence. They clothed Him in a scarlet robe, put a reed in His right hand, and put a crown of thorns on His head.
Then, they ridiculed Him, bowing before Him, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Mt. 27:29 CSB
In addition, the soldiers spat upon Him and beat His head with the reed. And they made Him carry His own cross towards a place called ‘Golgotha’ or ‘Calvary’ (both alluding to ‘place of a skull’).
Along the way, Jesus became too weary to bear the cross. So, the soldiers forced a man named Simon to carry it for Him. As He continued to walk, a large crowd followed the procession. Among them were women who were crying over His plight. He turns to them and says:
“Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’ For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Lk. 23:28 -31. NLT
(Jesus is citing a Jewish proverb than compares an innocent man to a green tree, and a guilty one to a dry tree. He wants them to understand that if God allows His sinless Son’s crucifixion, what kind of wrath will Jehovah dispense on this sin-ridden nation).
All the events that have progressed thus far, happened early in the morning. It is now 9:00 a.m., whereupon Christ is crucified, set between two criminals that are crucified on either side of Him. Over the head of Jesus’ cross, was written: ‘THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS’. Mt. 27:37 CSB
He speaks to His Father: “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” Lk. 23:34 CSB
At this point, the Jews and priests are waking past His crucified self, mocking Him – saying that if He was the Son of God, He should be able to save Himself. Even one of the criminals crucified with Jesus voiced the same opinion.
However, the other criminal rebuked him:
“Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Lk. 23:39 – 42. NLT
Jesus replied: “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Lk. 23:43 AMP
Standing next to His cross was Mary, Jesus’ mother, Mary Magdalene, and the apostle John. Jesus calls out to His Mother: “Dear woman, here is your son.”Jn. 19:26 NLT
Likewise, He calls out to John: “Look! [here is] your mother [protect and provide for her]!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own home. Jn. 19:27 AMP
From noon until 3:00 p.m., the sun darkened. Jesus knew His death was imminent. In this moment, He had to bear all the sins of humankind throughout time – taking upon Himself Jehovah’s wrath that would have been spent upon those who rejected Him, and those who murdered Him.
Christ had to taste death and separation from His Father for the first and last time. In that moment, He had to feel with every ounce of His soul and flesh, what every condemned human being would have felt.
He cried out through His frail human flesh self at about 3:00:
Q
]“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Mt. 27:46 AMP
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said in fulfillment of the Scripture, “I am thirsty.” Jn. 19:28 AMP[1]
Realizing that His work on earth was complete, He declared: “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and [voluntarily] [gave up His spirit. Jn. 19:30 AMP
Then He uttered His final words as His incarnate self: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!” Having said this, He breathed His last. Lk. 23:46 AMP
At that very same moment, the veil of the Temple (a curtain that separated the Holy place from the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies) split in two. Note that the veil was approximately 60 feet high, 30 feet wide, and 4 inches thick. It was incapable of being torn by human hands.
The significance of the veil was that it separated humankind (represented by the High Priest), who carried out his duties in the Holy Place, from God, whose Spirit resided in the Most Holy Place (where the High Priest was only allowed to enter on the annual Day of Atonement. Tearing that veil eliminated the barrier, giving rise to a direct connection with God through Jesus Christ.
There was also a great earthquake that unearthed many graves of believers, who were resurrected and went into the city.
A Roman centurion who was watching these events unfold, became filled with fear as he exclaimed: “Truly this was the Son of God!” Mt. 27:54 AMP
Pilate gave permission to a disciple of Christ, named Joseph, to bury Him. He was assisted by Nicodemus – who was a member of the Sanhedrin that came to Jesus in the middle of the night. Jesus had taught him the concept of baptism.
Finally, the Roman soldiers rolled a very large and heavy stone over the entrance of Jesus’ tomb to seal it.
Saturday:
The chief priests and the Pharisees stationed Roman soldiers at the entrance of Christ’s tomb for 3 days because they were afraid that the apostles would steal the body and fake His revivification.
Sunday:
Early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and Mary (the mother of the disciple James, not Jesus’ brother), came to visit the tomb.
And a great earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone [from the opening of the tomb] and sat on it. The angel’s appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. The guards shook, paralyzed with fear [at the sight] of him and became like dead men [pale and immobile].
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said [He would]. Come! See the place where He was lying.” Mt. 28:2 – 6. AMP
Easter is the most significant of all the Christian holidays – the day that Christ was resurrected to seal our salvation once and for all. Thus, we were redeemed to God through the forgiveness of our sins by Jesus’ shed blood. Through God’s grace then, we can rise to take our divinely promised place in heavenly eternity.
The angel continues speaking to Mary and Mary:
“Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee [as He promised]. There you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” Mt. 28:7 AMP
Filled with both fear and joy, the women run to tell the apostles. But along the way, they run smack dab into the resurrected Christ Himself, who simply says:
“Rejoice!” And they went to Him and took hold of His feet [in homage] and worshiped Him [as the Messiah]. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me [just as I promised].” Mt. 28:9, 10. AMP
The resurrected Jesus’ time on earth is limited – only 40 more days before His ascension. So, He gives the women a little nudge to get them on their way:
“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Jn. 20:17 NLT
While the women are making their way to the apostles, the Roman guards at Jesus’ tomb regained their consciousness, and ran to the chief priests to report the empty tomb. The priests bribed them to tell everyone that the apostles stole Jesus’ body.
The women finally arrived where the apostles were staying and told them the good news. But they didn’t believe them. However, Peter and John decided to go to the tomb – only to find Jesus’ burial clothes. Hope began to take root…
Sunday afternoon, two of Jesus disciples (not the apostles), were traveling to a village near Jerusalem. Along the way, they were lamenting to each other over Christ’s death. Suddenly, Jesus appears to them but renders Himself unrecognizable. Then He asks them why they were sad.
They reply that He must be the only person that hasn’t heard about Jesus’ death. They had heard that He had risen, but they doubted it, and thought that He wasn’t the Messiah after all.
Jesus admonished them for their lack of faith in what the prophets wrote about the path the ‘Messiah’ had to take:
“You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Lk. 24:25, 26. NLT
Christ then interpreted all the Messianic prophecies while accompanying them to their destination. There He broke bread with them. And at that very moment, He revealed Himself to the disciples and disappeared before their eyes.
That same evening, these same two disciples went and found the apostles, who, except for Thomas, were gathered behind locked doors. The apostles were afraid of being persecuted by the Jews. Exactly when the two relayed their meeting with the resurrected Christ, He manifests Himself in the room. He says:
“Peace be with you.” Jn. 20:19 CSB
The apostles panic, thinking that they are seeing a ghost. Jesus allays their fear:
“Why are you troubled, and why are doubts rising in your hearts? Look at [the marks in] My hands and My feet, [and see] that it is I Myself. Touch Me and see; a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.” Lk. 24:38, 39. AMP
The apostles are still not convinced. So, Christ shows them His nail holes from the crucifixion; and He eats in front of them. Finally convinced, they were elated. Now He commissions them:
“Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives].” And when He said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone they are forgiven [because of their faith]; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained [and remain unforgiven because of their unbelief].” Jn. 20:21 – 23. AMP
Jesus is not saying that the apostles or any other clergy can forgive sins. What He is saying is that once you deliver the Gospel, the recipient can choose Christ and receive forgiveness or reject Him and have that forgiveness withheld.
Eight days later, all 11 apostles gather, and Jesus appears as well. The apostle Thomas is there. After handling His wounds, Thomas believes. Christ uses this as a teaching moment on faith:
“Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Jn. 20:29 CSB
Christ spent another 40 days on earth before returning to His Father. During that time, there were approximately 500 sightings of our Lord. Within that time, seven of the apostles were fishing all night with nary a bite. Debarking, they see Jesus on the shore, but they don’t recognize Him.
He tells them to cast their nets once more, and the boat was overloaded with fish. They finally realize that it is Jesus, and He had breakfast with them.
Afterwards, Jesus asks Peter if He loved Him. Peter affirms that He does. Jesus responds:
“Then feed my lambs.” Jn. 21:15 NLT Jesus asks Peter a second time. Peter guarantees his love. Jesus says: “Then take care of my sheep”. Jn. 21:16 NLT Jesus asks a third time. Now Peter is a little hurt, that he’s been asked three times. Still, he answers that his love still holds. Jesus answers: “Then feed my sheep.” Jn. 21:17 NLT
Remember that Peter denied knowing Christ three times. Here, our merciful Savior is giving Peter three opportunities to receive forgiveness for all his infractions, and to recommit himself to His Lord, and to spread the Gospel.
Jesus then told the apostles to meet Him on Mount Olivet in Galilee, where He bestows His ‘Great Commission’ that applies to all His followers:
Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.” Mt. 28:18 – 20. AMP
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed [in Me] and has been baptized will be saved [from the penalty of God’s wrath and judgment]; but he who has not believed will be condemned.” Mk. 16:15 AMP
Then Jesus opened their minds so that they had a full grasp of the Scriptures. And He told them to remain in Jerusalem until the received the ‘Promise of the Father’, which would be the endowment of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, He gave them His final words:
“For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized and empowered and united with the Holy Spirit, not long from now… you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” Ac. 1:5 & 8. AMP
Immediately after those words, Jesus was drawn up to heaven. While the apostles were watching His ascent, two angels appeared and said:
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This [same] Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will return in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Ac. 1:11 AMP
Jesus ascended for a temporary leave of absence. As He promised, Christ will return to usher you into eternal bliss. Yet, He is with you even now, through the Holy Spirit, when you invite Him into your heart.
Praise Jesus!
Goodnight and God bless.
[1] Ps. 22:15 NLT