Within the scriptures of the old testament, the Lord Jesus was woven into every prophesy, every promise and every commandment. Let's see the book of
Numbers 21
8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
The event that lead to this
instruction is summarized thus: Israel had sinned against God by speaking him and Moses even after God had delivered them from their enemies. God sent in the serpents to bite them and when they repented or came to realize their wrong, God gave the instruction to Moses and all who looked on it lived (vs9). The serpent has always been a thorn in the flesh of man right from the garden of Eden, (Gen. 3). Just like I said in yesterday's blog, God had already begun the redemption process immediately man fell. In John 3 Jesus said in verse 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. Isn't it amazing that for every move made in the scriptures of the old testament, their was Jesus waiting to manifest? Hallelujah! On Good Friday, we don't mark a sad event but a joyful one. One in which we see the manifestation of the promise of our redemption and deliverance from the chains of Satan. Christ was the worthy offering for the propitiation of our sins.
instruction is summarized thus: Israel had sinned against God by speaking him and Moses even after God had delivered them from their enemies. God sent in the serpents to bite them and when they repented or came to realize their wrong, God gave the instruction to Moses and all who looked on it lived (vs9). The serpent has always been a thorn in the flesh of man right from the garden of Eden, (Gen. 3). Just like I said in yesterday's blog, God had already begun the redemption process immediately man fell. In John 3 Jesus said in verse 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. Isn't it amazing that for every move made in the scriptures of the old testament, their was Jesus waiting to manifest? Hallelujah! On Good Friday, we don't mark a sad event but a joyful one. One in which we see the manifestation of the promise of our redemption and deliverance from the chains of Satan. Christ was the worthy offering for the propitiation of our sins.
JESUS' ROLE AS A PRIEST ON THIS DAY
It was customary for the Jewish priest to do the morning and evening sacrifice for the people. And God in his ever so perfect plan had Jesus hang on the cross for us with blood dripping from the sixth hour till the ninth hour (Matt. 27:45), in fulfillment of the law of all sacrifices that needed to be made. He mad an atonement for sin once and for all, like a sheep before the shearers he made no sound or struggle for his life, (Isa. 53:7). He simply laid down his life in obedience, not that he was forced to, but he willingly did it for his friends, (John 15:13). He did it for the love of mankind.
Jeremiah 31
3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.
The sacrifice on the cross was clear indication of the end of it all. This is evident after he had hung there till the evening when he said, "It is Finished". Whereas the Law said, "You must do", Grace said, "IT IS FINISHED". "IT IS DONE", "IT IS ACCOMPLISHED". Matthew records that at the very point he said this, "the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom: and the earth quaked and rocks rent." (27:51). Jesus had bridged the gap between God and man, becoming our Mediator and Great High Priest, (Heb. 12:24; 8:1). There was no other sacrifice need! (Heb 7:27). Hallelujah! He took upon himself our sins and made an end of it and only by looking at the cross steadfastly are we made free of the yoke of sin and the bite of the serpent.
THE REMARKABLE EVENTS BEFORE/AFTER THE SACRIFICE!
- Jesus' presence released Barabbas (Matt. 27:15-23).
- Jesus took out place, he set us free from the prison of sin. (Isaiah 61:1)
- Jesus walked the hills of Calvary carrying his cross and hung on it. He was made a curse for us... Galatians 3 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree": It is obvious that the law was a curse. God never made man to subject him to dos and don'ts. He made man in his own limitless image. And on Good Friday, Jesus became a curse to redeem us from the yoke of the law.
- Still on the cross, Jesus gave a sinner a chance to repent even in his deepest pain, he forgave the man in his right hand and granted him a place in paradise. That is love unconditional!
- Darkness filled the earth. The evil of man was fulfilled to the fullest. God looked away and hence the cry Jesus made, "Eli Eli lama sabachthani?", "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46). This was the height of it. God was no longer seen as a father like he always saw him, but was seen as God. Jesus said, "the Father has not left me for i do always those things that please him". But here he was alone. God could not behold iniquity. The Father left him. Finally, Jesus gave up the ghost... He didn't die, his spirit left and his flesh died.
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