When Jesus cried out on the cross, "It is finished!" some think that His suffering ended and victory began. While I was researching my book, I found over two hundred passages in the Book of Psalms prophetically stating that Messiah suffers after His experiences on the cross.
This is not to say that Jesus misspoke. His sacrificial death was ordained from the foundation of the world. Christ was born in the town where temple sacrifices were raised, and He was placed in a manger just like those spot-less lambs. Messiah also knew that He would have to let people crucify Him. Remember that Pilate was told that he didn't have the power over Jesus life (John 19:11).
What was finished was the work that Christ came to do Himself and the setting of the trap for the devil. Once Jesus was forsaken by the Father and then left His body, nothing more remained that HE could do to bring about His own resurrection. Everything now was in the hands of the Father and the Spirit. Psalm 62:1 Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation.
With the sin He embraced, Christ was carried to hell (Sheol), was placed in torment, and was without the power to free Himself. Psalm 116:3-4 The pains of death surrounded me, and the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!” Psalm 13:3 Consider and hear me, O Lord; enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.
If the Father does not change Christ's state, He will remain under the sinner's torment. Psalm 88:3-4 For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to the grave. I am counted with those who go down to the pit ... Adrift among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, and who are cut off from Your hand. Psalm 143:3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead. The many souls who died prior to Christ, did not yet have access to Heaven. Instead they went to a holding place on Earth where some were tormented. Jesus leaves the cross and experiences that persecution. The trap sets because Jesus committed no sin that required punishment.
Our Christian creeds state that we believe Jesus descended into hell and on the third day rose again. What He did during the first part of those three days and nights was to endure so much punishment that He suffered for the sins of the entire world. After the Father saw it was enough, then the power of the Almighty shot into Sheol and resurrected the Son spiritually. Christ then completely defeated His tormentors, preached to the captives awaiting His coming, and arose in a glorified body to prove His claim as the God/man. Without the payment for sins, Jesus descent makes little sense.
Christ's resurrection is accomplished through a transformation from sin into righteousness. He becomes the first-born Son who is converted by the operation of Holy Spirit on the inner, spiritual being. He is born-again when power from "on high" returns to Him from the Father borne by Holy Spirit. That (I believe) is the arch-type of the new birth.
Psalm 16:10-11 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 11 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Any who receive Jesus as Lord enter into His new kingdom. They pass from death unto life, and they are given the power to become children of God. Those who complete the process will inherit fulness of joy. AMEN
Comments