April 15th, 2022
by Justin Hall
by Justin Hall
At the end of every week, we take a few moments to give you more information about the three things you need to know from the State House.
But this week isn’t about the three things you might have missed. This week is about the three most impactful days in human history.
It’s Friday. A Man who earlier in the week arrived with much fanfare and shouts of “Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” now stands before the Sanhedrin.
This Man, just a few hours earlier, shared a meal with his closest friends of three years and spoke of a time when they would dine together again “in the kingdom of God.”
This Man, with his friends beside Him, headed to a garden to pray. He prayed for hours. He prayed for his friends. And He even prayed for you.
Then, this Man was betrayed. He was handed over to the group who sought His demise.
On that Friday, this Man named Jesus was condemned to death.
He carried His own cross after being lashed and whipped beyond recognition. Through it all, He barely said a word, “led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7)
As He was nailed to a Roman cross, He was mocked, reviled, and ridiculed. As the life slowly drained from His earthly body, Jesus cried out “Tetelestai.”
The “sacrifice was accomplished” indeed.
But the story doesn’t end there. That’s just day one.
For the next 24 hours, Jesus Christ was dead. Buried in a borrowed tomb and grieved by His friends, family, and followers. Oh, the thoughts that must have overtaken them. Was it all a lie? Certainly, He was a great teacher, but perhaps we followed the wrong man? Is this the way it all ends?
Grief, disappointment, and despair fill the air in Jerusalem.
And if you thought that’s where the story ended, you'd miss the best part.
Early on day three, as Mary Magdalene and several followers came to anoint the body of Jesus, whom they loved; they were greeted with words that have transformed mankind.
“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!” (Luke 24:5-6)
Christ set aside his complete divinity and wrapped Himself in humanity. But He didn’t do that solely to heal the sick, teach men how to be morally good, or even to upend the religious or political system of the day.
Jesus Christ came to this earth to die. He came that the sacrifice may be accomplished. He is the complete and perfect sacrifice that once and for all absolved the sin of all men.
But He also came to live again.
Jesus’ death on the cross allows us to come boldly to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). But His resurrection guarantees that this life isn’t all that there is.
With His resurrection, we have a guaranteed hope that those who put their faith in the lordship of Christ will one day join the resurrection around the throne. We will be together forevermore with the one who created us. And we will dwell with Him, and we shall be His people (Revelation 21:3).
All of this became our reality because of three days in Jerusalem.
He is Risen.
But this week isn’t about the three things you might have missed. This week is about the three most impactful days in human history.
It’s Friday. A Man who earlier in the week arrived with much fanfare and shouts of “Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” now stands before the Sanhedrin.
This Man, just a few hours earlier, shared a meal with his closest friends of three years and spoke of a time when they would dine together again “in the kingdom of God.”
This Man, with his friends beside Him, headed to a garden to pray. He prayed for hours. He prayed for his friends. And He even prayed for you.
Then, this Man was betrayed. He was handed over to the group who sought His demise.
On that Friday, this Man named Jesus was condemned to death.
He carried His own cross after being lashed and whipped beyond recognition. Through it all, He barely said a word, “led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7)
As He was nailed to a Roman cross, He was mocked, reviled, and ridiculed. As the life slowly drained from His earthly body, Jesus cried out “Tetelestai.”
The “sacrifice was accomplished” indeed.
But the story doesn’t end there. That’s just day one.
For the next 24 hours, Jesus Christ was dead. Buried in a borrowed tomb and grieved by His friends, family, and followers. Oh, the thoughts that must have overtaken them. Was it all a lie? Certainly, He was a great teacher, but perhaps we followed the wrong man? Is this the way it all ends?
Grief, disappointment, and despair fill the air in Jerusalem.
And if you thought that’s where the story ended, you'd miss the best part.
Early on day three, as Mary Magdalene and several followers came to anoint the body of Jesus, whom they loved; they were greeted with words that have transformed mankind.
“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!” (Luke 24:5-6)
Christ set aside his complete divinity and wrapped Himself in humanity. But He didn’t do that solely to heal the sick, teach men how to be morally good, or even to upend the religious or political system of the day.
Jesus Christ came to this earth to die. He came that the sacrifice may be accomplished. He is the complete and perfect sacrifice that once and for all absolved the sin of all men.
But He also came to live again.
Jesus’ death on the cross allows us to come boldly to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). But His resurrection guarantees that this life isn’t all that there is.
With His resurrection, we have a guaranteed hope that those who put their faith in the lordship of Christ will one day join the resurrection around the throne. We will be together forevermore with the one who created us. And we will dwell with Him, and we shall be His people (Revelation 21:3).
All of this became our reality because of three days in Jerusalem.
He is Risen.
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