BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD (Part XV)

BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD (Part XV)

In our portrait of the person and work of Jesus Christ, we endeavor to highlight the concluding events of Holy Week, in which The Passion of Jesus Christ was dramatically unveiled via betrayal, isolation, rejection, judgment, humiliation, derision, chastisement, satanic attacks and death by crucifixion.  On today, we celebrate Good Friday, which constitutes the capstone ministry event of The Suffering Servant.

I know of no clearer Biblical revelation of the sacrificial atonement of Jesus Christ, than that which is revealed by the Holy Spirit to the Prophet Isaiah.  Prayerfully read and reflect on the ultimate sacrifice of “the Lamb of God,” who gave Himself so lovingly and graciously to “take away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

Isaiah 53:3-9 (NKJV)

³ He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.  And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

⁴ Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
⁵ But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.

⁸ He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation?  For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people was He stricken.

⁹ And they made His grave with the wicked--but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Jesus Christ endured a myriad of horrifying and treacherous experiences on the day that all Christendom recognizes as Good Friday.  Let’s briefly recall the events of that momentous day: 

-Jesus Christ appears before the high priest, Caiaphas.

(Matthew 26:57 – Mark 14:53 – Luke 22:54 – John 18:13-14)

-Jesus Christ is denied by one of His closest disciples, Peter.

(Matthew 26:58 – Mark 14:54 – Luke 22:54-62 – John 18:15-18)

-Jesus Christ appears before the Sanhedrin Council where He is ridiculed, spat upon and beaten.

(Matthew 26:59-68 – Mark 14:55-65 – Luke 22:66-71 – John 18:19-24)

-Jesus Christ appears the first time before Governor Pilate at the behest of Jewish leaders.

(Matthew 27:1-2 – Mark 15:1-5 – Luke 23:1-5 – John 18:28-38)

-Jesus Christ appears before King Herod at the behest of Governor Pilate.

(Luke 23:6-12)

-Jesus Christ appears the second time before Governor Pilate, where He is brutally scourged and issued a sentence of death by crucifixion.

(Matthew 27:15-30 – Mark 15:6-15 – Luke 23:13-24 – John 18:39-40 – John 19:1-16 – Isaiah 53:5)

-Jesus Christ is mocked, dressed in a purple robe and a crown of thorns pierces His brow.

(Matthew 27:30 – Mark 15:16-20 – John 19:1-3)

-Jesus Christ suffers the suicide of His betrayer and one of the twelve disciples, Judas Iscariot.

(Matthew 27:3-10 – Acts 1:18-19)

-Jesus Christ carries His cross through the Via Dolorosa to Golgotha, a.k.a. Calvary.

(Matthew 27:31-33 – Mark 15:2-22 – Luke 23:26 – John 19:16-17)

-Jesus Christ is crucified, i.e. nailed to a wooden cross through His hands and feet.

(Matthew 27:35 – Mark 15:24-25 – Luke 23:33 – John 19:18)

-Jesus Christ endures the mockery of Roman soldiers who gamble for His clothing.

(John 19:23-24)

-Jesus Christ thirsts and is given sour wine with gall, but refuses to drink.

(Matthew 27:34 – John 19:28-29)

-Jesus Christ endures the mockery of Jewish leaders.

(Matthew 27:39-43 – Mark 15:29-32 – Luke 23:35)

-Jesus Christ absolves the sins of a dying sinner, one of two thieves who are crucified with Him.

(Luke 23:39-43)

-Jesus Christ commends His mother, Mary, to the care of John, a beloved disciple.

(John 19:25-27)

-Jesus Christ forgives His detractors, His judges and His executors while suffering agony.

(Luke 23:34)

-Jesus Christ cries out to His Father from the cross, “Why have you forsaken me?”

(Matthew 27:46 – Mark 15:34 – Psalm 22:1)

-Jesus Christ declares that the plan of salvation is complete and commends His spirit to God, the Father.

(Luke 23:46 – John 19:30)

-Jesus Christ dies as darkness covers the land.

(Matthew 27:45 – Mark 15:33 – Luke 23:44)

-Jesus Christ dies and the veil of the second temple is rent in two and graves open.

(Matthew 27:51-53 – Mark 15:38 – Luke 23:45)

-Jesus Christ dies, a great earthquake opens graves, saints rise up, and a Roman centurion publicly confesses that Jesus is the Son of God.

(Matthew 27:51-54 – Mark 15:39 – Luke 23:47)

-Jesus Christ is removed from the cross, buried in a borrowed tomb of Joseph of Arimathea and Roman soldiers are ordered to guard His burial site.

(Matthew 27:57-66 – Mark 15:42-47 – Luke 23:50-53 – John 19:31-42 – I Corinthians 15:4)

-Jesus Christ ministers to lost souls in hell after His death and prior to His Resurrection.

(Ephesians 4:7-9)

As “the author and finisher of our faith,” and because of “the joy that was set before Him,” Jesus Christ willingly “endured the cross, despising the shame.”  As a result of His vicarious sacrifice and consummate victory, Jesus Christ “sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)  And since believers are “in Christ,” HE has “raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (II Corinthians 5:17 – Ephesians 2:6)

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Since this is Holy Week, I will compose an additional devotional tomorrow (Saturday) in celebration of the upcoming resurrection Day, which represents Jesus Christ’s ultimate victory over death, hell and the grave.   Sisters and brothers be continually blessed and stay tuned…more to come!