Christ Our
Passover
I Corinthians 5:7
Ray Wooten
How deeply do you understand Christ as our
Passover? How much time and effort have you spent studying and
internalizing what it means for Christ to be your Passover? I'm
not referring to the arguments over which night or day it should
be observed. Nor am I concerned in this article about whether or
not you eat a meal. I'm concerned about what is meant by the
phrase "Christ is our Passover." (1 Corinthians 5:7)
To help us better understand Christ as our
Passover let us review for just a moment what happened on the
original Passover night. If you recall in the book of Exodus the
death angel was to come through Egypt at midnight and kill the
first born of all Egyptian families. This plague was intended to
be only against the Egyptians. However, it included the first
born of the Israelites as well if they had not followed the
instructions God gave them to preserve and save their firstborn.
They were to slay their passover lambs and put
the lamb's blood on their doorposts. All of Israel's firstborn
were instructed to stay inside their homes from midnight until
morning. The Death Angel was to pass over those who were inside
the houses on which the blood from their Passover Lamb had been
dappled.
We are to be "In Christ"
Take special note, it was necessary for them to
be inside the house. This is analogous to Christ's instructions
to us in John 15: 4 "Abide in
me". The Apostle Paul continues that theme of abiding in
Christ throughout his writings. Note especially, Ephesians
1:3"----in Christ.", (v 4) "----in
Him," (v 6) "----in the Beloved." (v 7) "in
Him----. " This will help us see how important it is for us
to be "in Christ", "our Passover".
How are we able to become "in
Christ"? Romans 6:3 "Or do you do not know that all of
us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized
into His death?" (v 4) "Therefore
we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order
that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the
Father, so we too might walk in newness of life". So, in
order to be "in Christ", we must be baptized into
Christ. By doing so we are baptized into His death which means
His death is applied to us. He died the "second" death.
We, by taking refuge in Him just as the Israelites sought refuge
in their homes, are saved or "Passed over" from the
second death.
Being "in Christ" is not something
that we continually seek throughout our Christian lives. It is
done once for all time when we are baptized into Him. Can we
accept our position in Him?
To help us consider it more deeply and to
internalize it more successfully, let's take a brief but piercing
look at some of the events of the last day of Christ's life as
recorded by the gospel writer Luke. Being a physician, Luke tends
to portray Christ's experience in a way that penetrates our human
emotions. So, we will read his account of this most important
time.
Jesus in Gethsemane
Luke 22:39-44 "And
He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of
Olives." Luke has been revealing Satan's plan of destruction
and God's plan of salvation. It has become apparent that they are
both driving towards the same object. Jesus' enemies are spending
all their efforts and their ingenuity to bring Him to the cross,
or eternal deathi yet that is the very "Cup" which the
FATHER has given Christ to drink....
Jesus has gone to the Garden "As was his
custom". He has gone deliberately into a trap from which He
could have escaped with ease. His enemies are carrying out their
plans, but He is altogether in control.
" and the disciples also followed Him. And
when He arrived at the place, He said to them, "Pray that
you may not enter into temptation." And He withdrew from
them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray,
saying, "FATHER if Thou art willing, remove this cup from
me; yet not my will, but Thine be done." Now an angel from
heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony he
was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of
blood, falling down upon the ground.."
The creator of Angels now needs the strength of
an angel. The one who changed water into wine of joy now watches
His sweat become bloody drops of agony. The perfectly obedient
Son now cries out to His Father, "Remove this cup!"
Jesus did not fear the cup of suffering His enemies would give
Him. \What they did to Him was perhaps no worse than what they
did to the criminals who died on either side of Him.
At this moment, He was gazing into the cup of
God's wrath. The cup that Jesus wanted removed was that of being
totally cut off from the FATHER. In Psalm 22: 1 we read where it was prophesied that Christ would say:
" My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Being cut
off from God means to die the second death, the spiritual death.
That is why David was able to say in Psalm 23:4, "Even though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me.-David
could say that. We may say that. All because Jesus walked through
the valley of the shadow of death alone and forsaken by the
Father. We deserve to be alone. We deserve to be cut off. We
deserve to die eternally. But, Jesus died so that we may not be
alone when we "walk through the valley of the shadow of
death", and that we may live eternally. Being "in
Christ", in His death, is how we may be passed over by the
angel of eternal death. (see Deuteronomy 21:23).
Was there no other way to redeem the world?
Jesus knew the answer as He prayed, alone, in the garden. So He
yielded Himself:" Yet not my will, but Thine be done."
The real battle of His sacrifice on the cross was fought and won
at that moment in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus needed His
disciples to help bear His load. Yet His most trusted friends
failed to stand by Him in His most difficult hour. And so it may
be for us when it is our time to kneel in our Gethsemane.
Deceitful Judas
Jesus arrived on the other side of His
struggle fully resigned to the Father's will, at peace, and
invincible. And just in time, because at that moment, as His
disciples slept, a serpentine trail of torch-bearing soldiers and
officials slither into the dark. Judas is at its head, with
poison in his kiss.
Luke 22:48,52-53. "But
Jesus said to him, Judas are you betraying the son of man with a
kiss? ----- And Jesus said to the chief priest and officers of
the temple and elder who had come against Him, have you come out
with swords and clubs as a against a robber? While I was with you
daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on me; but this hour
and the power of darkness are yours."
Say the name Judas. You can still taste the
bitter betrayal these many centuries later, can't you?
What is going to happen here at Golgotha
remains the greatest paradox of all time. Consider this and
wonder:
- The same injustice that condemned innocent
Jesus accomplished the Justice of God.
- The cruel hands that grasped the whip and
wielded the mallet moved as instruments of God's holy
purpose.
- The diabolical plot to murder the Son of
God became the means through which the world was released
from Satan's grasp.
- The cruel death at Calvary, which
symbolized fear and brutality, now shines as the Beacon
of hope to the world.
- Jesus was crucified for all the wrong
reasons- -hatred, jealousy, and greed. But out of this
polluted soil God grew the tree of eternal life.
- His death was bittersweet. Bitter as the
gall He drank during His suffering and sweet as the
forgiveness He offers all who believe.
As we follow Jesus through His valley of death,
we must not forget the Grace that marks our every step.
Jesus in Custody
After his arrest, Jesus is rushed through six
shamefully unjust trials. Luke records four of them, omitting the
trials before Annas (see John 18:12-13,19-23) and Caiaphas (see Matthew 26:57-68).
Annas was the ex-high priest and
"Mafia" boss who still held the reins in the temple
money-making operation. He wanted revenge on Jesus for throwing
out the money changers and disrupting "Business." After
questioning Him, Annas sent Jesus to his son-in-law, the current
high priest, Caiaphas. His assignment? To charge Jesus with a
crime punishable by death. Blasphemy would do. After these
unlawful night time trials, Caiaphas put Jesus into the custody
of the temple officers, which is where Luke picks up the story.
Eager to exact their own pound of flesh for the
troubles He's caused them, they circle Jesus like jackals around
a wounded lion. Hateful words escalate to physical violence as
one of them shoves Jesus into the waiting fist of another. Jesus
staggers. They all laugh. Then one man gets an idea for a cruel
game; he ties a twisted rag over Jesus' eyes.
"Prophesy", he shouts, shoving Him into another man's
waiting punch to the stomach. "Who was the one who hit
you?" (Luke 22:64). Coarse laughter
erupts once again. On through the dark night, they continue
beating and cheering and ' ironically "blaspheming"
(verse 65).
Jesus on Trial
The first rays of dawn finally put a stop
to their sadistic sport, and they hauled Jesus away for His third
trial. A meeting of the Council of Elders, or Sanhedrin, was
necessary to officially convict Jesus. According to commentator,
William Barclay, certain trial laws govern such cases.
"All charges must be supported by the
evidence of two witnesses independently examined. Sentence of death
could never be carried out on the day which it was given; a night
must elapse so that the court might sleep on it, so that, for
chance, their condemnation might turn to mercy." But mercy
and proper procedure are not on the courts' agenda this morning.
Before them stands a frail figure, His face swollen and bruised
from the beating. Without His multitude of followers nearby, He
doesn't look so intimidating to them. Within a few minutes they
railroad a guilty verdict.(see Luke 22:67-71). Luke 23:1 "Then the whole
body of them arose and brought him before Pilate. "
Before Governor Pilate
They brought Him to Pilate because only the
Romans could carry out capital punishment. Figuring he will
simply shrug his shoulders at their charges of blasphemy, the
chief priests concocted three false accusations, hoping one of
them will stick. (Luke 23:2-5).
Pilate proclaims Him innocent, but he senses
some dangerous undercurrent in this situation. The last thing he
needs is for more waves to ripple back to Rome. So, when he hears
that Jesus is from Galilee, he sees a way to smooth things out
for himself. He can send Jesus to Herod Antipas, the ruler of
Galilee, for a verdict. (verses 6-7).
Before Herod Antipas
Luke 23:8-9. "Now
Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus: for
he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had been
hearing about him and was hoping to see some signs performed by
him. And he questioned him at some length; but he answered him
nothing."
Jesus refuses to become a court clown and whip
up a miracle for Herod's entertainment. He says nothing, holding
his words like pearls lest this pompous swine trample them under
foot.
The chief priests and scribes, however, are
quick to fill the silence with accusations: "See, he's no
Messiah-he's a fraud. " Herod and his soldiers join in the
ridicule, "Treating him with contempt and mocking him."
To cap the farce, Herod dresses Him "in a gorgeous
robe" and sends Him back to Pilate--without a verdict
(verses 10- 11).
Back before Pilate
Once again, the gaunt figure of Jesus stands
before Pilate. Deep in the Roman Governors heart, he knows that
this man is no threat to the state. So he summons the chief
priests, the rulers, and the people and declares, "You
brought this man to me as one who incites the people to
rebellion, and behold, having examined him before you, I
have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you
make against him. No, nor has Herod, for he sent him back to us; and behold,
nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore
punish him and release him. "Verses 14-16).
Pilate's verdict echoes the words of the
prophet, "He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit
in his mouth" (Isaiah 53:9). The Lamb of God is spotless and pure, yet--here is the
paradox--"The Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall
on Him" (verse 6). He bears our sentence of death so that we
might be set free-much like what happens at the release of
Barabbas,
Pilate customarily releases one prisoner during
the Passover (Luke 2 3:17). By this means, he hopes to set Jesus free, as well as
satisfy his own conscience. But the people block his escape
route, shouting, "Away with this man, and release for us
Barabbas!"--A notorious outlaw, under arrest for
insurrection and murder (verses 18-19).
Condemn an innocent man and let a murderer go
free? It makes no sense to Pilate. "Wanting to release
Jesus," Pilate addresses them again, but they are impervious
to logic (verse 20). A
savage chant begins to surge through the crowd: "Crucify
Him, crucify Him. "(Verse 21).
A third time, Pilate pleads with the people.
But their voices build into crashing waves, pounding him until he
relents, Luke 24-25"And Pilate pronounced sentence that
their demand should be granted. And he released the man
they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection
and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.
Jesus at Golgotha
To add to the shame of crucifixion, the Romans
would force the condemned criminal to carry the cross beam
through the city to the place of execution. The weakened Jesus
stumbles under the weight of the heavy beam, so a soldier presses
Simon of Cyrene into carrying it for Him. (verse 26).
Soon, Jesus and two other men to be crucified
arrive at "The place called the Skull" (verse 33), and the soldiers began their
grisly task.
Soldiers and criminals
In his book Rabboni, Philip Keller conveys the
horror of crucifixion:
"Jesus was stretched out prostrate on the
cross beams.... With the ominous sound of iron on iron, the nails
pierced his sinews and flesh. Blood spurted from the wounds as
the spikes sank into the tough wood. He writhed in pain. Then his
feet were laid flat on the wood with his legs drawn up. Two more
terrible spikes did their dreadful work.
Like the thousands of other lambskins stretched
in the mid morning sun that day, so the Son of God lay stretched
beneath the burning skies of Judea. God's Passover Lamb was there
for all to see.
It was the most ghastly altar upon which any
human sacrifice had ever been offered. God, very God, hanged
there suspended between heaven and earth as the supreme
substitute."
Words and Feelings
For six torturous hours, Jesus hangs on the
cross. To breathe, He must hoist Himself upward, pushing against
the spike in His feet. Every movement shoots excruciating pain
through his body. His leg muscles cramp into knots. His shoulders
dislocate from their sockets as they bear the weight of his body.
His skin bums with a feverish sweat. Victims usually curse and
wail, but Jesus keeps His sufferings to Himself.
Only seven times does He speak. Luke records
three of Jesus, statements--one to His executioners,
"FATHER, forgive them: for they do not know what they are
doing" (verse 34); one to the repentant thief, "Truly I say to you
today you shall be with me in Paradise" (verse 43); and one to God, "FATHER,
into Thy hands I commit my spirit" (verse 46). To the very end, words of
mercy, hope, and trust flow from His lips.
Darkness and Death
As if he hasn't endured enough pain, people
start pounding verbal spikes into His heart. From the Jewish
rulers: " He saved others; let Him save himself if this is
the Christ of God, His chosen One. "(verse 35).
From the soldiers, who read the inscription
above His head: "If you are the king of the Jews save
yourself," (verse 37). From the unrepentant thief suffering beside Him:"
Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" (verse 39).
Of course, Jesus can save Himself, but He
chooses to save the world instead. So, hour after hour, He
endures the pain, the insults, the abandonment of His own people.
Only once is it almost too much to bear--when His Father
abandoned Him.
About the sixth hour, noon, darkness falls
"Over the whole land until the ninth hour" (verse 44). A black veil of mourning
covers the face of the sun as God lays the combined evil of all
the world's sin on Jesus' shoulders. Then He turns away from His
own Son. Jesus must bear the condemnation of God's judgment,
alone.
By about the ninth hour, three o'clock, Jesus
can endure the separation no longer. He screams, "Eli, Eli,
lama sabachthani?" That is, " My God, My God, why hast
Thou forsaken me)" (Matthew 27:46).
The FATHER pours out the full measure of His
wrath on His precious Lamb--the wrath that we deserve. With a
mighty ripping sound, the heavy veil in the Temple, which has
separated people from God's holy, intimate presence for
centuries, tears in two, signifying that the way is now clear for
sinners to reach their God (Luke 23:45). Committing His spirit into the loving hands that crushed
Him, Jesus breathes His last (verse 46).
Christ's Disgrace Purchases Our Grace
To die on a cross is to die in shame. Even the
Romans believed it to be "A most cruel and disgusting
punishment." To the Jews, it was particularly vile. They
categorized crucifixion with hanging, applying Deuteronomy 2 1:23 to both: "Anyone who
is hung on a tree is under God's curse", which is being
separated from God totally.
No right-thinking person would give honor to a
man who died as a criminal in disgrace on a cross--much less
worship Him. Yet early Christians saw something in Jesus and the
cross that others missed. Through Christ's disgrace, God poured
out Grace on us. It's a crazy, foolish, wonderful paradox-one
that causes the creatures in heaven to lift their voices in
praise (see Revelation 5:9-14).
Conclusion
As we meditate on Jesus' despicable death on
the cruel tree at Golgotha, one question inevitably wells up
within us. . . Why? Why the beating and scourging and mocking?
Why the thorns? Why the nails? Why the utter indignity? Was all
that necessary?
Yes. . . To display sin's true and ugly face.
The murder of Christ was the crowning sin of the human race. But
in His death we find all the sins of mankind uniting in one
abominable conspiracy. Envy, pride and hatred are there, with
covetousness, falsehood, and blasphemy, anxious to rush on to
cruelty, revenge, violence and murder. As all the rivers run into
the sea and as all the clouds empty themselves upon the earth, so
did all the crimes of man gather to the slaying of the Son of
God.
The totality of our sins was accounted for on
the cruel tree at Calvary, and Jesus bore them all. There was no
wrong that Jesus did not make right. There was no darkness that
He did not make light. If you think you have committed an evil
that Jesus cannot forgive, you have not been to Calvary.
My prayer is that you go to Jesus Christ and
pour out your guilt and your shame at His feet. He has seen your
worst and accepted you a long time ago. Now, isn't it time for
you to accept Him as your Passover who was sacrificed for you?
The mission of The Christian Beacon
is to provide a source of biblical education
and inspiration, to promote unity, cooperation and spiritual
growth among God's people while illustrating the shared ministry
of the Royal Priesthood, the Spiritual Church of God.
|
Christ Our Passover 