When God touched the earth through the revelations given to Jesus of Nazareth the reaction of the earthly authorities was to call him Beelzebub (a devil) and to attempt to ensnare him in controversy.
When this failed they sought to kill him.
But God did not require Jesus' death as a sacrifice for our sins.
Rather God said to the Pharisees and the Romans, "Do your worst."
And they did.
They humiliated Jesus and then they crucified him.
When Jesus died they thought they had won.
But God had one last act up His sleeve.
God raised Jesus from the dead to sit at His right hand in heaven.
The Resurrection is God's last blessing on Jesus - a manifestation of God's steadfast love for His prophet.
And a sign to the peoples of the earth.
"And the curtain of the temple was torn in two." Mark 15:38 (NRSV)
[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.]
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Michael, I think you are right on target. Many believers have misguided ideas on the reason for the crucifixion--but the most important part was Jesus' victory over death.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tim.
DeleteThe change in theology does not diminish the importance of the Resurrection.
No, it does not.
Delete