My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?

Easter Celebrations in the West have become  a funfair of bunnies and eggs. I read somewhere that the Easter bunny was reportedly introduced to America by the German immigrants who brought over their stories of an egg-laying hare. This German tradition is believed to date back to the 13th century. The Christian celebration of Easter has nothing to do with eggs and bunnies. Easter is the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Most importantly, the significance of His death and resurrection is the salvation He brought to humanity. The blood shared on the cross cleansed our sins away. The death of Jesus also initiated us into the new covenant, where the curse of the law and the power of the old man was dealt with permanently. Now, “therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (‭2 Corinthians 5:17). The cross wasn’t an easy punishment for Jesus. The journey to the cross and the crucifixion itself were painful experiences.

The Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus, crucified Him between two thieves. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.‭” (Matthew 27:37). On the cross. Jesus was mocked, ridiculed and insulted. Jesus was even offered wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it (‭Matthew 27:34). As Jesus went through the pain of crucifixion, “those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” (‭Matthew 27:39-40). Even the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. (Matthew 27:41-44). Jesus had to endure physical pain and emotional torture. His body was weak, blood gushed all over, yet even in His very painful state, the people had no pity on Him.

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). (‭Matthew 27:46)

As the people mocked and insulted Jesus in their ignorance, the powers of the heavens and the earth were shaken. Heaven was still. The Father’s own begotten Son, sinless and perfect hanged on a cross like a criminal. The atmosphere changed suddenly. Power was about to change hands. From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land (‭Matthew 27:45). A total eclipse caused by the very important assignment. Jesus was at the epicenter of His assignment, the religious leaders standing nearby couldn’t see the spiritual exchanges that were taking place. On the day of the crucifixion, about three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). That was the moment the Father took away His eyes from His Son. Jesus at the height of this darkened environment was an epitome of sin. He bore the sins of the whole world beginning with that of Adam in the Garden of Eden. Jesus became a curse (Deuteronomy 21:23) and He took the curse of the Law and nailed it on the cross.

The Father took His face away, as Jesus cried out, He felt the weight of sin and the punishment of sin. The Father loves the Son so much but at that moment, He took His face away so the Son can atone for the sins of all humanity. Imagine the price the Father paid for love: the death of His only begotten Son. Even in such a painful moment, some of those standing there after they heard the cry of Jesus said, “He’s calling Elijah.”‭ (Matthew 27:47). The people missed the bigger picture. One of those standing there ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink (maybe to ease Jesus’ pain). Yet, the rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” (‭Matthew 27:48-49). At that moment, Jesus cried out again in a loud voice and He gave up His spirit (‭Matthew 27:50). As soon As Jesus gave up the spirit, the environment responded again:
“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” (‭Matthew 27:51-53).‬

The extraordinary events that characterized the crucifixion were visible to all. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (‭Matthew 27:54).

Indeed,  Jesus is the Son of God. He had to go through the pain of death to set us free. He was forsaken by His Father at the height of the crucifixion so that Jesus could take our place and take our curse. Easter is so important and significant. Celebrate the day with meaning and understanding. Help your children understand it too. No bunny or egg is involved in this salvation story. Jesus is the reason for the season.

Before the Sanhedrin

Have you ever been summoned before a powerful leadership group? How was your experience? Irrespective of your level of influence and riches, to be summoned by a ruling body for the wrong reasons can be quite unpleasant. Even If you are innocent, your reputation could be at stake. When you are finally able to come out of such an environment,  you are very careful never to go back again. Other than someone doing something deserving to be summoned, sometimes political factors could also motivate the ruling authorities to summon someone. In such instances, the accused people will have to defend themselves from political vindictiveness and clear their names from every wrong accusation. Jesus was going about His business but on the other side, the religious leaders were seriously plotting His downfall and arrest. One of Jesus’ own disciples became the channel for Jesus’ arrest. The Betrayer sold his master for just 30 pieces of silver.

The Sanhedrin was the highest Jewish legislative body. They deliberated on issues of national Importance. Like the Jewish Supreme Court, important decisions were made by the Sanhedrin. During the time of Jesus, an accusation that Jesus could course a potential revolt led to the convening of the Sanhedrin to find ways and means to end the ministry of Jesus. There is no record of Jesus’ accused revolt anywhere. Infact, Jesus helped the poor, healed the sick, raised the dead, and restored hope and joy. If the Sanhedrin were really impartial, they would have looked for ways and means to collaborate with Jesus to ensure a happy society. However, most of the individual members of the Sanhedrin felt threatened by the presence of Jesus. In one of the meetings of the Sanhedrin,  there was a concern that Jesus was performing many signs and wonders and that if He is allowed to go on everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both their temple and their nation (John 11:47-48). In the same meeting,  Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”‭ (John 11:49-50).

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward. (Matthew 26:59-60).

So the fate of Jesus was decided even without evidence of Him committing any crime. No wonder when Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin, the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward. (Matthew 26:59-60). The two witnesses claimed that, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ”‭ (Matthew 26:61). This accusation was not enough to condemn Jesus. Infact, when Jesus made this statement “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days”,  the temple He had spoken of was his body (John 2:19, 21). Jesus did not reply to them for their accusations. Then the high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”‭ (Matthew 26:63). Jesus’ reply to the question of His identity was this: “You have said so. But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:64).

‭At this, the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.” (Matthew 26:65). At that instant, the Sanhedrin decided the fate of Jesus: “He is worthy of death”.‭ (Matthew 26:66). Jesus wasn’t given the opportunity to defend Himself.  He had no lawyer, neither was He allowed to explain why He called Himself the Son of God. The trial was over. What was needed was the approval of the Roman authorities to crucify Jesus. In just one meeting,  the highest legislative body of the Jews decided the fate of the Son of God. In their ignorance,  they fulfilled prophecy and became the accusers of their own Saviour. In our study of the suffering servant, we identified that the suffering of the servant wasn’t accidental. ‭Isaiah 53:10 makes us understand that “it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.”

Before the Sanhedrin, the Son of God fulfilled prophecy. His condemnation became the vindication for those who believe. Yet, the Sanhedrin thought they were crushing a rebel, they were condemning someone with the potential to share in their glory. They had no idea that their verdict aligned prophecy and brought to fulfillment the wiĺ of God. Jesus was condemned and crucified. But, death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him, the Roman soldiers could not watch Him. On the third day, death, the grave, Hades, and all powers and principalities bowed as the King of Glory made a triumphant reentry into the world not just as the Son of Mary but as the Son of God who brought redemption. Our past, present and future were secured by One Man’s sacrifice on the cross. Hallelujah!

The Last Supper

Special meal times with family and friends are important events that leave indelible marks in the hearts of attendees. Depending on the occasion,  meal time could also be a moment to consider important things, appreciate some people and if possible make certain commitments for the coming days, weeks, months or even years. Personally,  I appreciate the opportunity to be part of Christmas or Easter meal time with family and friends. It is an opportunity to share the love of God with each other. The first ever Easter celebration began with a meal as well. Jesus, being aware that His time was near, planned a perfect family supper with His disciples. Obviously, that was not the first time Jesus had a meal with His disciples but this was quite significant because it was their last supper together before Jesus was arrested, trialed and subsequently crucified.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”‭ (Matthew 26:26-29)

Jesus had the plans for the supper all laid out. When His disciples asked for the plans for the Passover, Jesus replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ” (‭Matthew 26:18). At His words, the disciples went ahead and prepared the supper. Several significant events happened at the supper. Jesus washed the feets of His disciples, He predicted Judas betrayal, He instituted the Holy Communion and He also predicted Peter’s denial. Let’s focus on the Holy Communion and how it began. From Matthew’s account, “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”‭ (Matthew 26:26-29).

At the meal, Jesus took the bread, He informed His disciples that the bread is His body. A few hours after the meal, Jesus was arrested and His body was afflicted with pain and agony. He was literally broken by extreme pain and suffering. Jesus knowing this beforehand alluded to the bread as His body that was about to be broken and wounded. According to history, Jesus’ body was badly affected by all the beatings from the Roman soldiers. His skin was disfigured beyond human likeness. Even His face was not spared as a crown of thorns was set upon His head. While on the cross, the soldiers pierced His sides until blood and water gushed out. Indeed, Jesus’ body was broken for us.

Also, Jesus referred to the cup they shared at the meal as His blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus’ blood was shared from the crown of His head to the sole of His feet. His head, face, body (front and back), side, feets, hands, and heart all bleed profusely because of all the suffering Jesus was made to go through. The blood of Jesus was so significant and important in the ultimate plan of God. It is by the blood of Jesus that we have forgiveness of sins. The blood was so powerful that as soon as it touched the ground, things began happening in the spiritual realm. The physical environment and the spiritual environment could not hold on to the blood. The earth shook, the temple was impacted as the curtains separating the holy of holies from the holy place were torn into two. In the spiritual realm, Jesus’ blood atoned for the sins of all humanity from Adam until the end of age. The sinless blood of Jesus wiped away the ordinances of sins against those who come to Him. Like a permanent cleanser, the blood did not leave any trace of our iniquities. Infact, those who have been chained by the power of sin and death in Hades were not left out. They heard the message of the gospel. ‭

Colossians 2:15 states that ‬Jesus having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. The Last Supper of Jesus was not just one of the meal times, it was an important occasion that revealed deep truths about the saving work of Jesus. It is important that we partake in this Holy Communion here on earth and also with Jesus in His Father’s kingdom. If there are any barriers that prevent you from participating in the Holy Communion, pray about it. If the barrier demands an action from you, like getting water baptized or moving away from a sinful lifestyle, be intentional about it. In this Holy week, be reminded of the power in partaking in the Holy Communion.

Are you a Judas Iscariot?

A few years ago, I pondered over the betrayer and how his own lifestyle permitted him to be used by the devil. The betrayer in this context represents Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples appointed by Jesus Christ. Many of us hate Judas Iscariot with a passion for what he did. Given the fact that Judas Iscariot was bold enough to betray his own Lord, master, teacher and friend, it is understandable that we consider him a villian. Unfortunately, many so-called believers are photocopies of the Judas mentality. They go to church on Sundays and on weekdays but they always struggle with evil and sin. In the previous post on the Betrayer, I mentioned that the fact that we go to church always does not make us immune to evil. We need to understand that Judas listened to all the life-changing messages of Jesus. He saw many of the miracles including raising the dead back to life but he still betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Judas was sent and given authority to heal the sick and cast out demons. Judas Iscariot reported together with the rest of the disciples how Satan was subdued by their ministry (see Matthew 10; Mark 6).

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. ‭(Matthew 26:14-16)

Judas Iscariot wasn’t a stranger in the ministry of Jesus. In the previous post, I mentioned that he was one of the twelve disciples Jesus prayerfully chose (Luke 6:12-13). Remember, Jesus had spent all night praying on the mountain and after the prayer, He appointed the twelve. The Son of God spent all night praying to choose his apostles and He chose Judas Iscariot as one. Was Jesus not aware that Judas Iscariot would betray Him? Jesus knew the hearts of all men and did not make a mistake in choosing Judas Iscariot.  I also indicated in the post that the betrayer joined the ministry and for three and half years with Jesus, He also impacted lives, propagated the good news and was given authority over impure spirits (Matthew 10; Mark 6). However, Judas still went ahead and plotted with the religious leaders to deliver to them Jesus Christ. In Matthew 26:14-16, we find out that “one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.” ‭(Matthew 26:14-16). Wasn’t Judas aware that his master knew everything? How did Judas feel after he returned to the group as if nothing had happened?

Many believers have a Judas Iscariot mentality. Our way of life is a betrayal to the kingdom of God. Like Judas, although we know the power of God, we still go ahead and betray Jesus each day with our sinfulness. It is like daily taking 30 pieces of silver to sell our Lord to the accusers. We might be so much involved in ministry and like Judas, we might even hold prominent positions at our local churches. Yet, outside the corridors of the church, we are different people. We act differently, we flow with the world and no one can see a difference between us and the unbelieving people. In the post on the Betrayer, I mentioned specific lifestyles of Judas and how these allowed him to be a vessel of the devil.
A thief (John 12:3-6)
He didn’t love the poor (John 12;6)
He was greedy. He secretly went to the high priest to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10)
He didn’t love his Lord. He was looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:16)
This lifestyle allowed Satan to enter him (John 13:27) and before the other disciples could discover his plot, Jesus had already been betrayed.

If we are not intentional about character conformation to that of Christ, we are likely to be betrayer of Jesus. As Hebrews 6:6 states, when people taste of the goodness of the word of God and of the coming age and fall away into sin, in their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace. After all the encounters Judas Iscariot had with Jesus, He went ahead and betrayed Jesus for just 30 pieces of silver. Judas Iscariot didn’t have the opportunity to repent for his sins. He committed suicide even before Jesus was crucified. After the resurrection of Jesus, the Apostles replaced him with Matthias (Acts 1:25). He lost his place on earth and he also lost his place in the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:4). As we enter into the holy week, sit back and ponder over these things: Are you demonstrating characteristics of Judas Iscariot in the body of Christ? Is your lifestyle betraying our Lord again? Can you be trusted to defend your faith before the “religious leaders” and not give up?

Jesus is Lord!

Declarations are very important in many places in the world. At marriage ceremonies, couples make declarations of love and of commitment to one another. The official for the marriage makes declarations to confirm the couple as a husband and a wife. At the ‬law courts, declarations are made to convict or to free people. In political meetings, declarations are made to justify a party’s stand. During swearing in of leaders of any office, declarations are made to confer on them the authorities assigned to the office they have been appointed or voted for. As if these examples are not enough, on a daily basis, we make declarations over our lives and destinies. We say things that have an effect on our lives even though we sometimes do not take our own words seriously. Words are powerful and any idle word we speak will be judged. In Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus said, “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgement for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (‭Romans 10:9)

Our walk with Jesus also begins with a declaration. This declaration is very important because it shows our commitment to the finished work of Christ. In Romans 10:9, we are told that “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It continues to say that, “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (‭Romans 10:10). ‬Jesus is seen as a historical person in many places of the world. Some consider Him as a prophet, others see Him as a rebel, others perceive Him as one of the renowned men of old and yet others see Him a man who did amazing miracles on earth. For these groups of people,  the personality of Jesus has nothing to do with God’s divinity. In their hearts, Jesus was nothing more than a man who did exploits and changed the course of history. However, these understandings of the person of Jesus are flawed. For believers, we believe in the deity and the humanity of Jesus. Our belief begins with our confession, and this confession is what actually propels our salvation.

What is our confession? Before becoming ‘born again’ or accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we confess His Lordship and it is through our declaration that we profess our faith and are saved. So, just as others profess their commitment through different types of declarations, we also declare that “Jesus is Lord” and as we declare,  our hearts align to this truth by believing that God raised Him from the dead. This declaration is not just based on head knowledge but the understanding that by declaring this, we automatically make known our stand before the world: we are for Christ! We are aligned with Christ, we are members of Christ’s army, we are believers. Jesus is Lord is not just a cliché, it is a powerful reality that wrecked the powers of darkness and redeemed the fallen man back to God. Jesus is Lord is not a historical dogma, it is the fact! Those who couldn’t accept this fact during the days of Jesus sought for ways to get rid of Jesus. Little did they know that Jesus’ Lordship was the one that transcends the earth spheres. In plotting the death of Jesus, they fulfilled God’s plan of salvation for all humanity. And through Jesus, our broken bridge was restored. Jesus is the Lord of our lives. He is the One through whom our sins have been paid.

He is the Resurrection and the life

One of the profound miracles in the New Testament is the resurrection of Lazarus. The brother of Martha and Mary was sick and a message was sent to Jesus concerning him. However, Jesus delayed until Lazarus died before deciding to return to Bethany,  the home of Lazarus,  Martha and Mary. Imagine the grief and disappointment Martha and Mary faced when Jesus did not show up and their brother died. The sisters believed in Jesus, they had encountered Him preach, they have testimonies of Him healing the sick, they knew that the presence of Jesus was enough to stop their brother from dying. Yet, Jesus did not show up. Jesus Himself knew what He was about to do. He wasn’t in a hurry to go to Bethany. When Jesus finally decides to go to Bethany, He knew that Lazarus was already dead. Yet, He said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”‭‭ (John 11:11). When the disciples were concerned about how Jesus would risk His life to wake up a sleeping man, Jesus told them in plain language: “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” (‭‭John 11:14-15).

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die (John 11:25)

By the time Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” (John 11:21-22). Her sister Mary said the same: When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (‭‭John 11:32). In responding to Martha, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”‭‭ (John 11:25-26). Martha and her sister Mary believed in Jesus but they did not fully grasp the notion of the resurrection and the life until they experienced it. When the Jews gathered with Martha and Mary saw Jesus, they wondered why Jesus couldn’t prevent Lazarus from dying. Afterall, they had heard many miracles performed by Jesus. But, before they left the tomb site, both the sisters of Lazarus and the Jews encountered a strange miracle. After spending four days in the tomb, with the possibility of odour, Lazarus came out alive by the beckoning of Jesus.

This miracle was profound. It triggered both admiration and hatred for Jesus. The sisters would have pondered over the statement of Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25). Although Lazarus was restored back to life, Jesus in calling Himself the resurrection and the life referred to a more profound truth. He had the power to give life to the dead. This life is higher than just waking them from the dead. Lazarus died again after Jesus called him forth. However, Jesus was talking about the kind of life after death that transcended returning to life in this mortal body but living forever in the state of immortality. It is the life that allows believers to live after death in a state of eternal joy and bliss. This great avenue became possible after Jesus Himself defeated the power of death and became the first to resurrect from the dead. Through the finished work of Christ,  we have hope beyond this life. We know that after our time on earth is done, we have the opportunity to spend an eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ. A life of glory, honour and eternal joy. A permanent place of eternal peace where all our worries and pains on earth would be far forgotten. Yes, there is life after this life and that life is found in Jesus Christ.

The Suffering Servant: Meditations for Easter (Free e-book)

Within the profound depths of Isaiah’s prophetic prophecies is a tragic story that transcends time and echoes through the halls of history—the story of the suffering servant. Throughout Isaiah 52 and 53, we meet a character whose representation evokes both awe and disbelief, and whose suffering reveals the very core of divine redemption. For millennia, the identity of this suffering servant has been a subject of fervent debate, particularly within Jewish communities where interpretations diverge, and discussions persist. Yet, for Christians, the revelation is unequivocal—the suffering servant finds his ultimate fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ.

The Suffering servant: Meditations for Easter

As we read through Isaiah 52 and 53, we are drawn into the depths of this profound prophecy, uncovering the mystery of the suffering servant and witnessing the convergence of divine providence and human weakness. It is an experience that takes us to the foot of the cross, where the servant’s pain meets God’s unlimited love. Let’s join Dr. Mary Agronah on a journey to discover the immense significance of the suffering servant, to find traces of his suffering in the corridors of history, and to see the transformational power of his redemptive love. Through the lens of Isaiah’s prophesy, we are asked to ponder the mystery of divine suffering and accept the deep truth that redemption occurs in the midst of anguish.

This minibook is a compilation of different blogs written on The Suffering Servant.

Download your free copy below:

The suffering Servant-Ebook_240320_050449Download

God’s love

Throughout the pages of the Old and New Testaments, we encounter the different ways the people chosen by God messed up, forsook God, disappointed God, broke their covenant with God, among many other bad things. Sometimes, it is appropriate to consider the Israelites as stiff-necked people who failed at every angle in their relationship with God. The question is, why did God continue to show them love, favour, care and compassion even in the midst of all their sinfulness? We can fully understand this when we spend time understanding the love of God. For us as humans, we find it difficult to tolerate those who take us for granted and constantly disregard us. We break friendships, we disconnect ties and we walk away when we feel that our generosity is taken as our weakness. However, God’s terms are different.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

After the fall of man, humanity constantly moved farther away from God through our thoughts and deeds. We dwindled down towards sin and death, and it seemed like all hope was lost. Our relationship with God was affected and the only way to reconnect back to Him was to offer sacrifices that temporarily cleanse our sins. God is holy and though He loves the sinner, He does not tolerate sin. Therefore, animal blood became the way to get His attention. However, the blood of animals couldn’t permanently make us holy. We needed a more permanent solution. This solution seemed unrealistic to humanity but God had already put things in place before the foundation of the world. He loved humanity so much that before He placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, God already had a plan. No wonder in our sinfulness, He was still ready to make His plan work for our redemption. This great love is captured in Romans 5:8, Paul writes that, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Easter is a season to ponder on the love of God. The great love that made God send His only begotten Son to die for our sins. Unfortunately, most children in the West will grow up believing that Easter is about bunnies, empty chocolate covered eggs, and the funfair created by the business side of Easter. We need to let our children know the real reason behind the season. It is love, so great, so mighty, so amazing, so divine that the earth shook in response. We need to tell it on the mountains, in the valleys, on the highways,  on the appian ways, and everywhere. God’s love has changed the course of history. His divine mercy has vindicated us. We are no more slaves to sin and fear. God’s love has translated us to become children of God. The best part is, we were loved even when we were sinners. Rejoice and be glad. Grace has paid our ransom.

There is a Redeemer!

One of the many ways in which a person accused of a heavy debt could still walk freely is to have the debt paid. However, if such a person is unable to pay their debt, it is likely that they will suffer the consequences of their actions. Imagine if a person convicted of several years in prison is given two options: pay your debt and go freely, or spend years in jail to work and pay your debt. At that moment, the person’s destiny relies on one or the other option. If a good friend suddenly shows up and agrees to clear the debt of the accused, the judge will have to release the convicted person after all the payment is done. This friend has redeemed the accused person from spending years in jail. The relief of being free from the grips of the law and the freedom to start love all again is quite relieving. A redeemer is someone who redeems (compensate for the fault) a person or something. In the Bible, Jesus Christ is referred to as the Redeemer. His death and resurrection rescued us from the power of sin, death and temptation.

I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.‭‭ (Job 19:25)

One of the stories in the Bible that has never ceased to amaze me is the story of Job. The book of Job begins with a profile of Job, a man living in the land of Uz. We see how Job was diligent in his ways, worship and even made atonement for his children. Then the setting changes to heaven where the sons of God came to present themselves. In that meeting,  Satan also went to present himself (Job 1:6). God was the first to ask Satan about Job. Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” (‭‭Job 1:8). This conversation and a series of others led to Job’s predicament. The Lord allowed Satan to attack Job and the result of this was the loss of everything Job had including his children. This was a difficult moment for Job because his own wife, being tired of everything, told Job to curse God and die. Job stood his ground even when all his friends accused him of sinning against God. In Job 19:25, Job made a prophetic declaration: “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.”‭‭

Job knew that his state was temporary and that he had a redeemer who would intercede for him. In making this statement,  Job prophetically points ahead to Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Job was ultimately vindicated and his wealth was restored. The Lord blessed him with ten children, more honourable and beautiful. As we ponder about Job’s redemption, it should lead us to consider what Christ has done for us. Like the convicted person in our first paragraph, we already stood condemned. We were candidates of destruction but by the finished work of Christ, our destination was changed. We moved from being hell bound to candidates of heaven. We have been redeemed. The price has already been paid for our redemption. Jesus our redeemer has paid our ransom. Glory be to God!

The suffering servant (Part 8): His suffering was the will of God

The joy of most parents is to see their children excel in life and become needful in the society. Very few parents desire that their children suffer and go through extreme and excessive pain. For some parents even seeing their children leave the house to boarding institutions, work in a new city, join the army, leave to their marital homes etc. could be a hard thing for them to grasp. Our desire is to be protective, caring and show our deepest love for children sometimes clouds us so much that any decision our children make with a potential to harm them is strongly opposed. Thus, on the average, the majority of parents will strongly oppose any form of action that has the potential to hurt or bring pain to their children. God the Father’s only begotten Son was Jesus Christ. When humanity fell into sin, the only way back to God was through sacrifice and atonement. The price God paid for our redemption was the life of His only begotten Son. Imagine the atrocities that were meted out on God’s Son. Jesus being fully aware that whatever He had to experience was so that humanity would be redeemed never protested nor opposed the Father’s will.

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.‭‭ (Isaiah 53:10)

As we continue our discussion on the suffering servant, we need to understand why the servant went through all that was described in the Messianic prophecy. According to Isaiah 53:10, “it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.‭‭” The suffering of this servant was not coincidental nor was it an accidental suffering. It was the will of the Lord to “crush him and cause him to suffer.” And in so doing, “the Lord makes his life an offering for sin.” Ultimately, the offspring of the Lord will be seen and the days of the servant will be prolonged because the will of God will prosper. Thus, the servant’s ultimate mission was to satisfy the Lord’s will. These prophetic words came to pass in the life, ministry and death of Jesus Christ. John 3 :16 summarizes this: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The crucifixion of Jesus was a tough experience considering the fact that the people Jesus came to save didn’t make his death an easy peasy journey. He was beaten, ridiculed and ultimately crucified. Yet, His death was God’s will for restoration. Jesus did not just pay the price, He Himself was the price. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has brought to God many other brothers and sisters including me and you. The family of God has expanded because the death of Jesus has brought many more people to the saving knowledge of God. The price has already been paid,  let’s go out there and bring in more brothers and sisters. There is more room for more people. Everyone is welcome!