Jesus’ death and resurrection are the most staggering events in human history!

Many prophecies are recorded throughout the Old Testament concerning Jesus’ crucifixtion, death and resurrection. I would like to mention just a few:

Messiah’s hands and feet would be pierced:  Psalm 22:16, “They have pierced my hands and my feet.” Soldiers would gamble for His garments: Psalm 22:18, “They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” In Psalm 49:15 we read another prophecy: “But God will redeem my life from the grave; He will surely take me to Himself.” Psalm 16:10 reads, “You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will You let your Holy One see decay.” It was customary that when they wanted death to come quickly to a crucified man, that they would break his legs. Because Jesus was already dead, His legs were not broken. This is the fulfilment of a prochecy in Psalm 34:20, where David said: “He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.” In Psalm 69:21 we read, “They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.”

In Matthew 27:32-56 we read about Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross. Many of the above mentioned prophecies were fulfilled in this passage of scripture.

Darkness came over all the land from the sixth to the ninth hour and Jesus called out: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” Immediately one of the bystanders ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick and offered it to Jesus to drink. When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit.  

Something very significant took place next: At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. The centurion and soldiers who were guarding Him were terrified and exclaimed: “Surely he was the Son of God.”

According to Matthew 28, Mary Magdelene and the other Mary went to the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week. There was a violent earthquake because an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled back the stone and sat on it. The guards were so afraid of him, that they became like dead men.  The angel said to the women that Jesus had risen from the dead and would meet them in Galilee. They hurried away from the tomb, filled with joy and ran to tell the disciples, when they met Jesus. They fell down and worshiped him. 

While the women were on their way, some of the guards reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. The elders and priests devised a plan: they gave the guards a large sum of money and told them to say that the disciples had stolen the body during the night. The guards accepted the money and spread the rumor among the Jews.

Peter and John ran to the tomb, only to find that it was empty. What they saw, made them believe!! They saw the strips of linen lying there and the burial cloth that had been around His head neatly folded up. And they believed! The folded burial cloth indicated, according to Jewish tradition: “I’m coming back!” Halleluja!

When they came down over the hillside, what do you think they did? Keep quiet? I know what you would have said: “He is risen. Jesus is risen!” Within hours the whole city of Jerusalem was stirred to its foundations. Thousands of Jews from all over the world were in Jerusalem at that time to make their sacrifices. They saw the dead body of Christ hanging on the cross and everyone was talking about it. The story of Jesus filled the air. Thousands visited that hillside and went back to tell the story. The empty tomb, the strips of linen and the neatly folded burial cloth, preached and told the story that Jesus had risen from the dead. This went on day after day.

 After forty days, hundreds of people followed Him to the Mount of Olives and saw Him ascend into heaven.

Then fifty days later, another staggering event took place. In Acts 2:1-6 we read, “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.  There were Jews from every nation and when they heard this sound, a crowd came together, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.” This was the climax that rocked Jerusalem and staggered the Jewish nation. 

Then Peter, filled with boldness, addressed the Sanhedrin, firstly accusing the Roman Governor as having murdered the Son of God. Secondly, he indicated the Sanhedrin and the Senate and priesthood as murderers of the Son of God. He spoke for about 25 to 30 minutes and three thousand Jews broke with Judaism and accepted Jesus Christ of Nazareth as the Son of God and they were baptized.

That was the most dramatic thing ever to happen in history! All Caiaphas, the High Priest, had to do, was to interrupt Peter and say: “Gentlemen, we know where the body of Jesus is. It has never been raised.” But Caiaphas never said a word. He knew that Jesus had risen from the dead. The Sanhedrin could have wiped out the whole thing in one day, but they dared not move, until finally two thousand more people and a large company of priesthood had accepted Jesus. 

Then Sanhedrin arrested them and forbade them to speak in the Name of Jesus. That Name has dynamite in it. That Name will raise the dead, heal the sick, cast out devils.  John 14:13 reads: “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.”

Dear friends, the next staggering event is around the corner! Once again there will be total chaos on earth amongst the people who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Messiah. The first event being the flood that wiped out all humanity, the second, Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection and next, The Coming of the Son of Man to gather His bride! Halleluja! What a momentous event to prepare for! 

Colossians 4:2: “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, I declare that your Name is power, your Name is healing, your Name is Life! Help me to devote myself to prayer and to be alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. Amen.