The Day God Died … is God dead or alive?
THE DAY GOD DIED
It began like any other Friday, but by days end this Friday would mark the beginning of an event that would change history forever. It was the DAY GOD DIED!
Did Jesus Really Die?
Liberal theologians question it. Atheists deny it. Hollywood makes movies about it, sinners scoff at it, but God’s Word makes it abundantly clear Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, died on the cross at Calvary on that dark Friday afternoon 2000 years ago. “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8) “When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.” (John 19:30 NLT) It was the DAY GOD DIED! (click here for other historical evidence of the death of Jesus)
Why Did Jesus Die?
Why did Jesus have to die? Jesus said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”. His death was part of His purpose. Christ was the sacrificial lamb provided by God to pay the ultimate price for the sin of all mankind. It was required for the redemption of man, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. (1Peter 3:18 NASB) His death provided the salvation of many. It all happened according to God’s plan: Herod and Pilate did only what God “had decided beforehand should happen” (Acts 4:28) His death was necessary for our salvation. Jesus died so you and I could live. Without the death of Jesus on the cross for our sins, we could not have eternal life. This is why Jesus had to die.
Jesus Gave His Life
Understand no one took the life of Jesus, not even the weight of the world’s guilt and sin could kill the son of God. Jesus would still be on that Cross today unless He had humbled Himself to death. Jesus chose to lay His life down. The Lamb of God offered Himself willingly, that is why Isaiah prophesied He wouldn’t argue or justify himself before his killers. “He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.” (Is. 53:7NLT). Jesus death was part of God’s master plan of redemption. The day God died was GOOD Friday.
Jesus Death – Defeat or Victory
For many the death of Jesus looked like defeat. Even many of His followers thought it was it all over. Satan and his demonic followers broke into a spontaneous roar of celebration thinking they had won. Was it all over? Not quite! What was about to happen next would become Satan’s Worst Nightmare.
Satan Thought He had Won
All of Satan’s demons were celebrating as they watched Jesus die on the cross. Satan was reveling in what he thought was a victory. BUT… Little did he know that what he was celebrating was all part of God’s master plan. Jesus had suffered scourging, bore our sickness, took our pains, and carried our sins on that Cross becoming sin for each of us. (Isaiah 53:4-5 YLT); “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Co. 5:21 NKJV) Jesus took no shortcuts. He carried out every detail of the Fathers plan. The most important part of God’s plan and the biggest surprise was yet to come.
Satan’s Worse Nightmare
The next day while many mourned the death of Jesus most in Jerusalem celebrated, because it was a special Passover Sabbath. Nobody enjoyed it more than Satan as he continued to gloat over his apparent triumph. As that day ended and the next morning came things were about to turn. Satan’s worst nightmare was about to unfold before him and all his demonic followers.
Resurrection Sunday
Early on that Sunday morning Father God looked down from Heaven and declared: “Enough! The demands for justice have been satisfied. Arise!” In that moment resurrection power quickened Jesus’ tortured body and instantly He arose from the grave. Satan began to tremble and shake as reality began to unfold. Colossians 2:15 puts it this way, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He (Jesus) made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. “
Jesus is Alive
Jesus is alive! He took the keys of death, hell and the grave from Satan. (Revelation 1:18) He took captivity captive (Ephesians 4:8) and preached to the spirits in prison (1 Peter 3:19) Jesus had defeated Satan, death, hell, and the grave. Jesus had won the victory. No grave could hold Him –
HE’S ALIVE – Satan’s worst nightmare, but your Greatest News! Because He lives you too now can live! (John 14:19) You too now can have victory in your life. Jesus died on the cross, but 3 days later the most important event in all of history happened – the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Yes Jesus (God) died, but He arose from the dead and today He is alive!