The death of Jesus Christ

By Pastor (Dr.) Elisha Olusheye

Dear Reader,
Good Friday: Tomorrow is“Good Friday”, which marks the day on which our Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, the Lord of glory, was crucified. This day marks officially the end of Christians’ annual Lenten season, but certainly not the end of praying and fasting to request for God’s special favours from time to time. But did Jesus Christ really die on the cross? If so, why did He die? Why do Christians regard the annual Remembrance Day of that cruel bloody day as “Good Friday”? And what is the significance of it to all Christians and non-Christians alike? Please come with me as we search the holy Scriptures for answers to these very crucial issues.

2. Prophecy of Christ’s Death: In many prophecies of the holy Bible we find decisive evidence for the death of Christ on the cross. Zechariah prophesied that He (Christ) would be sold for thirty pieces of silver and that with this sum they would buy a potter’s field (Zech. 11:13). In Zechariah 12:10, we find this prophecy, “They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”

David prophesied in Psalm 22 that Christ would be tortured and crucified. In Psalm 22:18 there is a prophecy that says, “They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.”

In Isaiah 53:3-7 we read, (3) “He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. (4) Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. (5) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. (6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (7) He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.”

Christ’s predictions of His death are clear and cannot be denied. The gospels record His last days on earth, including the time that He committed His spirit into His Father’s hands at death.

About Himself He said, “The Son of Man will be handed over to the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days, he will rise.” (Mark 9:31). He also said, “The Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified” (Matt. 26:2). He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and be killed, and after three days rise again (Mark 8:31). “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes on Him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14, 15).

3. Proof of Christ’s death: Evidence of the crucifixion of Christ is also found in the testimony of the apostles of Christ. Peter declared to the Jews, “Jesus of Nazareth was … handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge, and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.”(Acts 2:23). John wrote, “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from every sin.”(I John 1:7).

The amazing miracles that occurred at His death testify to the significance of that event.
The records of history give further evidence of Christ’s death: (1) The pagan historian, Tacitus, wrote about the crucifixion and suffering of Christ in the year 55 A.D. (2) Josephus, a Jew, recorded the event of Christ’s crucifixion. (3) The Jewish Talmud witnessed to the fact of His death. In an edition published in 1943, on page 42, we find this sentence: “Jesus was crucified a day before the Passover.”

Dear reader, in the light of such evidence we cannot but accept the gospel and believe that Christ was crucified. He shed His blood willingly because He loved us and wished to purify us from our sins. For this reason He endured all manner of pain and unbearable torment. Thanks be to the Lord, who, by His death and resurrection has defeated Satan and conquered death and hell.

Those who deny Christ’s crucifixion, death and resurrection are following speculations and fancies. History provides a stronger argument, because it contains the testimony of eyewitnesses to Christ’s life and voluntary death as an atonement for sin.

Therefore, let us set aside unreasonable doubts concerning the historical fact of Christ’s death and trust Him, because He alone is able to cleanse and wash us from our sins. He who was born of God’s Spirit has purchased for us a mighty pardon through His death.

4. Why did Jesus die? Christ died on the cross at Calvary for one purpose only: to redeem and cleanse all people from sin and to reconcile them with God. He was able to do so because he was full of love and holy throughout his entire life. Thus, Christ was worthy to carry away the sin of the world. John the Baptist says of Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29).

5. What is your choice? Two alternatives, two destinations: Repent from your sins, then believe and accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour and secure Heaven; or reject Him and risk everlasting Hell fire! May His precious blood heal all your diseases in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The joy of God’s people (1)

By Pastor S.S.Jemigbon

Freedom comes through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. He conquered death so that we may live forever more.

So this is a season of joy for the people of God. His resurrection has brought us into salvation of God. We are more than conquerors. He has reconciled us back into the Sonship of God.

People of God should be glad and joyful for the salvation of their hearts. There is no other joy apart from the joy of salvation which we know. Jesus is our source of joy. Those who accept Christ as Saviour are called the people of God. They have given their lives completely to Him.

They did not hide anything in their lives from Christ. The joy of the people of God is the joy of salvation; the greatest miracle is the miracle of salvation. A blind man whose eyesight is restored does not have complete joy for there are lots of infirmities for human beings. This is so because of the flesh but when you receive Jesus Christ into your life as Saviour who saved you from the power and authority of Satan, He would give you His own joy. Because Christ lives in you, there is no ailment that can prevail over you.

It is the joy of Christ in believers’ hearts that makes them joyful. Job had that joy and said ‘let Satan destroy my flesh and body, but I am going to see my Lord’ – Job 19:26. He was on dunghill, he did not lose faith, he said he was going to see the Lord. ‘Christ in me the hope of glory’, said Paul (Col. 1:27).

What makes the people of God rejoice is supernatural joy. Points that make people of God joyous. Past sins are forgiven. With Christ’s death and resurrection, our work of salvation has been perfected. We rejoice and have joy because our sins are forgiven, we would not be punished for our sins again – Zeph. 3 : 15 “The Lord has taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel even the Lord, is in the midst of thee, thou shalt not see evil any more”. This is the joy of God’s people, redemption and living without sin. Our sins have been crucified with Jesus Christ – Psalm 32:1 “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven; whose sin is covered.”

Joy comes to us because our enemy has been defeated – Zeph. 3:15. Having taken away our sins, He defeated our enemy. Our enemies have been cast away; we will no longer see them again.