Jesus rose and is alive

THE EDITOR: The book of Matthew records an interesting episode where in one of the critical interactions Jesus had with his disciples, six months before his crucifixion, he asked an all-important question “who do men say that I am?” The disciples indicated that some people said that he was Elijah, others said that he was John the Baptiser, some said that he was Jeremiah while others said that he was one of the prophets: All Great men. Jesus then followed up with another question, this time trying to discern the personal convictions of his disciples “Who do you say that I am?” It was here that Peter declared, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Peter’s answer and discovery earned him a divine commendation and a prominent position in the emerging movement and incipient church. Furthermore this first public confession of the Messiahship of Christ reassured Jesus that at least one member of his inner circle understood who he was.

Today this question is still the most profound one that confronts Christendom and the world and the answer may well provide the context for a meaningful discourse on anything concerning Christ, even the merits of the film The Passion of The Christ. The violence and the indignity of the Cross were only one side of the picture. In fact, from a psychosomatic point of view, it may be true to say that after a while Jesus was partially benumbed to the physical pain, as his body’s own chemical response mechanism anaesthetised him. The real pain was at the level of the soul and spirit and this was caused by the intensity of the unseen satanic onslaught and the burden of the divine mandate to rescue mankind by “paying the ultimate penalty for the sins of the world.” When Christ yelled, “My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?” it was not play-acting. Human minds can never comprehend the “darkness” of these moments.

One writer claims that Christ entered the portals of hell. Hence comparing the mere physical brutality of the crucifixion of Jesus to other forms and instances of violence suffered by other human beings and martyrs is, in a fundamental sense, comparing oranges with apples: They are not the same. There are some things that are difficult to explain to the secular mind or the spiritually uninitiated. In fact the Apostle Paul agonised over this difficulty and was forced to admit that the “message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to those who are being saved it is the power of God.” At the risk of sounding foolish, Christians still need to be voices in the wilderness declaring their distinctive beliefs that save souls. In so far as Christianity is concerned some of the core beliefs, which are accepted by faith, are simple, yet profound and perhaps some of the minor tributaries of ‘‘truths’’ found in Jesus films may well lead to the Living Water and the Ultimate Truth. What are some of these core beliefs that lend meaning to the experience of the Cross?

Jesus is God the Son and not merely the son of God. The description “Son of God/Son of Man” is today depreciated and reinterpreted in our modern language to mean the “child” of God. In this way it makes Jesus out to be purely human and “equal” to Adam’s prot?g?es. Although there is some truth to this interpretation this is only partially correct. In fact if Jesus was claiming to be the child of God this would not have angered the Jews and led to his eventual crucifixion. The Jews understood Jesus to be saying that he was God the Son. It is either Jesus was who he said he was or he was an imposter and a fraud, par excellence. There is no middle ground here. Jesus’ death was necessary and unique. It represented the ultimate ransom (infinite sin offering) paid for the freeing and saving of man from demonic enslavement. It provided an open door to Paradise Regained and an access to eternal life in exchange for eternal damnation. ‘‘With his stripes we are healed.’’

Jesus rose again, is alive and is enthroned and his resurrection assures us of a new dispensation in which death and sin will be no more. His tomb is empty. It is only Christ who can lay down his life and pick it up again. The Cross may appear to be a defeat but in the spiritual realm it was the most glorious victory. It pleased God to bruise Him (Christ) and when Christ “looked at the travail of his soul” he was satisfied, because looking down through the ages he would see millions of new believers, from every nation, culture and class, added to his Kingdom of Grace and confessing that he is the son of the Living God. In that sense the crucifixion was well worth it and that is the Good News. If this is the message gleaned from The Passion of The Christ then, happy viewing.

BOXIL CHARLES
Tacarigua