Easter

Notes from Bible Study with Pastor Chuck Missler

- Crucifixion is an achievement, not a tragedy.

The death of Jesus bought eternal salvation for all of us. The wages of sin is death, and Jesus' death paid for those wages. "Paid in full" or "It is done" as Christ said with His last breath on the cross.

- Crucifixion is a deliberate separation of the church from the biblical text

That is, the death of Jesus fulfilled the Law. God has said, if we break any one of the Laws, we have sinned, and the wages of sin is death. However, because Jesus' death atoned for our sins of the past, present, and the future, Jesus is above the Law, allowing those who believe in Him to be able to enter Heaven through Him.

This is not to say the Law is not important. It is. But the point is not be so religious about it. That is, not to follow the Law above everything else. But that the point is to follow Jesus. To love God as our first and foremost important mission, and in the process, we will therefore fulfill the Law through our faith in Jesus.

- Jesus was crucified on the day of Passover which was very likely to be a Wednesday because of the three day period. Here, we should bear in mind that the Gospels spoke of "sabbaths," pointing out that there are more than one sabbath between Sundays. Here is the timeline of events surrounding Jesus' resurrection:

Friday. Jesus was in Bethany

Saturday: The triumphant entry of Jesus Christ

Sunday: The fig tree is cursed

Monday: Conspirators counsel

Tuesday: Night the last supper

Tuesday sundown - Wednesday sundown: Passover

Wednesday afternoon: Jesus was crucified

Thursday: Feast of unleavened bread

Sunday: Discovery of empty tomb

- Jesus was in control of everything, from beginning to end. Jesus knew His mission was to die on the cross and to atone for our sins.

Matthew 26: Jesus predicts His crucifixion

Throughout the Gospels, we see that Jesus forced the hand of His conspirators, and the result is Jesus forcing the crucifixion to happen on Passover AND in public (as opposed to secretly stoning Him on a non-holiday as planned by His conspirators).

John 13-18

Thessalian 4

1 Corinthian 15

These passages alludes to the Rapture, which is tightly tied to Jesus' resurrection.

Interesting facts surrounding these events:

- False witnesses violated all the laws but did not want to risk their eligibility to take part in Passover. That is, these people were religious for the sake of being religious as opposed to sincerely loving God and placing their trust in God.

- High priest was suppose to judge Jesus not Caiaphas.

- Jesus went through 6 trials: Jesus had 3 Jewish trials, but the Jews cannot execute capital punishment, and thus, Jesus also had 3 Roman trials. All 6 trials were illegally administered:

* Self-incrimination was prohibited by law and yet that was how they indicted Jesus; that is, no prisoner can be convicted by his own evidence

* Bounding of prisoner before he was condemned was unlawful

* It was illegal for judges to take part in the arrest of the accused--yet, it was the judges who arranged it

* No legal trial could be conducted at night, yet Jesus' trials were held at night

* The arrest was done by a traitor, which was illegal

* While acquittal can be pronounced on the same day, any other verdict must be achieved by a majority vote on the next day, which certainly wasn't the case for Jesus

* The judge was suppose to see the interest of the accused to be protected--Jesus' rights certainly weren't protected

*  The accused is supposed to be assumed innocent until proven guilty by two witnesses, which did not happen in Jesus' case. The prisoner should then be released if he cannot be proven guilty, which also did not happen in Jesus' case. Furthermore, a guilty verdict against Jesus was reached without any solid evidence.

* The civil council lacked authority to condemn a man, and yet it condemned Jesus.

* It was illegal to conduct a court on a feast day, yet it was conducted in Jesus' case.

* The verdict must be pronounced in the temple, which it was not.

* The high priest cannot rend prisoner's garment, yet he rend Jesus'.

* Without the robe, the high priest could not judge. In Jesus' case, though the judge did have a robe, it was torn, and thats not good enough either.

- In Mark 15, we see that the people demanded Barabbas to be released and Jesus to be crucified.

One parallel can be drawn: We are Barabbas!

Barabbas was a convicted criminal, who has done very sinful deeds, certainly deserved the appropriate punishment. Jesus, on the other hand, was perfect and had committed no crime. However, Jesus took the place of the truly guilty and died in his place. Similarly, we are full of sin, and we deserve to be separated from God. However, Jesus died to atone for our sins on the cross--He died for us!--so that we can return to God's side.

- The resurrection is documented here:

Matthew 28

Mark 16

Luke 24

John 20-15

1 Corinthians 15

- After Jesus' resurrection, He appeared many times:

Luke 24

1 Corinthian 15

John 21

Paul in 1 Corinthian

Matthew

James

1 Corinthian 15

Acts 7, 9, 22

Revelation 1

- Significance of resurrection

It proves Jesus is God's son (John 10)

It verifies truth of the scripture (Psalm 110)

It assures our future resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4)

It proves future judgement (Acts 14)

It is the basis for Jesus' heavenly priesthood

It empowers Christian living (Romans 6)

It assures our future inheritance

- Prophesies fulfilled through Jesus' death

Jesus made a triumphant entry (Zechariah 9:9; Psalm 118)

Jesus was smitten like a shepherd (Zechariah 13)

Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver

Jesus was given vinegar and gull (Psalm 69)

They cast lots for his garments (Psalm 22:18)

Jesus' bones will not be broken

Jesus' side will be pierced (Zechariah; Psalm 22)

Jesus would die among malefactors (Isaiah 53)

Jesus' dying words were foretold (Psalm 22)

Jesus would be buried by a rich man (Isaiah 53)

Jesus would rise on the 3rd day (John; Genesis 22; Hebrews 11:19)

The resurrection would be followed by destruction of Jerusalem (Daniel; Luke 21)

1 Corinthians 15:12-19

Paul defines what the Gospel is for us. More importantly, Paul warns that we can believe in vain!

Jesus died. Jesus died fulfilling prophecies. Jesus died for our sins. Jesus was buried. And on the 3rd day, Jesus was risen from the dead. JESUS WAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD. HE IS ALIVE WITH US TODAY. This is an extremely important concept, as Paul said, "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins."

The only reason why we are able to return to God is because Jesus cleansed us of our sins. This is why there is only one way to God. And that only way is through Jesus Christ.