A Point to Ponder

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1Cor. 15:21-22)

Just recently as I was doing a word search through the NT in preparation for my article on the questions about the names of God. I came across the acclamation of Jesus on the Cross as recorded in both Matt. 27:45 and Mark 15:34, where Jesus cried out, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” meaning my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? We have all read these words and those passages relating to the Lord’s crucifixion many, many times. It was not until later in the day, in the evening that when reflecting on these words again, that I had an awakening or revelation concerning these words that shed a whole different light on that cry of Jesus and showed me the significance of these words, these words that show the utter desolation and despair that Jesus felt.

Jesus was both Son of God and Son of Man, meaning that He was truly God and truly man, and we know that He willingly but reluctantly chose the way of the Cross, that there was some reluctance is shown during Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prays, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matt. 26:39)

Now two distinct factors are in play here, one is that man is mortal while God is Everlasting, thus immortal, meaning that man can and will die, whereas God can never die! This brings me back to Jesus on the Cross when He cries, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” At that moment in time, Jesus, hanging on the Cross was the Son of Man, the God-Spirit having left Him for a time, not to return until the third day. If the God-Spirit had stayed with Jesus the whole time His death could not have been complete, since God does not and cannot die. Also, as Paul explained in 1Cor. 15:21, since death (sin) came by man, restitution also had to come by man. Jesus as the Son of Man was sinless, thus the perfect Lamb without spot or blemish to be offered as the supreme sacrifice for fallen man!

Whether you commemorate Passover or celebrate Easter is at this point immaterial, but what I have said in this short essay are points worth pondering.