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Introduction

The death of Christ Jesus shattered the hopes of His disciples. They had completely lost faith that their master would be raised back to life. This was the discussion some of His disciples were having when the resurrected Christ met them on their way to Emmaus. This paper discusses the significance of His death as outlined in the Holy Scriptures.

Concerning His Death and Resurrection

Jesus, after His resurrection,  appeared to two of His disciples on the way to Emmaus. They were speaking about the trending event that had taken place in Jerusalem-His death and resurrection. He wanted to be part of their conversation, so:

“.. he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done” (Luk 24:19-22).

The disciples believed that Jesus was to deliver Israel from the dominion of the foreign powers as detailed in the above discourse. But having forgotten their scriptures and the teachings of Christ, they thought that the end of their faith in the Messiah had come to an end as a result of His death. But Jesus took them through the scriptures again and explained to them that:

“These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me” (Luk 24:44).

Jesus, therefore, opened their understanding through the teaching of the Word of God, and by divine power, so that they might properly understand scriptures. He affirmed that His suffering, death, and resurrection are not new but they are events already recorded in the Holy Book (Luk 24:25-26).

The Purpose of His Resurrection

The core mandate of Christ on earth was to bring repentance and remissions of sins to the sinner. This was realized after His resurrection. Jesus intimates that for His suffering and resurrection, “..Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luk 24:47).

Repentance and remission of sins was key to the teaching of the Apostles. It is read that God raised Christ and made Him sit on His right hand as a Prince and a Savior in order to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to His people (Acts 5:31). Paul is very confident to write  that:

“..If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain” (Acts 15: 14), and that “..If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (Acts 15:17).

We are no longer sinners because of our faith in the death and resurrection of Christ. According to the Scriptures, if a sinner confesses Jesus Christ with his or her mouth, and believes in their hearts that God raised Him from the dead, he or she shall be saved (Rom 10:9). Therefore, the victory of Christ over death is our victory over sin and death. We access the grace of God to repent from our evil ways and Christ remits or forgives our sins.

It is the responsibility of a sinner to repent before he or she is declared righteous by God. Jesus gives a delegated authority to His holy and accredited Apostles to represent Him and remit people of their sins upon showing repentance from sins (Joh 20:23).

Conclusion

It is the resurrection of Christ and our faith in it that brings us repentance from dead works and forgiveness of sins. The mission of Jesus would have been incomplete if He had not been raised. If a person denies the resurrection of Christ, he or she has denied eternal life.

Prayer: Dear Lord God, may you increase my faith and help me to believe in the death and resurrection of your beloved Son. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. AMEN!

Introduction

This piece of writing briefly details the life of Christ from birth to His death. This does not seek to exhaust the topic but to highlight some key details about His birth and His name “Jesus of Nazareth”.

Prophesy about His Birth

“Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isa 7:14).

The prophecy is that the Christ shall be conceived and born by a virgin. It does not say by any young woman as the word sometimes suggests. Matthew is very emphatic about the virgin birth of Christ. He carefully quotes the above prophecy in the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, the twenty-third verse.

In fact, denying the virgin birth of Christ Jesus is a complete apostasy and a denial of the foundation of the Christian faith. This virgin birth of the Messiah is beyond human knowledge but it is possible for God to do it because He is the Omnipotent God and He makes the impossibilities possible.

The prophecy was fulfilled through the virgin, Mary (read Luk 1:26-31). Mary testified to the fact that she was a virgin. So, upon hearing the news, she questioned the Messenger of God: ” How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (Luk 1:34). Jesus was finally born in Bethlehem of Judea as prophesied by the prophet (Mat 2:1-6), that: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Mic 5:2).

Jesus to Egypt and back to Nazareth

The fear that the baby Jesus would be killed by Herod, the Lord God instructed Joseph and Mary to take him to Egypt until the appointed time (Mat 2:12-14). At the appointed time, that is the death of Herod, God asked them to return to Israel with the baby. They, therefore, returned to Galilee and dwelt in the city called Nazareth in order to fulfill scriptures (Mat 2:19-23). Nazareth was Joseph’s and Mary´s home town (Luk 1:26-27, Luk 2:4) and it was there where Jesus grew up (Luk 4:16). Thus, people, including demons, often called Him Jesus of Nazareth (Mat 27:71, Mar 1:24, Luk 18:37, Joh 18:5, among others). Jesus also addressed Himself to Paul by this name (Acts 22:8).

The Life of Christ Jesus

There were many things that Jesus did while He was still in the world. The discussions of His deeds are beyond the scope of this paper. However, it is important to mention Peter’s testimony of Christ when he spoke that Jesus of Nazareth, a man accredited by God by miracles, wonders, and signs as witnessed by them, was crucified and slain. But God raised Him up, having loosed the pains of death because it was impossible that death could hold Him captive (Acts 2;22-24).

It is worth mentioning: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38). His full mission on earth was realized through His death and resurrection. This shall be discussed in our next Newsletter.

Conclusion

Jesus was conceived and born by a virgin as prophesied by His Holy Prophet. A type of birth that forms the basis of our Christian faith. He was approved by God the Father with signs, wonders, and miracles. Jesus went about doing good to humanity. He was killed and buried but God raised Him up again, and He is still alive in our hearts and in Heaven.

Prayer: May everything the Lord has said He would do in your life be done according to the power of His might. In the name of Jesus Christ. AMEN!