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| Pastor Gbenga Aluko |
Text: Mark 16:1-9
· * Agonised about His death
· * Betrayed with a kiss
· * Crucified with thieves
· * His grave was sealed and guarded.
· * Derivatives of His resurrection
Burdened about His imminent death.
The death and resurrection of Jesus wasn’t accidental or impromptu 1 Pt.1:19-20,Rev.13:8, yet He was agonised about His sacrificial death, for He saw the ridicule the suffering and the inglorious death that our salvation had to cost Him. He was totally God and man, He had feelings and fears and this had an impact on Him 1 Tim.2:5.
He was in deep agony and He turned to God in prayer for He was agonised. Mark 14:33ff.When we feel troubled, burdened, agonised, with situations beyond our knowledge/capacity or both happens to us what is our reaction. His word says come to me all ye who labour and are heavy laden I will give you rest Matt.11:28. Go to Jesus in prayers.
Betrayed with a kiss
Betrayal is not a new concept, the holy bible has some records of betrayal which outlines that this show of shame underscoring human fallibility, and the spiteful tendencies of adamic nature has a long history and can be exhibited by anyone who is not circumcised in the heart irrespective of location, placement and some other times titles. For a brief view:
Joseph was betrayed by His brothers Gen.37:1ff
Uriah was betrayed by Kind David 2 Sam 11:5ff
David was betrayed by Absalom 2 Sam 15:7-9
Samson by delilah Judges 16:4ff
Jesus by Judas Mark 14:10ff
The betrayal of Jesus by Judas with a kiss is one of its kind and the repercussion is also special as Jesus already pronounced woe and stated that it is better if such individual had never been born.Matt.26:24.
How are we betraying this same Jesus today? Choosing earthly pleasure over and above His standards, word and ways, prioritising earthly desires and approaches over the path of the cross, undermining His name and power. Jesus is still saying woe to unrepentant betrayal don’t be part of them.
Crucified with thieves
Crucifixion was a capital sentence and largely used for condemned criminals by the Romans on the conquered people not their own citizens (discrimination and ill-treatment of people didn’t start today), this type of demeaning death for our Lord and Saviour just because of your sins and mine what a saviour, Thank you Jesus.
More demeaning was His companion at death although as prophesied numbered with the transgressors Isaiah 53:12,company of thieves nd rogues for the blameless son of God,whaoh Mark 15:27ff, with them joining in the chorus of degrading comments about Jesus Mark 15:32,Matt.27:44.One of them however retraced his step back to the saviour and was saved, as long as we are still alive it doesn’t matter how far we have gone Jesus can still and is infact willing to save you, DON’T DIE WITHOUT HIM PLEASE judgement is the next reality. Heb.9:27
His grave was sealed and guarded.
The enemies of the cross didn’t just raise baseless accusations against Him including but not limited to inciting a mob chanting that He be crucified and barabbas be released Mark15:6-15, they also pulled together all resources for him not to rise Matt.27:62ff.
The devil and His cohorts failed woefully about Jesus Matt.28:2-4 he will fail over us in Jesus mighty name. JESUS IS RISEN HALLELUYAH Amen.
Are you flying? The devil wants you down, Are down he wants you out, are you out he doesn’t want you to come back and also wants your memory, impact, imprints deleted forever be alert he is like a thief John 10:10 steal, kill and destroy.1 Pt.5:8.
Derivatives of His resurrection
His cross and resurrection brought invaluable and countless benefits to the human race, lets just enumerate very few of the benefits of His resurrection to the human race:
l Perfected the work of our Salvation Heb.9:12-15
l Forgiveness of Sins Matt.26:28
l Justification Rom.5:9
l Reconciliation Rom.5:10
l The biggest confusion and victory over the devil Heb 2:14,1 Cor.8-9,Rev.12:11
We serve a living God, our Jesus is alive forevermore! Celebrate it’s the anniversary of His resurrection.