As we continue our preparation for Easter, you might also be interested in our online devotional "Journey Toward the Cross." It traces the steps of Jesus during the two weeks leading up to His crucifixion and resurrection, and is a great supplement to your daily Bible reading this Easter season.
Meanwhile, back to your questions from Sunday:
What did Jesus experience during the 3 days in the grave? Why is it considered 3 days when [Friday to Sunday] is only 48 hours?
The first time I did the math around Easter, it didn't make sense to me either. No matter how you count the hours from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, it is hard to come up with 3 days. However, the Jewish people thought of "days" differently than we do. For them, a new day began at sundown, and any part of a day was considered a "day." Jesus was hanging on the cross by 9am on Friday morning (John 19:18), and died around 3pm (Mark 15:34-37). It was important that His body be in the grave by sundown because sundown brought a new day (Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54), and it was against Jewish Law to have a body hanging on a cross for more than one day (Deuteronomy 21:23). For the Jews, the second day began at sundown on Friday, and ended with sundown on Saturday when the third day began. Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning (John 20:1), the third day.
As far as what Jesus did while He was in the grave, the Scriptures don't give us a ton of information. Some theologians believe 1 Peter 3:18-20 indicates that Jesus appeared before evil spirits for the purpose of proclaiming His victory over them after His death. Others believe that passage refers to it being the same Spirit who raised Jesus as proclaimed judgment on evil in Noah's day. It is a difficult passage to interpret. But, whichever view you take, it is absolutely clear that Jesus did not suffer for sin at any point after the cross. When He cried out "It is finished," it was finished. He also did not go to hell to offer salvation to the dead (Hebrews 9:27). Jesus told the thief on the cross that He anticipated being in "paradise" when He died (Luke 23:43).
If Jesus hadn't died, what would have happened? Would God just have destroyed man?
It is hard to say what would have happened if Jesus hadn't died, since Jesus death on behalf of mankind was a part of God's plan "before the foundation of the world" (1 Peter 1:20). We do know that it would have been impossible for mankind to do anything to satisfy God's wrath against sin apart from Jesus and that our sin would not be paid for or forgiven, so God in His holiness would have had to judge us. In fact, this almost happened in Moses' day(Exodus 32:9-10), but God decided to be gracious. Ultimately, the Bible doesn't tell us what would have happened if salvation had not been a part of God's plan from the beginning; but thank God it was!
Does God need us? If not, why did He create us?
Paul answers this question (at least in part) in his sermon on Mars Hill. He makes it clear that God does not need us for anything (Acts 17:24-25). God is perfect. For him to have a need would make Him, by definition, less than perfect. But Paul goes on to say that God created us so that we would seek Him and find Him (Acts 17:27). Think of it this way: the most loving, gracious thing an infinitely perfect God could do is reveal Himself to someone else. Paul indicates that we were created so that God could demonstrate Himself to us, and also demonstrate Himself to the rest of the world through us. The fact that God does not need us makes it all the more staggering that He chose to create us, loves us, and cares for us to the point He sent His Son as a sacrifice for us. If that doesn't drive you to worship, I don't know what to tell you!
Will God still count it as victory [over sin] if many of his previously faithful Christians turn away during these trying times? And if those Christians return, will He take them back?
It is certainly hard to feel as though God has been victorious over evil when we turn on the news at night. Sometimes, as this question implies, it's even difficult to feel as though God has been victorious when we look around at our Christian friends! However, it is important to remember that God sees things in a much bigger picture than we are able to experience. And even though battles still rage, the war has been won. The King has been victorious, even if some of His soldiers defect.
Peter is a great example of a person who turned away during a trying time (Luke 22:54-62), but who was reinstated by Jesus (John 21:15-19). God is continually and constantly gracious, even when we do not deserve it. When we confess our sin to Him, He promises to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Why did Jesus have to die? And was sin the only reason?
Jesus died that He might bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18). In His instructions to Adam just after Adam was created, God established death (separation from God) as the punishment for sin (Genesis 2:17). In order to remain just and honest, God cannot change the rules. When we sin, we earn death (Romans 6:23), and someone has to pay that penalty in order for God's wrath against sin to be satisfied. Jesus Christ died so that we would not have to.
Was sin the only reason? Simply put, yes. Apart from sin, no one would owe the death penalty.
How can we follow God's enduring example to suffer righteously in our daily lives?
The writer of Hebrews gives some help in this area. He wrote to a group of people who were suffering extraordinary persecution and trial, and in Hebrews 12:1-2 gave them three pieces of advice as they attempted to follow Christ's example (and the example of others who have gone before us): (1) Get rid of the things that hold us back from following Christ, (2) Run with perseverance, and (3) Focus our eyes on Jesus Christ. The Christian life is not easy, but there is encouragement available as we run the race together.
We're hoping to finish up the questions from Sunday tomorrow morning so you can begin turning your focus to this Sunday. Questions on the docket for tomorrow include:
- Did Jesus come to save all men? Or does God elect those who receive salvation?
- How do modern Jews deal with sin?
- My daughter thinks God isn't important and has no place in her life. Can you give an answer? She is almost 18.
- If our sin is forgiven, does God still see it? I thought God could not stand sin.
- If physical death is the penalty of sin and the penalty is paid, why do we still die?
- If Jesus was separated from God by taking on our sins, was God separated from Himself?
- How can we have hope?
See you then!
No comments:
Post a Comment