Polls

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.

Articles & Posts

THE MEMORIAL (bread & cup) AND THE CRUCIFIXION (Jesus’ last hours)

We would like to meditate on Jesus’ last hours, especially the Last Supper and Memorial, but also Gethsemane, His crucifixion and His resurrection.  We would like primarily to consider what it means to us, but also for the whole world of mankind.

LAST SUPPER:

John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God,  4 got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. 5 Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.  12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again,   He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14 “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.   15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. … 34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

We continue Jesus tradition of feet washing today when we…

  • visit and assist sick and infirmed brethren
  • encourage the discouraged
  • serve the ecclesia through ecclesia office and committee services
  • assist with food provisions, at conventions, at the hall and at camp
  • show an interest in and communicate with the children and young people
  • open our homes in hospitality to brethren

Matt 26:26,27 Jesus told his disciples that He was troubled in spirit and that one of them would betray Him.  It was now time for Him to be glorified and to return to the Father.  Peter said that he wanted to follow Jesus and would even be willing to lay down his life for Him.  Then Jesus kindly issued to Peter a stunning rebuke, “you will deny me three times before the rooster crows.”
Matt 26:26,27 – 26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you;

The sacred memorial symbols of the bread and the cup  show participation and appropriation…  our appropriation of the justification through Jesus ransom and our participation in consecration and sacrifice with Jesus.  Let’s now examine each symbol, starting first with the bread or the loaf.

 

BREAD / LOAF

APPROPRIATION

From the standpoint of appropriation, what is represented by the bread?

John 6:51:   I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.

The Lord’s unblemished flesh as a corresponding price for Adam’s condemned flesh, constituted the purchase price by which not only father Adam was redeemed, but also all his race which was in his loins at the time of his transgression.  The bread shows how we receive life or justification from Jesus ransom sacrifice.

 

PARTICIPATION

From the standpoint of participation, what is represented by the bread?

1 Cor 10:16, 17  The loaf which we break, is it not, a sharing together of the body of the Christ? Because ||one loaf, one body|| we |the many| are, for we, all, of the one loaf, partake. – Rotherham

From the standpoint of participation, we become a part of the loaf and share with Christ in his sacrifice at consecration.

The word “communion” has the thought in the Greek of sharing or common participation.

STRONG’S 2842: koinonia – ‘partnership, i.e. (literally) participation

THAYER’S – “fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation”

VINES – “partnership, fellowship”… the share which one has in anything, a participation, fellowship recognized and enjoyed; thus it is used of the common experiences and interests of Christian men, Acts 2:42; Gal 2:9”

This word “communion” is the same Greek word used in Phil 3:10 where Paul speaks of having a “fellowship” or common participation in Christ’s sufferings.

Phil 3:10 – the fellowship of His sufferings,  NKJV

 

PURGE OUT THE OLD LEAVEN

1 Cor 5:6-8  –  6 Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.   8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.  NKJV

Leaven represents sin.  The unleavened bread represents Christ’s sinless body.  Yet we also are part of the loaf, part of the body of Christ, hence the Apostle warns that “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.”  A little sin might accomplish a great fermentation in our midst.  So during this memorial season, let us do the proper house cleaning    and clear our minds of thoughts of anger, bitterness, lust, pride, envy, deception, jealousy, idolatry and all the works of the flesh.  In our fellowship among the body, let us not tolerate evil speaking and back biting or anything harmful to the Body, but instead let us encourage one another and build each other up in the Most Holy Faith.  Yes, let us “purge out the old leaven” because “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.”

 

CUP / BLOOD

In terms of Participation, what is represented by the cup?

PARTICIPATION

Matt 20:22 – Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?

Matt 26:39, 42;   And He went a little beyond {them,} and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”… He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”

Jn 18:11 – So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”

The cup represents the sacrifice and suffering of Jesus life and death.  When we consecrate our lives to the Lord, we too join in that sacrificial walk, as symbolized by the cup.  It shows our willingness to participate in suffering for righteousness sake.  The purpose of these sanctifying experiences is to develop us into merciful priests that can assist Jesus in spiritually healing and rehabilitating mankind in the kingdom.

This participation in sacrifice is also indicated in:

1 Cor 10:16 – The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?  KJV

As we recall, the word “communion” has the thought in the Greek of sharing or common participation.  Our drinking of the cup represents our participation with Christ in sacrifice.

 

APPROPRIATION

Drinking of the Cup shows the appropriating of the justification through the ransom

Rom 5:9 – having now been justified by His blood – NKJV

In the Hebrew Passover type, the blood of the Passover lamb pictures justification through the ransom.  This blood sprinkled on the doorposts and lintel typifies the antitypical deliverance of the Church of the firstborn from death during the Gospel Age.

 

APPROPRIATION AND PARTICIPATION

Both thoughts, participation and appropriation, are included in Luke 22.

Luke 22:20 – Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”  NKJV

Luke 22:29 – And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;  KJV

The word “appoint” is not accurate.  It is the same word mistranslated Testator in Hebrews 9:16 (Strongs 1303) and the real meaning of the word is “covenant sacrifice.”  That’s what we are; covenant sacrificers with Christ, who ratify the New Covenant.

Rotherham translates closer to the real meaning:

Luke 22:29  And, I, covenant (Strong’s 1303) unto you—as my Father hath covenanted (Strong’s 1303) unto me—a kingdom,  (Supported by Vine’s)

In other words as covenant sacrificers, ratifying the New Covenant, the body of Christ makes possible the Kingdom through the New Covenant arrangement.

This verse cannot mean we are under the New Covenant. That comparison does not work since Christ is not Under the New Covenant.  The point here is that just as Christ is the sacrifice that ratifies the New Covenant, so we also, who are a part of his body, share in that sacrifice that ratifies the New Covenant.

This concept is clarified in Hebrews 9 where this same word is used.

Hebrews 9:16, 17  –  16  for where a covenant is, the death of the covenant-victim (Strong’s 1303) to come in is necessary, 17  for a covenant over dead victims (Strong’s 1303) is stedfast, since it is no force at all when the covenant-victim liveth – Youngs Literal Translation      (see also Wilson’s Diaglott, Concordant Translation, Vincent Word Studies, Rotherham, Greeen’s Literal Translation, Modern King James Version, New World Translation, Garnier Translation & the Companion Bible)

Just as today a signature is needed to ratify or seal a contract, so in Old Testament times  Abraham and others used a blood sacrifice to ratify or seal a covenant.  Since the Cup represents sacrifice, our drinking of the cup demonstrates that our relationship to the New Covenant is that of sacrificers.  And since sacrifices ratify covenants, the Church’s sacrifice (as a part of Christ’s body) is what ratifies the New Covenant.

From the standpoint of Participation, we have seen that the cup represents the sacrifice of the body of Christ, which ratifies the New Covenant.

From the standpoint of Appropriation, both the bread and cup shows our receiving of justification from Jesus Ransom sacrifice.  Yet perhaps the cup shows, as well, something even grander.  Upon the faithful completion of our part of the sin offering sacrifice, will we not ultimately receive or appropriate to ourselves the divine nature?

John 5:26  For, just as, the Father, hath life, in himself [Divine Nature], in like manner, unto the Son also, hath he given, life, to have, in himself; [Divine Nature] – Rotherham

John 6:53  Jesus, therefore, said unto them—Verily, verily, I say unto you—Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, AND drink his blood, ye have not life within yourselves. [Divine Nature] – Rotherham

So upon the faithful participation in both the bread and the cup, the ultimate appropriation will be the reward of the divine nature.

Having reviewed the meaning of the memorial symbols, let us see what happened next in the upper room.

 

AFTER THE PASSOVER MEAL:

Jesus proceeded to comfort his disciples by telling them that in His Fathers house there are many mansions and that He was going to prepare a place for them.  He said that he is the way, the Truth and the Life and to know Him is to know the Father.  He promised that they would not be left as orphans, but that the father would send the Holy Spirit to guide them to Truth and understanding.

Jesus said,

John 14: 27 – “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

Jesus next discussed the disciples’ relationship with the Father.

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Many people believe that they can have a close relationship with God, without accepting Jesus as their Savior.  Yet Jesus is the only way to the Father.  No one can come to Father, except through the Son.

§  Jn 10:9 – “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved”

§  Eph 2:18 – “through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”

§  Acts 4:12 – “there is no other name… among men by which we must be saved.”

§  Rom 5:1-2 – “having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand”

 

VINE AND BRANCHES:

 

Jesus and his disciples left the upper room to go to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Their journey led past the golden gate of the Temple on which there was a large golden vine which Josephus describes. (R3544:1 203544 R2464:3 202464)

He gave his disciples the illustration of the vine and the branches to impress upon their minds the importance of the relationship with Jesus and God in our lives.

John 15:1,2 – 1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

Vinedresser = God (vs. 1)

Vine = Jesus (vs. 1 & 4), not the world.  He provides our sustenance and instruction.

Branches = followers of Jesus (vs. 2)

Fruit (vs. 5, 8-12) = fruits of the spirit which we are to develop (i.e. love, patience, kindness) Gal 5:22,23 & Matt 7:15-20.

Cutting off branches = God’s rejection for those who bear no fruit (vs. 2 & 6)

Pruning = Chastisements & experiences from God to help us grow. (Heb. 12:5-11)

Hebrew 12:5,6,10 – “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him;  6 For those whom the Lord loves, he disciplines… He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

 

JESUS COMMENTS ON THE WAY TO THE GARDEN

As Jesus and his disciples continued on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus continued to teach his disciples.

John 15:12 – 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  NKJV

John 15:19 – 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  NKJV

John 16:5-7 – “But now I go away to Him who sent Me… 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.  7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.  NKJV

 

GETHSEMANE:

Jesus and the disciples arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane.  He took Peter, James & John away from the others, then went a little further to pray.  (Matt 26:36-46; Mark 14:31-41)

Rep 3885:3 – “While with his disciples, he had sought to be cheerful; but now his thoughts turned inward upon himself and his relationship to the Father and outward upon the public shame, the contemptuous mockery and the public execution.”

The gospel accounts tell us that Jesus began to be “sorrowful,” “troubled” and “deeply distressed”.  Matt 26:37,38; Mark 14:33, 34

Luke 22:44 tells us “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Jesus prayed that the Father let his cup of suffering pass from Him, but only if it were the Father’s will.  What exactly was Jesus praying for?  Was he hoping that he would not have to suffer and die?

Luke 24:44-46 – Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”  45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.  46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,  NKJV  (see also Mark 10:33,24 & Matt 16:21)

Clearly Jesus understood from the scriptures what he had been teaching his disciples all along, that He had to suffer and die.

R3886:2 – it had pleased the Father to put his Son, the Redeemer, to the extremest of all tests, laying upon him the ignominy, the shame, of the cross (or torture stake) (or torture stake). Our Lord’s query was, Could he stand this? or would it be possible for the Father to deviate to that extent without interfering with the divine plan or the great work being accomplished? The necessary submission is indicated–“Not my will but thine be done.”

Jesus agony in Gethsemane is further explained in R5585.

R5585 “If Jesus had sinned and had come short in any way, it would have meant failure complete.  He would never have had a resurrection.  This was typified in the Jewish high priest when he passed under the veil with the blood. The high priest who had not followed every instruction of the Law in the offering of his sacrifices would have died under the veil.     This was what Jesus feared in Gethsemane, when “He offered up strong crying and tears unto Him who was able to save Him out of [Greek <ek>] death”–not to save Him from <dying,> but to save Him <out of> death by <resurrection.> And the record is that He was heard and was strengthened, comforted. (`Luke 22:39-45`; `Hebrews 5:7`.)  As soon as He had the Father’s assurance that He had not violated any conditions, and that He would not go into eternal death, He was content to suffer any other experience that might come to Him.”

Trusting in the Father’s supreme love and wisdom, Jesus was willing to accept the Father’s will, no matter what the cost to Him.

Jesus asked the disciples to “watch and pray.”  Yet in Jesus’ darkest hour, the disciples fell asleep.

If they had watched and prayed with Him, they might have stood stronger when tested and provided some comfort for Jesus.  “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

It was now too late to provide Jesus with any comfort or support.  Sometimes we too may be asleep on the job, when there is some important need of service for the Lord.  So we should pray to God for discipline, wisdom and energy to best direct our time and efforts.

Matt 26:47-50 – 47 … Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people.  48 Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” 49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.  50 And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

 

THE TRIAL OF JESUS:

So, a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came with lanterns, torches, and weapons.  At first they drew back in fear and fell to the ground (John 18:6-8).  But rather than using this as an opportunity to exit, Jesus simply told them to let the disciples leave. [John 18:9 – that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

NKJV]  So they arrested Jesus, bound Him and led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year.  (John 18:1-13)

John 18:19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.  21 “Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” 22 When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?”  23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” 24 So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

The chief priests and the whole counsel kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but the testimony was false and not consistent.   The high priest asked Jesus to respond to the testimony, but He remained silent.  The high priest was getting nowhere and desperate.

Mark 14:61 – Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?

In order to fulfill his mission, Jesus provided Caiaphas with what he wanted to hear.

Mark 14:62-64 – 62 And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” 63 Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 “You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.  65 Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in the face.

 

JESUS BROUGHT BEFORE PILOT

Early in the morning the chief priests and the whole Council delivered Jesus to Pilate, accusing Him harshly.  Pilate asked, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is as you say.”   But Jesus would not speak or answer any more questions.

Seeing that the chief priests envied Jesus and that He was innocent, Pilot tried to convince the people to release Him, but they chose instead to release Barabas, a murderer.  The religious rulers incited the people to shout, “Crucify Him!”  Pilot said, “Behold the Man” and  asked, “Why should we crucify Him?  What evil has He done?”

But the people yelled again to “Crucify Him!”  Pilot washed his hands of the matter.

Why did Jesus remain silent?  Why wouldn’t He defend Himself?

These questions are answered in Jesus remarks to Peter, instructing him to put his sword away and to not defend Him.

“…do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?  “How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”  Matt 26:53-54

Yes, Jesus had to remain silent.  He could not defend Himself.  For this was His mission; to suffer in order to provide the Sin-offering and to die in order provide the Ransom.  Without the Sin-offering, Jesus and the Church could not become the merciful priesthood, who would bless, guide and teach all mankind in the kingdom.  Without the Ransom, there would be not opportunity to resurrect and bless all mankind.

The Passover lamb was a suitable type of our Lord in that it was Innocent and defenseless, “as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Isa 53:7.

After having Jesus scourged, Pilot handed Him over to be crucified.

The soldiers to took Him away into the Praetorium where they dressed Him up in purple, placed a crown of thorns on His head

They kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him

and shouted at Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

and kneeling and bowing before Him and mocked Him.

Then they gave Jesus the cross (or torture stake) and led Him out to crucify Him.

Weakened and exhausted from the beatings and scourging, Jesus must have struggled under the weight and strain of carrying the cross (or torture stake).

A large crowd of people followed, and many of the women who loved Him were mourning and lamenting Him.

The Jews pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, to bear His cross (or torture stake).

 

THE CRUCIFIXTION

Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it

Perhaps He would not drink it because it’s purpose was to numb the pain (R3901:1) and He did not want to escape in any way this awful experience the Father had directed Him to bear. R3370:2; Jn 19:28-30; Matt 27:34 Psa 69:21); an experience which makes Him supremely sympathetic toward mankind’s sufferings.

[They nailed him to the cross (or torture stake).]

“Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.”  Heb 5:8

[… and lifted Him up on the cross (or torture stake)… ]

And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, Heb 5:9

being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.  Heb 5:10

So Jesus was nailed to the cross (or torture stake), lifted up and hung between two criminals.  [And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was numbered with transgressors.” Isa. 53:12]

The people, religious rulers and solders all mocked Him, saying:

“He saved others, let Him save Himself.”

“Let this Christ now come down from the cross (or torture stake), and we will believe in Him.”

“He says he is the son of God, so let God save Him.”

“You said you could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days.  Let’s see you save yourself.”

Even one of the criminals on the cross (or torture stake) next to Jesus ridiculed Him, but the other criminal rebuked the first saying, “we are being justly punished for our crimes, but this man has done nothing wrong.  He turned to Jesus saying, “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”  And on the cross (or torture stake), Jesus had compassion on this criminal and assured him that he would join Him in Paradise.

When Jesus then saw His mother, and John standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour John took her into his own household. Although Mary lost a son, Jesus provided a new son  to console her; one who was more like him than any other disciple; the closet match possible.

From the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land and about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”

Quoting from Psa 22:1, we think that Jesus cried these words, partly to point the disciples to His fulfillment of the Psa 22 prophecy concerning the manner of His death.  These words from the prophecy show that from man’s perspective; it appeared that God had forsaken Jesus.

Yet there is a sense in which God actually did forsake Jesus.  In Reprint R2317:1, Bro. Russell says, “An actual withdrawal of the Father’s favor and communion [was] a necessary part of the Lord’s suffering as a sin-bearer.  The penalty of Adam’s transgression was not only death, but additionally separation or alienation from God.”

[Psa 69:21 – “for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”]

In order to fulfill Psa 69:21, Jesus said, “I thirst.”  Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink.  But the others said, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.”

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, saying “It is Finished!  Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”

and breathed His last.

And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.

The centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

The veil of the temple being torn was symbolic of the fact that Jesus death opened up the Christian opportunity for the High Calling & Heavenly Priesthood. (R3371:2; Heb 10:19-21)

“Not from the bottom toward the top, as if it were the result of wear, but from the top to the bottom, indicating a manifestation of divine power.”  R3371:2.  “Implying the work was God’s.”  R2788:5.

Because the Sabbath was approaching the Jews asked Pilot to have the legs of the crucified broken and the bodies removed from the cross (or torture stake).   When the soldiers saw that Jesus was already dead, they, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.  This was in fulfillment of the scriptures which say that “NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.” Psa 34:20 And  “THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.” Zech 12:10; John 19:37

Bro. Russell said, “Before regenerating the world, God has arranged that first from the wound in Christ’s side, figuratively, an elect Church shall be formed to be his companion and joint-heir in his Kingdom – the second Eve.” R5141:5, 90:1

The blood and water pouring from Jesus side figurative show that the Church would partake of the sanctifying blood of sacrifice and also of the purifying water of Truth.

Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the council, who was secretly a disciple (for fear of the Jews), asked Pilot for Jesus body.  With the help of Nicodemus, they prepared Jesus body for burial and buried him in Joseph’s own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock.  He then rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.

The next day, the chief priests and Pharisees got permission from Pilot to set guards in front of the tomb, so that the disciples could not steal the body and claim Jesus was resurrected.

A severe earthquake occurred and an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.

 

JESUS’ RESURRECTION

After the Sabbath, on the third day after Jesus’ death, Mary Magdalene, the other Mary and Salome came to look at the grave.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”

And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.  The weeping and mourning disciples considered this news as nonsense and would not believe Jesus was raised from the dead.

Next Jesus appeared to two disciples walking on their way to Emmaus.  But he “appeared to them in a different form” Mark 16:2 and they did not recognize who he was.  Jesus explained how he fulfilled the words of Moses, the prophets & psalms, showing that Christ must suffer, die & rise the third day.  He taught the importance of preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins. Luke 24:44-47)

Finally, they recognized Him by his mannerisms.  Jesus was “known to them in the breaking of bread” Luke 24:35.

Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.

Jesus made many other faith confirming and instructive appearances to his disciples.

Sometimes He appeared in different forms and was difficult to recognize at first.

Jesus now has a spirit body, having given up His fleshly body as a ransom sacrifice.

Speaking of Jesus, 1 Pet 3:18 says,

1 Pet 3:18 being put to death in deed in flesh, But made alive in spirit Rotherham

1 Cor 15:42-45 So also is the resurrection of the dead… It is sown a natural body [death]; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [Jesus] was made a quickening spirit. (KJV)

Finally, Jesus gave them the great commission.  He said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them … teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Jesus shortly after ascended to the Father.

He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion – Eph 1:20,21

Find out more about the Memorial by clicking here.

Leave a Reply

You can use these HTML tags

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>