God’s Anointed One Was Dead
On this Saturday before Easter, I am faced with dwindling funds and an inadequate supply from Socialist Security, rental income, and Steve’s share of utility costs. It is easy for me to imagine what the students of Jesus felt in the shadow of a Roman cross that killed their hopes and dreams.
For three years, these chosen students had followed this amazing rabbi. They gradually realized He fulfilled God’s promises to send
- the Crusher of the Snake
- the Prophet like Moses to deliver His people from bondage
- the Son of Man raised up by God
- the Restorer of the Kingdom.
This reached its peak in Simon’s revelation in front of the utterly pagan mouth of the Gates of Hades, outside Caesarea Philippi. Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon replied, “You are God’s Anointed King. You are the Son of the living God.” The Master went on to say that He would be assembling His ruling body of citizens and that places like the one behind Him would not hold out against them.
Works of Jesus Arrested
These apprentices had seen, even helped with, His works of healing the sick, raising the dead, and casting out demons. It was now all for nothing. All His teachings about the Kingdom being near at hand were silenced. There would no longer be easy provision of food for thousands nor contributions from such people as Joanna, the wife of Herod’s household manager.
Small wonder that Simon made the decision to go fishing and they all joined him. The Master had called them away from their day jobs of
- fishing
- tax collecting
- preparing the uprising against Roman oppression
- carpentry(?)
- architecture(?).
With Him dead and buried, what could they do but return to Simon’s former work. As Lamentations 4:20 says, “The Lord’s anointed, our very life breath, was caught in their traps. We thought that under his shadow we would live among the nations.”
With God’s Anointed One dead, all their hopes and dreams were dead with Him.
Forgotten Promises
In the shadow of a Roman cross, this band of brothers forgot the promises contained in their scriptures.
Genesis 3:15 He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
Deuteronomy 18:15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.
Psalm 80:17-19
Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.
Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
Is 53:11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied.
Psalm 6:20 Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand.
Even on that cross, Jesus called out the first lines of the victorious Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Finally, after His return to life, Jesus walked with two men on the road to the village of Emmaus. “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)
Aftermath of the Return to Life
The morning after the Day of Rest, women went to the tomb where they had laid the broken body of Jesus. They found the tomb empty and one or two heavenly messengers announced His return to life. Hearing the news, Simon and John ran and also found the tomb deserted. Then Jesus Himself appeared among His students and to five hundred other people.
After forty days of showing Himself alive, Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18) He commanded them to spread His Kingdom throughout every nation then ascended to Heaven to sit at God’s right hand.
After another ten days, at the feast of Pentecost, King Jesus poured out His Spirit on all His followers. Peter declared Him dead but returned to life. He also said this poured-out Spirit was available to all of God’s people,
The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:39)
Luke’s book of Acts chronicled these followers taking up the work that Jesus had started. They overthrew the Roman empire and spread throughout the whole world. That work continues today. We still have the promise that “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:7)
Questions
Do your hopes and dreams look dead? Are you facing utter defeat? If you are following God’s plans and purpose, “Look up, your salvation is drawing close.”
Shalom
