This Article: (5 Pages)
- 1. About the Crucifixion
- 2. An early Serious upset of the... leaders in Judea
- 3. Stones to kill
- 4. The hour of Darkness
- 5. Where the love was shown
5) Where the love was shown
The love is what happened afterwards because of that submission. His body was not left in the grave and saw no corruption. By this it was proven for all time that the evil in this world have no real power.
And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he has killed has power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (Luke 12:4-5)
Listen to the detail of where love was,
Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (John 10:17-18)
This power 'to lay down' must be understood as a command to submit, as when it came to it, help was sought in prayer to submit to those who would take his life (Luke 22:44). He submitted to his religious rulers' unjust intentions and it must be noted that this is in accord with the law (Exodus 22:28). He could have chosen to run away as he was given that choice by a commandment, but as he was mortal he would have died some day. His virtue was in choosing to let these people kill him as his Father had allowed. He knew if he did this then he would have power to live again. Because as the son he had access to the Father's power he had proven many times that they could not kill him, unless it was allowed by God and was also as he chose. Jesus (Iesous Yesou, Y'shua) said he was given a commandment. Notice that commandment is linked to the one and only expression of love,
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. (John 15:12-14)
He didn't recklessly lay down his life, he submitted to a situation created by hatred. And he didn't say he was the only one to show such great love, it was rather an example for his followers as he is commanding that his followers would also submit as he commanded them, which many did subsequently, including John himself. Would you lay down your life for Christ? Would you speak out like he did, for him, when you know speaking out will lead to your death?
The leaders in Jerusalem, the chief priests, leading Pharisees and scribes all exercised their will and thought they had power, but their power was how far God allowed them to go. Those leaders all lived their lives out in a world where their action didn't bring the success they'd hoped for, as so many afterwards saw this man alive. The Bible says over 500 saw him alive (1 Cor. 15:6), and then these rulers died in an era of increasing trouble. The next day they will know about will be a resurrection to face condemnation.
The hatred is a record of authentic human experience. We know what happens to those in any situation who stand up to speak truth against a corrupt authority. There are other witness to the corruption of the leaders in Jerusalem of that era and to the resort to oppression by doctrine and violence. The situation was played out again when certain who called themselves 'Christians' seized political power and then sought to persecute to death any who spoke against them. It is played out again and again even in the modern world where those speaking against dictators and their entourage have faced unjust imprisonment and death. The difference is that while some may die for speaking out to no gain, those who die as servants of Christ will not be held forever by the grave.
All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matt 24:8-14)
For now if we also stand up and speak the truth we will be hated also. If we wish to understand how the world really is, we must see the crucifixion for what it really was: the hour of the power of darkness.
There is a submission required of us also, to identify with that resurrection to a new life.
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over him. (Romans 6:4-9)
Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Rev. 20:6)
For more in depth on this see The Greatest Love
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