Truth and Deception in the Trial of Identity
- Everybody had a faulty notion of power (i.e. Hierarchial rule), versus Jesus view (Sacrifical, 'The last shall be first' etc)
- Jesus's claim to be a King challenged the power of the day : (1) political power of Rome, (2) religious power of Pharisees and (3) self centred power of the people. Jesus's admittance of who he was, was the evidence required to call him guilty, as only Rome had the legal ability to establish a King. There was a system of deception to maintain the status quo of power.
- Crucifixion was for terrorist, to distort their identity and to dishonour them.
- Ignorance was a conscious decision of the people. Ignorance avert's the heart from accessing the truth. 'Envy is the opposite of a coin called Vanity' - it comes from pride, in ourselves and our traditions. What of the world system do we allow to enter our heart? That which eliminates Jesus's authority and jurisdiction in our lives? Ignorance is turning away consciously - so the antithesus is turn fully towards Jesus.
- We all stand guilty participants in sending him to death - the cross was done by us. However our joining in his death, means that we can join with him in new life. It was not only our sin that sent him, but it was a Father's love.
The Authority of the Cross and the Guarantee of Resurrection
Acts 2:22-28 [NIV]
22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.
- The cross without the resurrection is authority without accomplishment. The resurrection without the cross is accomplishment without guarantee.
- The immediate relevancy of the resurrection turns obstacles into opportunities, devastation into restoration and certain death into resurrection life. When we are the prison of impossibility, there is hope in light of the resurrection. The resurrection did not erase the word 'hopeless', it just erased it's application.
- Though hope abides, if it is not applied it is of no affect. Hope gets us access into the account, and prayer enables to draw out of that account.
1 Peter 1:3 [NIV] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
- Resurrection is our hope - death is no longer something we fear.
- Resurrection is hope that God will balance the scales of justice
