19 Apr How Can Jesus’ Crucifixion Be Good News?
This week, we are reflecting on the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross to save us from our sins, which we remember each year on Good Friday. To read the daily devos focused on Easter and the resurrection of Jesus based on Pastor Mark’s new book “Alive: 21 Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ”, click here. For a free PDF copy of Pastor Mark & Dr. Breshears’ Doctrine book, click here, and read chapter 8 about the cross.
Matthew 28:5-6 – But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come see the place where he lay.”
When someone tells us that they have good news to share, we expect them to tell us that they got married, are pregnant, earned a promotion at work, or got a clean bill of health from a doctor after a medical scare. Perhaps the last thing we’d expect to hear in the context of good news is to hear that someone who loved us was murdered. Among the scandals of the cross is the fact that Christians have called it their gospel, or Good News, and celebrate it every year on Good Friday.
How could this be good news? That Jesus, the only perfect man to live on this earth, was killed in the most excruciating way possible?
Because of what happened next.
After Jesus died on the cross, he was buried in a tomb that was covered by a stone and guarded by a Roman guard. Three days later, as Matthew 28:1 reports, “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb”.
When they arrived, they were shocked to see that Jesus was no longer in the tomb. Jesus had risen from the dead and stayed on earth 40 more days after His resurrection before ascending into Heaven, where He lives today (Acts 1:1-11). His death and resurrection accomplished what we couldn’t – that relationship with Him would be restored, despite our sin, and that we would have eternal life forever with Him once we die.
He died so we could live. That’s the Good News.
Do you believe that Jesus died and rose from death? What is the most compelling line of reasoning for your position?
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