Jesus of Nazareth on the night He was betrayed spoke these
words to His disciples.
John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life
for his friends."
These words were spoken with Divine authority, by the Son of
God. This love is not romantic love, or love of family. This is sacrificial
love; when a person is prepared to die in order to save their friends. There is
no greater human love than this.
Jesus of Nazareth, the Lord Jesus Christ, was preparing His
disciples for His coming crucifixion and death at Calvary. History records that
Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews was crucified on a Roman cross; that He
died and was buried. However, that is not the end of the story. The Scriptures
show us that He rose from the dead on the third day and forty days later
ascended into Heaven. In those forty days He was seen by and spoke with not only the
remaining disciples; but also with hundreds of His followers.
In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 the apostle Paul is writing to
the Corinthian believers in Christ.
"(3)
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ
died for our sins according to the Scriptures, (4) and that He was buried, and
that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, (5) and that He
was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. (6) After that He was seen by over five
hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but
some have fallen asleep. (7) After that He was seen by James, then by all the
apostles. (8) Then last of all He was seen by me also, as one born out of due
time."
What is the significance of what we have been considering? It
is an historical fact that Jesus' disciples were saved from physical death, and
only Jesus was taken, tortured, put through a mock trial and led away to be
crucified.
However, there is a matter of much greater importance attached to
these incidents. Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews, the Messiah did not
only die for the sake of His disciples; but for all mankind. Christ's
crucifixion, burial, resurrection and ascension to Heaven were predetermined by
God.
Let's have another look at 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4. What
do we learn here?
1. Christ died
for our sins according to the Scriptures.
2. He was
buried and rose again according to the Scriptures.
Am I saying to you that Jesus Christ, the Son of God died for
your sins?
Yes, I am emphatically saying this to you! Not only will you have
your sins forgiven; you will be given eternal life, here and now, if you will
truly believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and that He can give you
eternal life.
John 10:28, 29, "(28) And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (29) My Father who has given
them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My
Father's hand."
There is no greater
love than the love of Jesus Christ for His own blood bought people!
Do you know the power of His love in your life?
Jon Peasey
Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com
[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless
otherwise noted]
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