He's Risen!

A few weeks ago my youth group had a movie night and we watched Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. For those of you who haven't heard of it, it's based on the first book in the book series by C.S Lewis called The Chronicles of Narnia. Different characters in the movie (and books) represent things from the Bible. Aslan is a lion who represents Jesus.

In the movie (spoilers ahead) then there's a boy named Edmund (who represents us) who betrayed his family and according to Narnia's laws since he was a traitor he belonged to the White White (who represents Satan) and was to be killed. But Aslan gave up his life for Edmund. In that scene Aslan walked through the jeering crowd, he was bound in ropes, he was mocked and humiliated, and he was killed.

Aslan gave up his life for one person. He suffered all of that for one person.

That movie is, of course, fictional. But what happened represents what Jesus did for us.

Jesus was chained. He was beaten. He was mocked and spat upon.  He stood before a jeering crowd. He was humiliated. He was crucified.

He went through all of that for each and every person. If each person was the only person on earth He would have done no less.

Isaiah 53 is a prophecy of Jesus' coming and describes Him as the Suffering Servant.

Verses 4-5... "Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities...."

Verse 12... "Therefore I will give him the many as a portion, and he will receive the mighty as spoil, because he willingly submitted to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels."

Something that just blows my mind is the fact that Jesus stepped down from His heavenly throne into the world of mere humans. The fact that God took on flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14) is just... wow.

He did it because of His great love for us.

But the story doesn't end there! Jesus rose again! (Luke 24)

It was His death that gives us life, but it was His resurrection that gives us hope.

Without Jesus shedding His blood for us, we would have no redemption, no way to Jesus. (Hebrews 9:22, 27, 28) His resurrection, however, showed that He really is the Son of God. It would have been impossible any other way.

When I think about what Jesus did for me I'm just amazed. I can't even begin to comprehend that kind of love. We're the ones who deserve that humiliation, that pain, that death. Yet He loved us so much He took our place.

This next Sunday is going to be Easter Sunday, when we celebrate His resurrection. Let's rejoice for Jesus is alive in heaven and seated at the Father's right hand!

Psalm 35:9, "Then I will rejoice in the Lord; I will delight in His deliverance."

Luke 19:37-40, "Now He came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: The King who comes in the name of the Lord is the Blessed One. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven! Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." He answered, "I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!""

~~

On a different note, next week (if all goes as planned) I'll be starting a three part series, backtracking some to the events before, during, and after Jesus' death and resurrection. I'll be looking at a different person in each one.

Let's talk...

What's something that stands out to you about Jesus taking our place? What's your favorite verse about God's love? Have you ever seen Narnia? If so, how did that scene where Aslan was killed make you feel? Any other thoughts?