John the Baptist had said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
It had been God’s divine plan from before the creation of the heavens and the earth for Jesus to become the sacrificial lamb for the sins of man. And now the Lamb of God was dead. He had been sacrificed on the cross. Jesus had died from crucifixion on a Roman cross.
Everything seemed lost to the followers of Jesus. The despair was overwhelming. The disciples were scattered and afraid the Romans would be coming for them. They had hidden away from sight. Their Messiah was dead.
Jesus suffered unimaginable pain and agony and had died bloody and alone. Only His mother and a small group of women stood with John at the foot of the cross to watch Him die.
They had taken His body down and placed Him in the new tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Anointing the body with oils, they wrapped His body quickly as time was drawing near to the coming Sabbath.
Were they so terribly wrong about Jesus? Was He just a man? Was He really the Lamb of God as John the Baptist had said?
But wait…Sunday is coming!
God’s story doesn’t end with the death of Jesus. Jesus changed everything. He rose from the dead three days after His death. He died, was buried, He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven after appearing to multitudes of people. His death did not mark the end of God’s story but the continuation of His divine plan for bringing His presence back to earth. His presence would reside within individuals who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. Salvation had come.
God’s presence would reside with man now and in the new heaven and new earth.
1 Corinthians 6: 19 “do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”
His Holy Spirit would indwell His children to empower them for the purpose of sharing the news about His Son.
Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Jesus is coming again.
For now, His Holy Spirit resides in us but there will come a time when Jesus will return accompanied by the saints and will establish His Kingdom on earth. He will be King over all. There will be a new Jerusalem, a new heaven and a new earth.
Revelation 21:1-4 “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21: 22-24 “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.”
God will reside with His people and we will reside with Him forever just as He planned before the foundation of the world was laid in place.
Jesus is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. He will return soon. Are you ready? Will you be counted among God’s children? The choice is yours.
Sandra Hardage