EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH
Reflections on days of Holy Week
By Ernest Chun
For Jesus, going to Jerusalem meant going into the midst of his enemies. His disciples realized this. Yet Jesus set his face like a flint toward Jerusalem, and his sure death.
After Peter's definitive confession of Jesus as "the Christ, the son of the living God," Jesus began to predict his sufferings at the hands of the Jewish leaders, his death and his resurrection.
Peter protested, "Never, Lord. This shall never happen to you!"
Jesus, who had praised him at his great confession, rebuked him as having taken the side of Satan, opposed to the plan of God and the sacrifice of Jesus.
As Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, he twice repeated his prophecy of his suffering and specifically, death by crucifixion at the hands of the Romans. He again prophesied his resurrection.
On the day of Passover, Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice. The Jewish Sanhedrin wrongly convicted him of blasphemy. The Jewish people, at the prodding of their leaders, convinced Pontius Pilate to execute Jesus. He died on a Roman cross as a common criminal between two robbers.
We call that day Good Friday. Why? How can the death of the Messiah, the son of the living God, be declared good?
It is no paradox. Christ's death was for our sins, not his, for he was truly innocent.
"Christ died for sins once for all, the just one for unjust people, to bring us to God."
Jesus paid the infinite penalty for sins, the judgment each of us rightfully deserves. Paul explained, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, cursed is every one who is hung on a tree."
Jesus is the promised savior of the Old Testament. Especially poignant is the suffering servant's prophecy found in Isaiah 53: "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
Each person's acceptance of Jesus into one's life means forgiveness of sins and entrance into God's family, the church.
Most important is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. This is the climax as recorded in each of the four gospels. It is the proof that God the father accepted the work of the son in dying for the sins of humanity. The resurrection is the essence of Peter's first sermon of the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the early church.
"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."
Christians no longer need to fear death; it no longer holds us captive to its grip.
After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and to the other Mary; to his disciples with Thomas absent and then with Thomas present; to two Emmaus disciples; and to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberius when he restored Peter. Jesus also appeared to more than 500 of the believers at the same time and to Paul.
Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!
Ernest Chun is a member and trustee of Central Baptist Church of Honolulu.
