Michael continues: Then they came to the place of the skull, Golgotha on Calvary’s mount where they crucified him. Even the soldiers mocked him, if you are the king of the Jews, save yourself. One thief who was crucified with him said to the other thief crucified with him, we deserve our punishment, but this innocent man has done nothing wrong. Then he said to Jesus, remember me when you enter into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, thou shalt be with me in paradise.
When Jesus gave up his last breath, the veil of the temple to the Holy of Holies was torn. The veil had separated God and man. When Jesus paid the price laying down his life, the veil that separated man from God was ripped in two from top to bottom. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
The lyrics of the Hymn, When I Survey The Wondrous Cross remind us of the love Jesus Christ had for us and the precious price he paid for our redemption: When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the king of glory died, my richest gain, I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my price. See from his head, his hands, his feet … sorrow and love pour mingled down. Did ever such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Philippians 2 says, even though Jesus Christ thought it not robbery to be equal with God, he took upon himself the form of a bond-servant and became obedient even unto the death of the Cross. Wherefore God hath highly exalted him and given him a name above all names. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God.
Jesus had said to His disciples, he who shall be chief among you shall be servant of all. Jesus Christ himself led by example. He was the greatest servant. He who for the joy that was set before him (of your salvation and mine) endured the cross and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God. For He who was without sin was made the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Salvation is in confessing that Jesus is Lord and in believing that God has raised Him from the dead. The power of God is in the gift of His Holy Spirit, Christ in you the hope of glory given by His grace when we were born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible by the word of God which lives and abides forever. For by grace are you saved through faith (by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone) and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Salvation is in dying to self in order to live for Him. For as in Adam’s disobedience all died, all who have been saved are made alive through Jesus Christ’s obedience even unto his death upon the cross.
According to Romans 5:17-21, For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover, the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
This is the reason for his Resurrection: for your salvation and mine!
For He is risen indeed, that we may live according to the praise of the glory of His grace,
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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