one is that the chief Priests and Pharisees (teachers of the Law) mocked Jesus and said, so he could not save himself from the cruel torture and death on the cross.
BUT, I wonder what their response was when they learned the seal on the tomb had not been disturbed by man, the heavy stone had been rolled away...that their nemesis was not in the grave, only the grave clothes. That His prophesies of His own death and resurrection had indeed occurred.
We are not told of their response. I wonder how many fell to the knees in repentance?
It has been years since I have been at the foot of the cross during this weekend.
Seeing once again, in so many ways, the meaning of the cross in not just my life but in the lives of the world's creation, has stirred my heart and mind.
I seem to be aware of so many things in my own life. Sin. Righteousness. The nails. (His hands and feet) were held to the cross by God, so the nails could be forced. The mocking. His great love. The betrayal, both Peter and Judas (and my unrighteous deeds of sin ~ are they not betrayal?)
His prophesies (of His own death and resurrection fell on empty ears).
When Jesus finally arrived at the place of execution around nine o'clock in the morning, if His treatment followed standard procedure in those days, He was stripped of all His clothes. Possibly He was allowed to retain a loincloth.
Yet because Jesus was stripped "naked," you and I can be clothed! The Bible tells us that all of our righteousness, including the very best things we ever do, are so permeated with sin and selfishness that they are like filthy rags in God's sight
(Isa. 64:6). But at the Cross, Jesus gave us His perfect, spotless robe of righteousness and took our filthy garments of sin in exchange (Phil. 3:9). On Judgment Day, you and I will be dressed in His righteousness before God because He wore the filthy garments of our sin. We will be clothed because He was stripped!
Do you know people who arrogantly insist that if their good works outweigh their bad works, God is somehow obligated to accept them?
Many people do not want to come to the place of sacrifice, the Cross of Jesus Christ, because it intensifies the conviction of their own sin and judgment and is a reminder that heaven's gate is closed to sinners.
Jesus' Obedience.
(Isa. 64:6). But at the Cross, Jesus gave us His perfect, spotless robe of righteousness and took our filthy garments of sin in exchange (Phil. 3:9). On Judgment Day, you and I will be dressed in His righteousness before God because He wore the filthy garments of our sin. We will be clothed because He was stripped!
Do you know people who arrogantly insist that if their good works outweigh their bad works, God is somehow obligated to accept them?
Many people do not want to come to the place of sacrifice, the Cross of Jesus Christ, because it intensifies the conviction of their own sin and judgment and is a reminder that heaven's gate is closed to sinners.
Jesus' Obedience.
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