Blessings Beyond Our Wildest Expectations
Easter is an event of unexpected developments and victories. When God came to earth in the form of the God-Man Jesus, it was in an unexpected way. Rather than the King of the Universe upsetting the political powers that were running things, the Author of Creation came in the form of a virgin-born infant. Jesus did not come seeking applause and acclaim, He came as an unassuming servant. He helped the forgotten, the abandoned, the lost. When Jesus was crucified, it seemed to His followers that His life was a wasted opportunity. To Jesus’ enemies, it appeared to be an easy victory. Little did everyone, friend and foe, realize that Jesus was accomplishing far greater things.
The life and ministry of Jesus was the basis of God’s invasion and redemption agenda. God had long promised that He would make everything right. While this was welcome news to those who heard God’s promises, they did not grasp the magnitude of this work. Jesus came to redeem lost humanity. When people hear the word “redemption,” they nearly always fast-forward in their thinking to sin and damnation. It is true, when people sin and practice lawlessness, there are dire consequences. Salvation is desperately needed, but redemption is far more than “fire insurance.” When Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice, He did more than keep people out of hell. He set the stage for humanity to find the life they always dreamed about and for which they yearned.
The Apostle Peter speaks of Jesus’ sacrifice and of His unexpected mission. First Peter 3:18 says: "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” After Peter speaks of the amazing blessing of Jesus’ death and resurrection in these verses, he shares a very brief reference regarding what Jesus did during the 3 days he was in the grave. The following verses state: “After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits, to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.” (1 Peter 3:19-20) While we are not told the content of Jesus’ proclamation, we can safely infer a bit. The text speaks of Noah and the evil world he lived in. Genesis records that Noah lived in a time where the world had rejected God. It was a time where Scripture says that mankind did evil all the time. When the Flood came and wiped out the world, it was God’s judgment on mankind. To a world that seemed to say: God, I reject you and I will live however I want! What are you going to do about it? God spoke loud and clear with the Flood. It seems that when Jesus died, He made another proclamation to those who rejected God. When Jesus died, He did more than pay for our sins. He went as the King of the Universe and claimed everything. Jesus conquered death. God’s invasion shook the foundations of all creation - this world and the next. Jesus is the conquering hero who speaks to the dead and the living.
The cross and the resurrection together (and only together) tell us there are better things to be had. The work of Jesus remakes everything. Jesus does more than forgive sin, through His power there is a new creation. Obviously, we await the “New Heavens and the New Earth,” but that anticipated new creation makes this present world different as well. Through Jesus’ work on the cross and His resurrection, the omnipotent power of God renews and heals this world. As we wait on a better place, we are made alive because of Jesus' redeeming work. We have real hope, not only in regard to the future, but today as well.
God’s kingdom is at work right now. Remember, Scripture says that the church is God’s kingdom on earth. The church is called to live out and be intimately connected to God’s “invasion plan.” As ambassadors of the Kingdom of God we make proclamation about King Jesus. We declare God’s greatness. To all who meet us, we point to our King and Savior. We have our lives changed by Jesus, and we change the lives of others as we point them to Jesus. If that is not an amazing invasion, I do not know what is! Broaden your understanding and thinking regarding Easter. Jesus came, He lived, He died and was raised from the dead. This sets us free from the power and penalty of sin. We are gifted with life and the opportunity live that life to the glory of God. We can find real joy, peace, and fulfillment in Jesus. Keep looking up!