The Way to God Established

Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again" (Matthew 20:17-19).

Jesus went to Jerusalem to die, and in His death a number of truths became reality: (1) God’s plan of redemption would be accomplished, (2) Satan would be defeated, (3) the power of sin would be broken, (4) the love of God for mankind would be fully exposed, and (5) the way to God would be permanently established. Jesus said (John 14:6) I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 

The death of Jesus Christ on the cross was not the death of a martyr. It was the death of the Messiah of God. It was not the demise of a misguided fanatic. It was the demise of Satan, the arch-enemy of God. It was not the end of a religious revolution. It was the beginning of a spiritual revolution that would sweep the world and usher in the Kingdom of God.

In the Levitical law, God revealed to Israel the sacrificial system that would be the expression of each person’s faith in the Lord. It became the central act of acceptable worship of the Jews. Through the shed blood of an innocent lamb, kid, or calf, the fountain-head of redemption would be opened. (Hebrew 9:19-22) For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness).

But no sacrifice for sin was perfect. That’s why it had to be repeated sin after sin, year after year. No sacrifice could fully cover man’s sin, and no sacrifice could fully appease God’s wrath for sin. Only God Himself could provide such a sacrifice that would be perfect and permanent. That sacrifice was Jesus Christ, God’s Son. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the Temple was torn in two and the validity of the sacrificial system of the Old Testament was fulfilled in Him. In fact, the sacrificial system of the Old Testament pointed to the sacrifice of Jesus. (Hebrews 2:9-10) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 

Thank You, Father, that the way of salvation, to heaven, into Your presence is painted with the blood of Jesus Christ. I am not worthy of such love or provision, but You have blessed me with Your grace that I might live for the One who died and rose again for me. Such love is too wonderful to comprehend. Amen.”

Pastor