As we look forward to celebrating Resurrection Sunday, let us reflect on the fact that so much of Jesus’ life was prophesized long before he lived. In fact, Bible scholars tell us that Jesus Christ fulfilled nearly 300 references to 61 specific prophecies of the Messiah. The odds against one person fulfilling that many prophecies would be beyond all mathematical possibility. It could never happen, no matter how much time was allotted. One mathematician’s estimate of those impossible odds is “one chance in a trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion.”³ Let’s look some prophetic verses found in the Book of Isaiah written at least five hundred years before actual events concerning his last days leading up to His Resurrection.
Isaiah 53:1-12 (NIV)
“1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But 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.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
Think of it! Jesus knew the Scriptures well. He was constantly quoting verses from Isaiah. I am sure He knew these particular verses. They were talking about Him and His mission while He was with us. I wonder what He felt when He read them!
I would like to share with you a YouTube video entitled: “What’s So Good About Good Friday?” Please cut and paste this website to your browser to view it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzxXvEtf9D0
It is my hope that this will reach you before Easter Sunday but even if it doesn’t, please take the time to see it and reflect on it and the wonder of Jesus’ love for you and me.
Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)
6 “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Not only did He die for us but He rose from the dead to secure eternal life for us.
Consider this:
If the resurrection did not happen, then the Christian faith is invalid. It stands or falls on the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. What do you think? If it did happen and you do not believe It., consider the consequences. I assure you, it will be a horror beyond all horrors. If it did not happen and you did not believe it, what have you lost…nothing. If it did happen and you do believe it, you have gained Heaven and everything else.
I ask you “Have you placed your trust in the One who gave his life for you so that you might live forever in the presence of God and have life to the fullest here and now?”
If not, what is stopping you? God has delayed His return to give all a chance to turn to Him,. However, He will not delay forever. When the Author walks on stage, the play will be over. It will be of no use at that time to choose to follow Him then.
Ministry News:
· I have had numerous meetings this month with individual men in both my ministries with Net Work and Young Life.
· I went on a four-day retreat with men who were affiliated with Young Life in one form or another. This was our thirtieth consecutive year of meeting together to share what has been going on in our lives. We take the time to share laughter, tears, and prayers for each other. I daresay there are few men who have experienced this close fellowship over so many years. I would encourage you men to get together with other like-minded men who have the common bond of a relationship with Christ. Get away together, laugh together, share your lives together with real transparency . It will strengthen you as men.
Proverbs 27:17 says,” As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has
no one to help him up!
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep
warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three
strands is not quickly broken.
Have a truly blessed celebration of the Resurrection of Our Lord!
Buck