For I know that my Redeemer lives. And He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27)
Sometimes the only thing I am certain of is: My Redeemer Lives! That is powerful, non-negotiable and the rock I stand on. I know it with all my heart. I believe it with every fiber of my soul and my spirit cries out to Him knowing that He knows what it’s like to suffer.
On Palm Sunday, He was greeted like a king while he rode on a donkey. The people lined the street laying palms in the path. For a brief moment, they knew in their being that He was special; but, to them it was someone who would release them from an oppressive Roman government. He was an answer to them in this world. That’s how it goes. Some see this time on earth as all there is and God may bless them now, but what if this is “it” for them? That was all there was for those that chose to live for the moment and renounce The King of Kings for not getting them out of their troubles right then.
By the next day, the destruction of His character, bearing false witness to be more exact, began. His followers asked Him to hide, to stop; but, He knew what was coming and it was part of our redemption. He sweated blood and asked His Father to “let this cup pass”. Three times he asked even so He would willingly submit to His Father’s will. Knowing that one of His own would betray Him and another would deny Him, He bore our sins. There was the spit; the shame; the crown pushed into his head; the beating until He was unrecognizable; the mocking sign “King of the Jews”; the pain; the sorrow; and, the crucifixion. And He cried, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
NOW THE VICTORY! He rose from the tomb whole except for the scars which were seen to let us know that He was fully human and fully God by His death and resurrection. He is no longer nailed to the cross and we are no longer condemned. There is nothing that we can do that can take His place in pain or blood or suffering to save ourselves. There is ONLY ONE WAY to God: John 14:6 says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” He is seated at the right hand of Our Father. He is to judge the living and the dead and will come again to receive His own. “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Matthew 24:30-31)
PRAISE GOD!