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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke
PART 6 - THE REPORT OF CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION (Luke 22 - 24)
16. Jesus' Farewell Words to His Disciples (Luke 24:44-49)
LUKE 24:44-47
44 Then He said to them, “these are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Man’s understanding is limited, and his heart is obstinate. The disciples had often heard their Lord’s declaration about himself while he was with them: who he was, why he came, and why he had to die. Yet no one can say that Christ is Lord except by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. The disciples’ hearts remained cold, and their eyes did not shine, for they did not know the reason for Jesus’ death and resurrection. Yet Jesus continued patiently, and taught them repeatedly that they would understand his purposes, even if their hearts were stones. The great surprise which his appearing gave them, shook their hearts, and made them listen to his words. He explained to them once again the divine duty of his death and resurrection. Thus after his experiences of death and hell, and his triumph over demonic powers, he did not teach his followers anything new, but guided them to the well-known holy scriptures which prophesied that his sufferings, death and resurrection were necessary and inevitable, also that the account of his life was exactly as recorded in the Scriptures. The entire Law cried out for a redeemer who makes reconciliation with God, for no one could keep the law completely. The faithful prophets longed for a savior to renew foolish lost hearts. In his Psalms, King David glorified the Coming One, and revealed by God’s Spirit the details of Christ’s sufferings and death until his ascension. Moreover, we see that the Holy Spirit indicated to the people of the Old Testament hundreds of years ago, without doubt, that the Savior coming to the world had to die. As the magnetic needle of a compass always points to the magnetic north, no matter how the compass is turned, so the Holy Spirit directed believers’ thoughts and minds toward the cross as the center of the entire universe. Even today, the Holy Spirit guides you through the Law and the Gospel not to philosophy, laws, or rites, but directly to the person of the living Jesus, who was crucified and raised from the dead.
Jesus patiently enlightened his disciples’ minds, showed them the redemptive plan of God, and opened to them the written word of God, for no one can recognize God by himself, except by the grace granted to him by his Lord. Would that we involve this principle in Sunday schools, meetings, worship in churches, and in the midst of religious study, and consequently recognize that neither lessons, nor sermons, nor teachings can enlighten our hearers, even if we speak with the tongues of men and of angels, unless the Lord’s Spirit opens their hearts and converts them. He who observes this secret in preaching prays insistently to the Lord, more than he speaks, until the Lord intervenes quickly and brings down his power on those who long for him, and promises us today resurrection for those who are dead in sins. Our personal experiences in faith are not in vain. But the truths of Christ’s life from cradle to grave and resurrection, until ascension, are much more important than our personal experiences, for through this testimony the believers’ faith in everlasting life grows stronger.
He who studies the mysteries of Christ’s life and death finds that his divine love is the great reason for his coming, crucifixion and resurrection. Moreover, God is unable to forgive whoever he wishes, wherever he wishes, for unreasonable, superficial thoughts about God’s ability may be found in all the religions that are devoid of the Holy Spirit. Thus the Torah and the Gospel intimate that:
Our God is holy, and his justice cannot leave sin without punishment. Every sinner deserves death and destruction. For the sake of himself God must punish every injustice on earth.
But since God is love, and he loves sinners, he chose to die instead of us that we might live, for God’s mercy surpasses our understandings.
It is impossible for God to deny himself, lest his universe risk ruin. His Son and his Holy Spirit proceeded from God.
The Son accepted to come in human form, for no human could walk in holiness without sin. No one could die for others as the Lamb of God, for we are all corrupt, except the Holy One born of the Holy Spirit. Christ alone is worthy to die as the Lamb of God. He was the strong and mighty one who could bear the heavy sins of the whole world, and died on the cross instead of us.
Because Christ continued holy and pure, though he bore our sins, death could not overcome him, but was forced to leave him, for he who is free from sin lives forever.
When he had fulfilled all God’s righteousness on the cross, the Holy One was determined, able, and willing to forgive men all their sins, if they believed in the Lamb of God, his unique Son. Yet he who does not believe in this divine sacrifice refuses God’s grace, and brings his own condemnation on himself.
This complete salvation for all men has another condition: he who experiences forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ, and has received everlasting life, must tell others about this grace, for the love of God poured out in our hearts is the motive for preaching. Before his ascension Christ commanded his disciples to preach to the whole world. Thus he dealt with their Jewish narrow-mindedness. He who was crucified forgave men their sins for all time. Therefore he does not have to die once again on the cross. People do not know this great privilege. Yet every true Christian is required as of the Holy Spirit to testify the way of salvation when telling others about the life of Christ. This good news produces conversion in the hearers, believing in the Son of God, receiving forgiveness and fullness of eternal life.
Have you recognized God’s righteousness in him who was crucified? Have you understood the reason and motive of Christ’s death and resurrection? Then tell your friends that our Redeemer lives and gives out forgiveness freely that every man may receive everlasting life through faith in him.
PRAYER: O Lord Jesus Christ, You are God, my God. You are free like your Father, but your love prompted you to give up your glory, and come down to us sinners. Your faith and obedience led you to the infamous cross. Yet your life is eternal. This is why you rose from the dead, to draw us to your true life. Open our minds and understanding to your joy that we may recognize the power of your love, and commit ourselves to those you love, and convert millions of those who are going astray. Amen.
QUESTION 148: Why did Christ have to die and then to rise on the third day?