Jesus’ death was the FINAL SACRIFICE that paid the debt of sin for all, “Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (Hebrews 9:28). His death was the ULTIMATE PURPOSE of His ministry. In fact, Jesus predicted His death at least three times in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), and the book of John offers even more predictions. “Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and BE KILLED, and BE RAISED the third day.” (Matthew 16:21) “Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be BETRAYED into the hands of men, and they will KILL HIM, and the third day HE WILL BE RAISED UP.” And they were EXCEEDINGLY SORROWFUL (lupeō: to make one gratefully uneasy).” (Matthew 17:22-23) Notice, the bible says they FULL OF GREAT SORROW. Then in John’s gospel, “Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for THE DAY OF MY BURIAL. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” (John 12:3-8)
Jesus preformed a great miracle, “And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about TO BE BETRAYED into the hands of men.” (Luke 9:43-44) “Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed, they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: “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; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day HE WILL RISE AGAIN.” (Mark 10:32-34) Jesus clearly explained what would happen so, wouldn’t it make sense for His disciples to be there on the day of His resurrection?
So, why when Mary came back from the empty tomb after Jesus was raised from the dead, “She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, THEY DID NOT BELIEVE.” (Mark 16:10-11) “Jesus showed them His hands and His feet. While they STILL COULD NOT BELIEVE IT because of their joy and astonishment…” (Luke 24:40-41) “Jesus appeared to two of them (on the Road to Emmaus) while they were walking along on their way to the country. And they went away and reported it to the rest, but THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THEM, EITHER.” (Mark 16:12-13) “Finally the other disciple (the Apostle John), who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. HE SAW AND BELIEVED (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)” (John 20:8,9) So, John did believe, he wrote the Book of Revelation and could not be killed, remember they tried to boil him in oil.
The prayer we should frequently pray is “LORD, HELP MY UNBELIEF…”
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham