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Jesus Christ His death, resurrection and
present role as High Priest and Mediator
Jesus Christ His death, resurrection
The death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion was the greatest expression of Divine love and is the focal point of God's plan of redemption for the human race. The love of God is expressed in these well-known words from John's gospel record:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life"
The tragic events of Golgotha were not solely governed by the evil plots of wicked men, or by the envy of those who clamoured for Christ's death.
- The striking rock formation that some have identified with Golgotha, a Hebrew word meaning 'the skull'.
They were governed by the requirements of the Divine plan of salvation and confirmed by the words of the Old Testament prophets. This is explained by the Apostle Peter:
"Him, being delivered by the carefully planned intention and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death"
Jesus had forewarned his disciples that he must suffer the dreadful ordeal of death by crucifixion, for the Jewish leaders would
"deliver him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day he will rise again."
- In 1968 the bones of a crucified man were found in an ossuary in Jerusalem, the only such bones ever found.
- This fragment of the foot shows a nail driven through the heel, not the top of the foot as usually thought.
- Picture Ilan Shtulman, the Israel Museum
The meaning of the cross
This can only be understood when considered in relation to God's plan declared to Moses:
"but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD."
Such a state can only come about when sin and death are abolished and the earth is populated with a perfected race of beings, living to the praise and glory of an all-wise and benevolent Creator.
Adam's sin brought the awareness of nakedness and the need for clothing. He was now alienated from God, hence the need for reconciliation. The covering devised by man was replaced by God provided clothing made from animal skins.
This required the death of the animal and the shedding of blood. A Divine principle was established that
"... without shedding of blood there is no remission."
In recognition of this principle, Abel's offering of the firstling of his flock was accepted by God, while Cain's offering of
"the fruit of the ground" was rejected (Genesis 4.3–5).
During Patriarchal and Mosaic times, sacrifices were offered as a means of
atonement (reconciliation). In the New Testament, the writer to the Hebrews shows that these offerings
looked forward to the one acceptable sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
"For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshippers, once purged, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."
God's requirements could only be met by a human sacrifice, as Paul reminded the Christians at Rome:
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one man's obedience many will be made righteous."
It was necessary for a descendant of Adam, who possessed the same death-stricken nature, but with a spotless and sinless character, to offer himself in sacrifice by shedding
his blood, so that fallen man might be reconciled to God. This required
Divine intervention because all have sinned − apart from one man, Jesus
Christ. In Jesus we see a man possessed of human nature – yet he
was sinless, as we are reminded in Hebrews:
"For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."
John the Baptist said of him:
"Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."
He was the perfect sacrifice:
"For by one offering he has perfected for ever those who are being sanctified."
The death of Jesus was a declaration of God's righteousness in the condemnation
of sin, but because of his perfect obedience the grave could not hold him and God raised him from the dead.
The gateway to life opened for us
We who are sinners by nature and subject to sin, disease and death, can now become reconciled to God and receive the forgiveness of sins through the sacrifice of Christ's own blood. Such Divine grace and favour can only be had by changing our natural relationship. We are all the descendants of Adam and bear his sin-cursed nature and are related only to death as Paul told the Corinthians:
"... in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive."
This change from being 'in Adam' to being 'in Christ' is only effected by baptism into Christ.
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
To qualify for baptism we must know and express faith in the things of the kingdom and the name of Jesus
Christ. In submitting to this, our sins are forgiven and we pass prospectively from death to life:
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."
In the death of Christ we see God's gracious work of reconciling the world and His wonderful plan of redemption centred in Christ:
"But God demonstrates his own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us ... For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."
The reality of the resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is fundamental to the Christian faith and
science and technology, belief in miracles is questioned by many. But
to become a true Christian requires something more than science can
offer; it requires faith. This is not blind faith but faith which comes
through an understanding of and a belief in the Word of God.
If we are to become true followers of Jesus we must accept the Biblical
record concerning him. This record, given by the four gospel writers, is
full of miraculous events which were witnessed by many who lived in
Israel some 2,000 years ago. As we have already noted, the events
surrounding his birth were miraculous and throughout his short
ministry of some three and a half years he performed many miracles –
healed the sick, the lame, the blind, and even raised the dead.
- A rock cut tomb with rolling stone, found in Nazareth
- Picture by Blake Robinson
Yet in the end he was rejected and crucified by the leaders of the Jews
because they failed to see that here was their Messiah, the one who was
to come and redeem them as foretold by the Old Testament
prophets. But the empty tomb and the simple message of the angels to
those wondering disciples proclaimed the miracle of his resurrection.
The angelic messengers reminded them of the very words he had
spoken while he was with them. He had said to them:
"The Son of Man is being delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And after he is killed, he will rise the third day."
What was the reaction of his disciples to this news?
Mark tells us that
"they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask him."
In the end they all deserted him when threatened with arrest. Yet Luke tells
us that afterwards the disciples
"remembered his words"
and then Jesus himself appeared to them.
The Apostle Paul was originally a Pharisee and a persecutor of the followers of Jesus but he became a
Christian after his conversion on the road to Damascus. Later he wrote a letter to the Christians at Corinth in
which he set out the arguments for belief in the reality of Christ's resurrection:
"Now if Christ is preached that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ, whom he did not raise up − if in fact the dead do not rise.
For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ has risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive."
Christ's essential place in the Divine plan for our salvation is perhaps the greatest argument of all for believing in the miracle of his resurrection. We can therefore appreciate the importance of the record of his ancestry given in the gospel records, which reminds us that Jesus was, through his mother Mary, directly descended from Abraham and David, fulfilling the promises made to his ancestors. These promises were confirmed in the message of the prophets and finally became reality in the virgin birth to fulfil the words of the Old Testament Scriptures.
The road to Emmaus
After the crucifixion, Luke tells us about two of the disciples who were taking a journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were very dejected and talked about the events of the last few days. A man joined them on the road and asked them:
"What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" One them called Cleopas replied: "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have you not known the things which happened there in these days?" "
That man was of course the risen Christ who then proceeded to enlighten them about the real meaning of those events which had culminated in his rejection by the Jews – his cruel death followed three days later by his resurrection. Later, to a group of disciples, Jesus enlarged on these great truths concerning God's plan centred in him – his mission to bring salvation. 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." And he opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 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, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things"."
This is the Divine plan in a nutshell, foretold in the Old Testament Scriptures
yet completely misunderstood by the majority of those who read
them. God's plan centred in Jesus was being fulfilled. When he was
crucified, the Roman Governor Pilate put a title on the cross, in Latin,
Greek and Hebrew so that all could read it:
| JESUS OF NAZARETH |
| THE KING OF THE JEWS |
Through the miracle of his resurrection his destiny was guaranteed
− to become not only King of the Jews but of the whole world. The
disciples received confirmation of this when he ascended to heaven.
As they watched him go, two angels assured them with these words:
"This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven."
The Bible does not leave us in any doubt about the future work of Jesus, as we will demonstrate in the remainder of this series.
- Jesus said that every part of the Old Testament, the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms, witnessed to his life and work.
- Picture by Showface/dreamstime.com
Jesus' present role as High Priest and Mediator
What is the role of a priest? A dictionary defines a priest as 'a minister of religious worship'. This definition does not move our understanding much further forward, so we turn to the Bible. God, speaking through the prophet Malachi, described the work of a priest in this way:
What is the role of a priest? A dictionary defines a priest as 'a minister of religious worship'. This definition does not move our understanding much further forward, so we turn to the Bible. God, speaking through the prophet Malachi, described the work of a priest in this way:
"The law of truth was in his mouth, and injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and equity, and turned many away from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts."
Thus a key aspect of the priest's work was to teach the Word of God to the people. However, the work of the priest was much more than just being a teacher imparting academic knowledge. The teaching of the priest from the Word of God was to turn men and women 'away from iniquity' towards an understanding and appreciation of what God required. The work of the priest is further explained in the following verse which tells us that Phinehas the priest
"was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel."
Jesus as a priest
All these characteristics of a faithful priest were exemplified to the full by Jesus. He taught the law of truth and no injustice was ever found in him. He walked with God, and we know of his zeal, for it is recorded of him:
"Zeal for your (God's) house has eaten me up."
Jesus also made atonement, not just for the children of Israel, but for all men and women who would come to God through him. In the letter to the Hebrews we read that he was
"... made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement (reconciliation) for the sins of the people."
Most of these characteristics will be readily understood, except perhaps the concept of 'atonement', a word which has almost disappeared from everyday use. To understand the work of a priest in general and of Jesus in particular, we need to understand what 'atonement' means.
- The Jewish High Priest dressed as described in Leviticus ch.24.
- The letter to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the perfect High Priest, who offered himself as a sacrifice once and for all time.
Its meaning can be explained by reference to the more familiar word 'reconciliation'. In his letters to the first century Christians, Paul explains why, without the work of Christ as our priest, we are alienated from God, and how we can be reconciled to Him:
"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies… But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight ... If you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel."
"... if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."
These verses emphasise a number of principles. Because of sin we are separated from God, and without some form of mediation, God's righteous judgments would be carried out resulting in death. The role of the priest is to act as a mediator, to obtain forgiveness of sins, and save us from the consequences of our failure to keep God's law, that we might be reconciled
to God.
In Old Testament times, there was an order of priests who provided this role of teacher and mediator. They taught the people God's law, a law we now know as the Law of Moses. This Law revealed a code of behaviour and morality which, if followed, would result in Divine favour and blessing. The problem was that the people continually broke the regulations of the Law and repeatedly came under the condemnation of the Law. There was a continuing need for sin to be recognised and repented of, for sacrifices to be offered and Divine mercy sought.
Jesus as the perfect sacrifice
The only way to break this cycle of sin and death was for someone to lead a sinless life which was in perfect obedience to God's will. By the willing offering of his life, Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. Being unworthy of death, he freely gave his life for the benefit of others. This is summarised in the following words from the letter to the Hebrews:
"And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God ... For by one offering he has perfected for ever those who are being sanctified."
From this passage we see that Jesus fulfilled a dual role, being both the priest and the sacrifice. The main difference between the priesthood under the Law of Moses and that of Jesus is that he does not need to offer a sacrifice every time we approach God for forgiveness through him. His life of obedience offered on the cross is a permanently effective sacrifice, which can cover all our sins.
Just because Christ's death can cover all our sins, it does not mean that we can presume on the effectiveness of that sacrifice, if we do not strive to be like him in our lives. If we are to be 'sanctified' or separated to the service of God, there is an on-going need to examine our way of life and turn away from anything that would bring God's disapproval. Paul compared this to a slave who had been freed from his old master to serve a new one. He wrote to the believers at Rome:
"But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The need for a mediator
Being 'in Christ' does not stop us from sinning. It does not relieve us of the danger of turning away from God's way and so losing the hope of God's offer of salvation. This is where the greatness of Christ's priesthood lies. Jesus was born sharing the same human nature as all of us, sharing the same temptation to serve himself rather than to serve God. In the letter to the Hebrews we read:
'"For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
This verse is important, since it shows the sympathy of Jesus for our plight. Having shared our human nature, he therefore had to struggle against the tendency of sin, just as we do. So when we bring our struggles and our failures to him in prayer, we are assured that he really does understand what we are going through. He has trodden the same path; the only difference is that although we often fail, Jesus never did. Often in the Gospels we read about the compassion of Jesus, his concern for the poor, the sick and the disadvantaged. He knew their suffering was the result of sin being worked out in human experience.
He is still the same compassionate Jesus, who sees the power of our old master, sin, in the lives of believers and wants to help them overcome. However, as with those who benefited during his ministry on earth, in order to receive his help, we have to come to Jesus in faith and belief and be baptized into his saving name. Then we can pray to God, through Jesus, confessing our faults and asking for forgiveness. We can, as that verse in Hebrews states, 'come boldly' in our approach since God has assured us that He will listen, and we will be reconciled to Him through the mediatorship of Jesus.
We have already quoted several verses from the letter to the Hebrews, which above all the other books of the New Testament speaks at length about Jesus' work as a high priest and mediator. We recommend that you take the time to read this letter carefully. The effectiveness of Christ's work for his true followers is summarised in these words from chapter seven:
"... because Jesus lives for ever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need ..."
Based on the "Light on Jesus Christ" special issue in 4 parts:
- Jesus Christ - Introduction, the plan of God and advent foretold
- Jesus Christ - His Early life and His Ministry
- Jesus Christ - His death and His priestly role
- Jesus Christ - His second coming to the Earth and your future
Next article (part 3) is Jesus Christ - His second coming to the Earth and your future
Author Many people were involved in writing and checking this article
Country UK
Source Light on a New World special edition: "Jesus Christ"
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