emmasen 230

11Apr09

- Saturday. In the secular world today - I went to Putney - a photo of me at Putney Bridge.

- Saturday. In the physical realm more than 2000 yrs ago - Jesus lay in the tomb on the second day of His crucifixion.

- As early as John 2 - Jesus has already proclaimed openly to both the secular and supernatural realms that He will die on the cross but three days later He will rise again (v.19: destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days).

- He also proclaimed openly the purpose of His death and resurrection in John 3 - that is, to impart eternal salvation to those who would only have a mustard-seed-sized faith (v.15: that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life) and (v.16: that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life).

- Jesus stated His mission very clearly and precisely. Now, did peoples and principalities get it? No.

- To borrow a phrase girls like to use to tease boys: "The boys just don't get it!"

- People just didn't get Jesus' message, not even His disciples (Jn 2:22 - after He was raised from the dead, His disciples recalled what He had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken).

- Neither did the principalities of darkness get it.

- Here is where we refer to 1 Co 2:8 - which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified The Lord of glory.

- Matthew Henry's Commentary refers the rulers of this age to secular rulers of that time, explaining that: there are many things which people would not do if they knew the wisdom of God in the great work of redemption.

- I beg to differ - because if a ruler of that time had his eyes opened to see the wisdom of God: in sending Jesus to die on the cross, shed His Blood, and His body be pierced - so that eternal salvation will come - the ruler would have no problem in accepting-'approving' His crucifixion as God's divine wise plan of redemption.

- But 1Co 2:8 says that if rulers had known, they would not have crucified Jesus.

- Gordon D. Fee in his book 'The first epistle to the Corinthians' posits that demonic powers lie behind the activity of earthly rulers.

- We also read from God's Word in Eph 6:12 that we battle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, world-rulers of this darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

- Other names for the devil are the ruler of the world, and, the prince of the power of the air.

- George Ladd and Donald Hagner in their book 'A theology of the New Testament' also says that there is a parallel meaning of rulers of this age, referring to forces of evil.

- So, it is not human rulers who, if they had known God's salvation plan, would not have crucified Jesus - they gladly would because it would bring them eternal life.

- But, it is the devil and his cohorts who, if they had known God's salvation plan, would not have crucified Jesus - they gladly would prevent it - so that without the shedding of b/Blood, there is no forgiveness (Heb 9:22) - and hence - every soul would, by Adam's default mode, be channelled into eternal hell.

- For a very frail analogy - the evil ice queen would not have killed Aslan the Lion in Chronicles of Narnia, if she had known the higher plan of redemption through Aslan's death and resurrection.

- I believe, therefore, that up to the second day of Jesus' crucifixion - as He lay in the tomb - peoples and principalities still just do not get it - neither knowing nor believiving God's supreme wisdom in dispensing by His grace His everlasting redemption through the Death, the Blood, the Stripes, and the Cross of His Son Christ Jesus.

- As for the forces of darkness, more than 2000 years ago, they just didn't get it. And it is too late now!

- But hallelujah! for millions of us - the dearly beloved sons of Abba Father - through the wisdom of the indwelling Holy Spirit in us (1Co 2:10) - we know and we believe it, even on this second day following Good Friday - Abba's glorious salvation in Christ Jesus through His death, and resurrection!

- It is because of Him (1Co 1:30) that we are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption!

- I thank Abba - that the devil just didn't get it at that time - so that now, through The Perfect Work of Christ Jesus at Calvary - we have received the fullness of Christ who fills us in every way (Eph 1:23) - praise Jesus on this second day following Good Friday - and bless you, beloved, who took precious time to read this lengthy entry.