Once they had set their hands on Jesus they wanted Him dead at all cost. They flogged Him, tortured Him to bleed to death, but He did not die. Then they crucified Him by nailing Him to the cross, still He did not die. He only died when He wanted to die. "It is finished!" (Jn.19: 30) He cried as He breathed His last.
It did not end there still: only after they had ensured He was buried and the tomb sealed, were they satisfied.
Little did they realise that they were fulfilling prophesy. "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heal." (Gen. 3:15)
"Yet it was the Lord's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer .. to make His life a guilt offering ...For He bore the sin of many." (Isa. 53:10, 12)
Jesus' mission had only begun. He visited Hades to set free all those who had died believing, and they thought they could keep Him there too - because no one had ever visited Hades and returned to life.
"Lift up your heads, O you ; be lifted up, you ancient doors that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle .. The Lord Almighty -- He is the King 0f glory." (Ps. 24:7-10)
In spite of all they did, death could not hold Him captive. 'Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph over His foes...'
He did that just for you and me. What a Saviour! (081122)
