Jesus Crucified and Risen (Luke 24:7)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
12 September 2021
Angels announced the birth of Jesus. They also announced the resurrection of Jesus. They drew attention to significant moments in the purposes of God. What can be more noteworthy than one rising from the dead?
Jesus is called the Son of Man. In heaven he is the Son of God but now he has come to earth and is the Son of Man. Son of God is deity; Son of Man is human. Jesus is God and man.
He humbled himself to become human. He is one of us. He knew hunger and tiredness. He knew what it was to be sorrowful. He wept. He tasted death. He was completely human.
The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men. “Must be” signifies necessity. It was necessary for Jesus to be handed over to sinful men. But why was it necessary?
This necessity reveals the sovereign hand of God in everything. It speaks of God’s predetermined plan. Jesus was foreordained to come into this world and to die for sinners. What God predetermined must be fulfilled.
Since God predetermined the death of his Son for the salvation of people it follows that His Son is the divinely prescribed way of redemption. There is no other way; no other Saviour. To admit other saviours would devalue the supreme work Jesus has done.
The giving of Jesus for our salvation is a manifestation of God’s goodness. At the birth of Jesus peace and goodwill were shown to mankind. But people rejected God’s goodness and killed Jesus Christ. They returned evil for good just as the Psalm said in Psalm 120:7 “I am for peace…but they are for war.”
Jesus was delivered into the hands of sinful men. Those who crucified Jesus did evil. They killed a righteous innocent human being. Observe that God used sinful people to achieve his purpose. Does this make God responsible for the cruel death of Jesus? Certainly not.
God uses second causes to achieve his purposes even though these second causes may be unrighteous. Thus he used Judah Iscariot who was from the evil one. He used a nation like Babylon to chastise his people (Ezek:23:24). Both Judas Iscariot and Babylon acted freely according to what was in their hearts.
God uses evil second causes but he is not the author of the evil. If a father instructs his son to rob a shop he is the author of that crime. But God never instructed Judas or Babylon to carry out their deeds. They acted freely. God takes what already exists (fallen human beings) and directs the course of their sinful designs. Hence God used sinful people (second causes) to crucify Jesus but God was not the author of this sinful deed.
Jesus knew he would be crucified. His death was in full satisfaction of the law's requirements. No other death is needed. God has been appeased. Now there is peace between our Creator and humanity. Jesus by his death has become our substitute.
Jesus knew he would rise again. Death had no dominion over him. His resurrection was physical. He rose again and lives forever. He gives us hope that beyond this earthly existence there is life everlasting. Death shall be no more. Here is comfort for all believers.
From Luke 24:7 we learn that salvation is planned, provided for and perfected. It is planned in heaven, provided for on earth, and perfected in heaven and earth.
Praise God for his wonderful salvation. He has made it possible for you to be saved. Jesus died for sinners. Come to him now, believe in him and receive salvation.