Welcome to Episode #141 of Way of the Bible podcast. This is our fifth of eight episodes in our eighteenth mini-series entitled, Son of God and Son of Man.
On this episode, Why They Killed Jesus, we’re going to follow-up our last one-episode sidebar with a second one-episode sidebar of our exploration of the life of Jesus Christ as revealed in the gospels. Having just completed Lent, Holy Week, and the Paschal Mystery of Christ, I thought it appropriate to address the seemingly abrupt and brutal end of his ministry and life.
We are only beginning our exploration on Way of the Bible podcast of the life of Jesus in the gospels. Yet I find myself at this point in time addressing his end. In many ways Jesus’ end, his dying on the cross, was only the beginning of the next phase of God’s redemptive plan for mankind which he developed before time began. And we will get to that after we complete the exploration of Jesus’ life as presented in the gospels.
The term I used earlier, Paschal Mystery of Christ, is reference to the trial, death, and resurrection of Christ. That trilogy of events points to something not plainly clear to an observer. Why would the religious leaders of the Jews demand the Romans to put to death their own Messiah by crucifixion? They demonstrated they had the ability to execute Jesus themselves when these same people stoned Stephen, the first martyr of the faith (see Acts 7:58-60).
What transpired on the cross such that Paul would write in Colossians 1:19-20 – For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
And finally, how did Jesus go from dead and buried to resurrecting and appearing to his disciples over a period of forty days in a physical body of flesh and bone? And how did that flesh and bone body ascend into heaven. Acts 1:9-11 – And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
The term mystery is a focal point of Paul’s doxology at the end of the book of Romans. Romans 16:25-27 – Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the MYSTERY that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
First we need to see and UNDERSTAND, the revelation of this mystery to people hearing the gospel is what God is using to bring about the OBEDIENCE of faith. Second and just as important is faith is not an intellectual ascent. Faith involves a change of mind and will in a person that produces OBEDIENCE.
Paul speaks of the origin of faith in Ephesians 2:8-10 – For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Faith that renders salvation is neither by mental ascent nor by works. Both faith and salvation are given by grace as gifts of God. Or put another way, faith and salvation begin the revealing of mystery by grace that leads beyond the veil of dimensionality and terminates in the mind and will of God.
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