Members Exclusive March 2024
Members Exclusive
The Cross, The Resurrection and A Brand New Creation
by Bruce Billington
The Cross
We have come to the time when we, as Christians, traditionally celebrate the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ.
The cross was a horrendous experience, commonly used by the Romans for 500 years until it was abolished by Constantine I in the 4th century AD. Crucifixion in Roman times was applied mostly to slaves, disgraced soldiers, Christians, and foreigners–only very rarely to Roman citizens. However, Jesus had an extra dimension of suffering on the cross than anyone else had to experience. This is something that is too often overlooked.
Mark 15:34 – “At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” which is translated, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”
The thing Jesus suffered most came from the hand of God. To His horror, He finds that the treasured eternal relationship between the Father and the Son no longer exists. Jesus calls on the Father and there is no answer or response. For the first time, Jesus suddenly finds Himself disconnected from God. It is like God does not exist.
In previous times Jesus has been delighted to say that He and the Father are one. But here the Father withdraws from Him, leaving Him alone. The horror of this leaves Him in agony and despair. The thing He cherished most – His relationship with His Father has been terminated – it is over. Jesus is left alone and cries out in anguish and despair.
The cup that He wants to pass from Him is His abandonment from the Father. The appalling silence from the Father is worse to Him than the fate of death. He faced total and utter rejection from God. This was worse to Him than the terrible physical abuse and rejection from society. In the depth of His inner being, He faced total violation of His divine Sonship with the Father. Note the change in His cry on the cross. This is the only time in the whole of the Gospels that Jesus did not address God as Father. Why? Because Jesus recognises on the cross that God is no longer His Father and He is no longer God’s Son.
2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin on our behalf. Because Jesus has become sin the Father can only despise Him and turn away. The beloved Son, in becoming sin, has become everything the Father despises.
Galatians 3:13 tells us that Jesus became a curse for us – the Son becomes sin, and the Father curses Him.
The beloved Son ceases to be a Son at all – therefore the Father is no longer a Father. Both Father and Son lost what they cherished most. The Son lost His Father and His cherished identity as a Son. The Father lost His Son and His cherished identity as a Father. The most cherished and pure relationship that ever existed in history is severed by sin and the Son and the Father both lost everything they hold dear to them. It was at this point that Jesus gave up His life. Based on His total rejection as a Son He no longer wants to live and releases His Spirit. Why did all of this happen – how could this be allowed to happen? For no other reason but for you and me.
Galatians 2:20 – the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
The revelation of this should cause us to humble ourselves before Him in awe and gratitude. It would be good, at least for a couple of days, to meditate on this before coming to the advent of the resurrection.
The Ressurection
He Has Risen! Mark 16:6 – “And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.”
A most remarkable event in history had now taken place – something that would change the world, and many people’s lives, forever. Jesus Christ has risen. Death could not hold Him down. He is alive and the world will never be the same. He has impacted the world with the power of resurrected life.
- Death was defeated – death could not hold Christ. So now we no longer have to fear death because Christ has triumphed over it.
- Romans 6:9 – “knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.”
- It proves that Jesus is the Son of God.
- Romans 1:4 – “who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
- If this did not happen it would make Jesus like the millions who had gone before Him. Death defeated Him – but that did not happen to Him. The resurrection proves that He is someone of a unique status.
- We are now true sons before God with an internal inheritance that is imperishable and kept in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:3-4). We have been justified before God – (Romans 4:25).
- Christ will ultimately judge the world in righteousness – (Acts 17:30-31).
A Brand New Creation
As a result of the resurrection, a brand-new world was born. And the citizens of this brand-new world are a brand-new race of people – never seen before in world history.
1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light;” This applies to all those who are in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” Christ, through His death and resurrection, has launched the time of things being set right or free – and that includes people – no matter what they are trapped in.
This is the time of the presence of the Holy Spirit, which means a war of liberation commenced by Him, has broken out. This war is where Christ attacks the fallen world through the power of the resurrection – working most of His power through His people or bride, who are empowered by His Holy Spirit.
This is what the Scriptures mean when they tell us we are a new Creation or clothed as a new creation in Christ. These are people who have been re-created or reborn from above by Christ’s love and have become Christ’s bride. They are now equipped to go out into the world as God’s mighty army.
Romans 6:5 – “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,” Note the distinction between the cross and the resurrection here – this is used deliberately.
Romans 8:11 – “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Our “mortal bodies” mean life today, as well as in the next age.
As is obvious we are not yet beyond the reach of physical death – yet the knowledge that He is, and we are in Him, means that we can participate in the life of the resurrection now – there is a fullness to come but we can enter it now (Hebrews 6:4-5).
Because of the resurrection, we can become what we will ultimately be – right now!
May God bless you.
Bruce Billington.