There was a television program in the 1960s and 70s with Peter Graves called Mission Impossible about a secret team of government agents that took on especially difficult assignments, which they accomplished through a combination of intelligence, technology, deception, and daring. (The TV show spawned a quartet of recent movies starring Tom Cruise.) Despite the title, each TV episode showed how the team met and overcame a challenge that seemed at first to be insurmountable. The end of Jesus' earthly ministry also presented an impossible situation.
At several points, Jesus tells the disciples what lies ahead for him. After Peter correctly identified him as the messiah (Mat 16:16)...
Each time Jesus mentions this matter, he adds the assurance that he will "be raised to life" on the third day. That particular detail, though, escapes the disciples' attention, as they focus instead on the loss of their leader.... Their focus shifts after Easter.
In a sermon to those gathered in Jerusalem for the festival of Pentecost, Peter says...
That His son would not grow old and die but would, instead, be cut short did not catch God unawares. Quite the contrary, everything, from Jesus' arrest by temple authorities, to his transfer to Roman authorities, to his execution, has been according to the divine plan, which was to provide "redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Eph 1:7). This was not a last minute decision on God's part, a plan B when plan A failed. This was part of "God's set purpose and foreknowledge" from the beginning. In fact...
Death itself, which is usually the end of the line, presented no obstacle. In fact...
The end of Jesus' earthly ministry presented a seemingly impossible situation, as his death appeared to derail that ministry. The crucifixion, tragic as it surely was, proved to be a step necessary to accomplish what truly would have been impossible without it—the redemption of our souls.
As you contemplate his sacrifice, ask yourself, where would you be without it? How would your life be different? Where would you be now? ...1 would not be here, and neither would you. But we are here because Jesus accepted and accomplished his otherwise Mission Impossible?
At several points, Jesus tells the disciples what lies ahead for him. After Peter correctly identified him as the messiah (Mat 16:16)...
Matt 16:21 ...Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed.., and on the third day be raised to life.This was not something the disciples wanted to hear.
Matt 16:22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"Sometime later,
Matt 17:22 ...[Jesus] said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23a They will kill him...and on the third day he will be raised to life."Despite the hint of hope ("raised to life"), news of their teacher's premature death was still not welcome.
Matt 17:23b And the disciples were filled with grief.Finally, as Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem for his last Passover...
Matt 20:17b he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18 "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified.... On the third day he will be raised to life!"The ministry was going well. What could possibly happen to change that? Luke writes that...
Luke 18:34 The disciples did not understand any of this....they did not know what he was talking about.Jesus' passing was not a subject the disciples wanted to contemplate, and the fact that it would not be a natural and peaceful death but a sudden and decidedly violent death made the subject that much less welcome.
Each time Jesus mentions this matter, he adds the assurance that he will "be raised to life" on the third day. That particular detail, though, escapes the disciples' attention, as they focus instead on the loss of their leader.... Their focus shifts after Easter.
In a sermon to those gathered in Jerusalem for the festival of Pentecost, Peter says...
Acts 2:23 [Jesus] was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.Peter's understanding of this matter has changed dramatically. He makes two points about God and about the divine plan that have become clear through these events. First, the apostle says...
I. Nothing surprises God (Acts 2:23).
- Jesus' crucifixion advanced God's plan
II. Nothing hinders God (Acts 2:24).
- Jesus' resurrection demonstrated God's power
Acts 2:24 ...God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.That is the good news of the resurrection for Jesus, and it is good news for us, because nothing will prevent our resurrection either.
The end of Jesus' earthly ministry presented a seemingly impossible situation, as his death appeared to derail that ministry. The crucifixion, tragic as it surely was, proved to be a step necessary to accomplish what truly would have been impossible without it—the redemption of our souls.
As you contemplate his sacrifice, ask yourself, where would you be without it? How would your life be different? Where would you be now? ...1 would not be here, and neither would you. But we are here because Jesus accepted and accomplished his otherwise Mission Impossible?
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Jim Skaggs