He lives

DEVOTION

PROPHESIES AND FULFILLMENTS CONCERNING CHRIST

HE LIVES

Ps 22:15-18

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

NIV

Those dogs, the Roman soldiers, surrounded him, they were a band of evil man that had encircled him and had pierced his hands and feet. We know that is the truth of the crucifixion.

John 20:25-29

25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"  27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."  28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 

NIV  

The gospels do not give a blow by blow account of crucifixion. They do not tell us of the soldiers driving the nails into his hands and feet, but with the account of his appearing to Thomas we know that is exactly how he was hung on the cross. This was spoken about hundreds of years before it was to happen. All the while Jesus was here, he knew that was the way he was going to redeem us. Why did God choose that time in history to redeem his people? Why, when hanging on a cross as a criminal was the method of executing the death penalty? He could have come some other time when the death penalty was administered in a more humane way. But it was determined this way before the foundation of the earth. How wonderful our God is to go through such pain for us. Of course this happens to be resurrection Sunday for this devotion. Although in this moment he is on the cross, so to speak, the fulfillment verses are after his resurrection. Jesus died for us, but he also rose for us, defeating death. There would be no resurrection Sunday if there was not the cross. That is what many ponder about on Good Friday services. On the cross he took away our sin and died in our place. But on resurrection Sunday, he is alive. He defeats death so that we not only have had our sin removed, but that we also may live eternally. Death no longer holds us captive, just as sin no longer holds us captive. We have been freed from sin, and the penalty of death. Because he lives, I can face tomorrow, because he lives, all fear is gone, because he lives, because I know he holds the future and life us worth the living just because he lives. He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today. Without the nail scared hands and feet Thomas would not believe, but we believe without seeing, because we know he lives. He lives within our heart.