Winter arising to life by spring sets Resurrection in the created order. Phoenix arising from the ashes and hero coming back to defeat the villain, are popular stories in many cultures. Right triumphing over evil, is the cry of the human heart. Grain of wheat falling down to the ground to die, rather than abide alone, and then arising as a hundred fold harvest, maximum possible with natural seed (without genetic engineering) according to the Lord Jesus, was how He Himself described His Death and Resurrection one week prior to his Crucifixion.
Every Old Testament prophecy or Type that predicted Crucifixion also included the Promise of the Resurrection. Humble Suffering Servant who dies as the Lamb of God and the Risen Lord and the Returning King were the three roles of the Good Shepherd projected in Prophecy. Two are fulfilled – one is to come. The Law of defining sin, indictment and prescribing punishment passed away to give way to Grace and Mercy. Emancipation and Liberation, the cry of every human heart, the hope that springs eternal in every human breast was fulfilled when the Victim Christ turned tables and trumped the Tyrant – demonic, religious, political, socio-economic and all spheres, to burst the gates of oppression, repression and suppression and arise as Compassionate Victor. Sons in slavery will be redeemed with His purchase price, the Ransom and will become the Prized Progeny of the New Global Order where Mercy Triumphs over Justice.
Words of the Cross set the Liberation agenda of the Resurrection.
1. First Word - Father Forgive for they do not know what they do – we are mandated to over any conflict by forgiveness and identificational repentance, taking on our hearts, the sorrows and errors of others. Thus are races reconciled and bruises healed. By this meek will rule over oppressors, mourning will bring comfort, we shall sound the depths of Mercy in the Father Heart of God, and the poor receive a Kingdom. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors – will be the watch word, the Battle Cry of this Magna Carta – the Charter of Liberation.
2. Second Word - “Here is your son; son here is your mother” – Little Flock who receive the Kingdom will be the New Family with separating walls of race, caste, social status and generational gaps breaking down, melting away in the Love of God. Family will share as they pray, “Our Father Your Kingdom come…Your will be done on earth as in Heaven…..Give us Our daily bread”.
3. Third Word – “You will be with me in Paradise Today”, in response to the appeal of the villain who earlier vilified the Dying Saviour, “Jesus, Remember me when you come in your Kingdom. What assurance. The worst receives mercy. At the end of the Crucifixion, the most powerful present, the Centurion opens his eyes as Heaven attests Christ’s Deity with an unusual solar eclipse at noonday (recorded by Africanus, the Historian, as seen even in North America) and earth attests with an earthquake recorded as far Nice and Rome and the night attests with a Red Blood Moon. The oppressed and oppressor both worship the Saviour – outcaste and gentile believe, New Covenant comes to be even before the Resurrection.
4. Final Word – It is Finished. – Rock will roll, Rome will bow, Empire will wane, Christ remains. Meek will rule by the kingdom of the heart, race will not be to the swift but to the compassionate. You will not need to perform or perish – it is accomplished. Value, worth and significance He has brought. Struggle for existence no more. Might will not be right but right will be right. His Kingdom of peace will know no end. Cup triumphed over Peter’s sword.
When the time came, and Saviour was asked to turn water to wine, He hesitated. Jesus knew when He does the first sign, it would also sign His death warrant, death march of only 3 more years. Saviour began His ministry at a Passover feast. Nine times he would come to and go from Jerusalem for feasts. Last visit would be the tenth and that would be His last Passover. Every Jewish household separated a Lamb for slaughter at Passover. This would be the last needed since God Himself would become the Lamb of God, the last needed sacrifice. “It is Finished” would be the epitaph.
WOMEN TO THE FORE
Mary of Bethany anointed the body of Christ for resurrection. Do not fear the immersion into His death. There will be great resurrection. Latter glory of my house will be greater than the former, because of this anointing for burial. Hidden treasures will be rubbed on as precious myrrh – fragrance of Jesus fills the House, City and the Nation. This is the anointing of turning the other cheek. This is the anointing of the Lamb led to the Slaughter. This is Gal 2:20. Phil 1:21. A Church is arising who resurrect in the fiery furnace – no smell of burning. Not a hair singed. Fourth Man coming thru. Mary of Magdala by the Tomb Sees the Risen Lord. First Ambassador of the Resurrection is a woman. Devotion of Mary the mother of Jesus would be a world-wide symbol how Innocence trumped Villainy. Jesus who gave up His human Life will take up His Divine Life in us who open our hearts to the Risen Lord. Thus nations will transform one person at a time.
NATIONS LEARN WAR NO MORE
Drinking the cup will baptise us into all He is that we may have all He has for us. This is crossing the Rubicund. Commitment of no return. Receiving His will denying my will in every hourly decision is the drinking of the cup of victory. Thus begins the triumphal procession of Jesus’ fragrance filling the city. Not by standing in the public square but by kneeling in the private Presence, we will have the victory.
This is the anointing of the Good Samaritan, to pick up a foolish, bruising bleeding people and nation and apply the oil and the wine, Church being the Inn that does not charge cost, offence, tit for tat. We chose the cup rather than Peter’s sword. Jn 18:11.
It is a wonderful think to fall into the fingers of God when He shall the rub the Love of God into our inward parts, ambitions and affections. Anointing to descend low as needed, will surely be the anointing for the ascension, picking up rebellious people, rebellious city and rebellious nation into the fragrance of Jesus, as they see us descending low when persecuted, when grief stricken and arising as the sweet savour offering as our Saviour. And the rebellious will arise with Christ gifts to serve Him whom they vilified. As Hudson Taylor said – those who bear the cross shall wear the crown.
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