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Commentary on "God as Redeemer"
Day 5: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - The Gospels and the Cross
Overview
The mission of Christ’s life was his death. Though the Incarnation was important, as was his life, his death was what dominated the thinking of Jesus. Only two of the four Gospels, Matthew and Luke, even mention the Incarnation. Passover should be observed with a new name: Communion. Christ wished, above all else, to be remembered by his death.
Commentary
The mission of Jesus Christ was to save sinners from a desperately hopeless condition. The state of humanity was this:
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient.” Ephesians 2:1,2
Apart from the person and work of Jesus Christ, humanity had no hope. His great mission was to save us from our sin condition. In order to accomplish this, Jesus became a human being (Incarnation), lived a perfect, sinless life, died our death, and rose again on the third day.
Without the Incarnation, without Jesus taking on flesh and blood, there would have been no death. Without the death, there would have been no resurrection. Without the resurrection:
“and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is without foundation, and so is your faith.” 1 Corinthians 15:14
Three of the four Gospels specifically speak of the Incarnation, and Mark makes reference to it by beginning with a quote from Isaiah, the prophet, who taught of Messiah being born of a virgin.
The Incarnation is mentioned in John 1:14. In fact, the very definition of the Incarnation is: “the Word became flesh...”
The “Last Supper” occurred on the Jewish Passover. Jesus, however, ushered in a New Covenant. With it, He brought a radical change of law.
“For when there is a change of priesthood, there must be a change of law as well.” Hebrews 7:12
With the change of law came the new ordinance that we call Communion. When we celebrate Communion, we do so in remembrance of Jesus Christ, our Messiah, our Lord & Savior, the perfect Lamb, our High Priest who lives forever and yes, saves to the uttermost.
“...do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 1 Cor. 11:25
Summary
- Christ’s mission was to save humanity from our hopeless condition: we were dead in our trespasses and sins.
- The Incarnation is an integral part of Jesus’ ministry which included his birth, life, death and resurrection.
- Without the resurrection, then our faith is without foundation.
- All four Gospels support the truth of the Incarnation. Matthew, Luke and John specifically teach it. Mark makes inference to it by quoting Isaiah.
- We no longer celebrate the Jewish Passover. As Christians, we celebrate communion in honor of Jesus.
Copyright 2012 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised January 11, 2012. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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