Realities of the Cross

What Happened in the Garden of Eden

Adam had dominion over the earth.
Genesis 1:26, 28 – “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion” (v.26). “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion…”(v.28).

Adam was God’s under-ruler in this earth.

Adam committed high treason and gave his authority to Satan.
Genesis 3:6 – “…she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” 

1 Timothy 2:14 – “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

God Needed a Legal Entry Back into the Earth

God was on the outside looking in. Man’s authority in the earth had been given to Satan.

God found a man who would obey Him and establish a covenant (a legal contract between God and man).
Genesis 17:1-19

The Plan of Redemption Hidden in a Mystery

Through this covenant, God would bring Jesus into the earth.

Ephesians 3:9-10 – “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ” (v.9).

God promised that through Jesus He would destroy Satan’s power over mankind.
Genesis 3:15 – “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

Satan didn’t know who Jesus was until He was baptized in the River Jordan.
1 Corinthians 2:7-8 – “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

Not until God said, “This is my beloved Son…” did Satan know. (See Mark 1:11)

The fight is on.
Matthew 4:1-11 – “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil” (v.1).

Jesus Came as the Second Adam

1 Corinthians 15:45 – “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”

Born of a virgin, with the blood of God in His veins (all man and all God).

Jesus had the same opportunity to fail as the first Adam, but He passed every test. 

Hebrews 2:15-18

Jesus operated as a prophet under the Abrahamic Covenant. He went to the cross as the Son of God.

Jesus Became Sin for Us

Jesus was made to be sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Isaiah 53:3-10 – “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (v.5). “And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death…” (v.9)

What Happened on the Cross

Matthew 27:46 – “…Jesus cried… My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

It appears that God turned His back on His own Son, for He could not look upon sin.

David speaks of the crucifixion a thousand years before it took place.
Psalm 16:8-11 – “I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Jesus was made sick with our sickness.
Isaiah 52:14 – “…his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men.”

1 Peter 2:24 – “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 

Isaiah 53:4-5 – “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Jesus cries, “It is finished” – not referring to the plan of redemption,but the Abrahamic Covenant. 

The Veil of the Temple Rent

The temple is no longer the dwelling place of God.
Matthew 27:51 – “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.”

The high priest finished his ministry when he offered up Jesus as the final sacrifice.

John 2:19 – “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 

1 Corinthians 3:16 – “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

Jesus Went into the Pit of Hell

Matthew 12:40 – “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Acts 2:24-27, 31 – (Peter is quoting David) “He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption” (v.31). 

Psalm 16:10 – “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”

David speaks of Jesus in hell
Psalm 88:6 – “Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.”

Satan punishes Jesus for three days. (Read the entire 88th Psalm; it is a description of what happened before Jesus was raised up).

God says, “That’s enough, let My Son go” (author’s paraphrase).

Jesus is justified in the Spirit.
1 Timothy 3:16 – “…God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit…”
1 Peter 3:18 – “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” 

Jesus is the first born from the dead. 

Romans 8:29 – “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” 

Jesus Stripped Satan of His Authority

Colossians 2:15 – “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

Jesus paralyzed Satan’s death-dealing power. 

Hebrews 2:14 – “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil.”

Revelation 1:18 – “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

He is a raised, glorified, resurrected, Immortal Man – untouchable by death.

Jesus Sprinkles His Blood on the Heavenly Utensils of Worship

Man’s penalty is paid, and the demands of justice are met.

Hebrews 1:5-8 – “…And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son” (v.5).

God highly exalts His Son. a. Philippians 2:9-11 – “For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not  ignorant of his devices.”

Jesus Delegates This Authority to the Body of Christ

Matthew 28:18-20 – “…All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations… Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…”

Mark 16:15-18 – “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

Ephesians 1:17-23 – “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the headover all things to the church.” Jesus put off from Himself the principalities and the powers (it would seem as though the whole hosts of hell were upon Him). He was going through agonies beyond words and suddenly is justified, made alive. He hurled back the hosts of darkness and paralyzed their death-dealing power.

Once again man is in a position of authority. He is no longer a slave to Satan but has become Satan’s master through power in the Name of Jesus.