It was necessary for Jesus to suffer. When Jesus suffered, he suffered in our place. He suffered both bodily and spiritually. He was mentally tormented with mockery and physically beaten with nails and whips. He suffered to the point of death. Yet, he was obedient.
As hard as we try, we cannot obey God to the point of death. No one will be declared righteous by observing the law. Instead, “through the law we become conscious of sin” (Rom. 3:20 NIV). The wages of sin is death. In Adam we receive our wages of physical death, spiritual death, and eternal death. Under the law, we have been given a death sentence. The law kills. Without Christ we are sentenced to death in body and soul leading to an eternity of separation from the love of God. In fact, without Christ, we are already dead in our sins. A dead man cannot stand before God and pay the price for his own sins. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. Because of our sin, we stand condemned.
In walks Jesus, to stand in our place. It was necessary for Jesus to die. When Jesus died, he died in our stead. He, who knew no sin, became sin for us. His blood was shed, so that our sins would be forgiven. Where we earned death, Christ has given us life. When we were baptized, we were united into His death. By faith in Jesus, our Old Adam is put to death. In Christ we die to our sins.
It was necessary for Jesus to rise on the third day. When Jesus rose from the dead, the world was justified. St. Paul declares at the end of Romans chapter 4 that, “He was delivered over death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” Then he begins chapter five by saying, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” (Rom. 4:25 NIV).
When Jesus rose from the grave, the world was absolved from all sin. We are no longer at war with God. Apart from Christ, we were God’s enemies. In our baptism, we have been united with Christ in His resurrection. Just as He was raised by the glory of the Father, we too are raised to walk in newness of life. In Christ, we are made alive toward God.
Now in Christ we are friends and even sons of God. We are able to stand in God’s presence. The same Risen Lord who came to the disciples comes to us this day. Just as Christ came to the disciples saying, “Peace be with you.” He comes to us this day saying, “peace be with you.” He comes to us in His Word. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier
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