Resurrection Sunday

John 19:13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called ”The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

As we draw near Resurrection Sunday, I wanted to take a look at the Scriptures and delve into what Jesus accomplished for us at the cross.   The  phrase,  “The finished work on Calvary”  is heard often.  Not only during Easter, but in sermons from at any time.

So what exactly was finished?  While I may not have all the answers, one thing that I have been meditating on was passing from the Covenant of the Law to the Covenant of  Grace.

In the Old Testament we were under the Covenant of the Law.  Covenants were made and lasted a lifetime, and the only way a covenant could end was by death.  Jesus died on the cross so that we could pass from the Covenant of the Law into the Covenant of Grace.

Grace;  we are cleansed from our sin, where there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus,  where we are the righteousness of Christ, we have life everlasting and we have a God that is rich in mercy and forgiveness!

Scripture tells us that  Barabbas, a sinner was let free.   This is symbolic and prophetic.  We were let go of our sins, Jesus took the penalty for us, and we are now forgiven  by the precious blood of the  lamb. As a result we do not have to experience eternal death.

In the verse quoted above, Jesus sat down in the judgement seat. This judgement seat is the word Bema, where the saved will stand before and receive their rewards.   The believers will not be judged, because of the Covenant of Grace and because of the judgement Jesus took in our place.

The unbelievers will face the Great White Throne of Judgement.  Great because only the Lord God Himself is Great, white because only in Him is there purity and He alone sits on the throne.

2 Corinthians  5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things  done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Here we will receive our  rewards for our  faithfulness to the Lord.  We will not be condemned, nor will our sins be pointed out to us.

As I read the scriptures of Jesus being given vinegar while he hung on the cross, also called Old Wine, we were passing from the old into the new.  When we pass from the darkness into the light, we leave behind the old man, the old wine or vinegar.  Jesus was passing from the old covenant (law) into the Covenant of Grace.

Old wine or vinegar, is symbolic of the law.  We are no longer under the law!

Mark 14:25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.

May we truly meditate on the goodness the Lord has done for us, as a free and unconditional gift.  I often think why the Lord chose me, a sinner.  It’s because of His grace, mercy, and love for us that he died for us.  Let’s honor Him in all we do, say and think and be effective for His kingdom.

Jesus ended His time on the cross by saying, “It is finished.”  May we say it is finished to our old habits, our old way of thinking and fully embrace and cherish what was accomplished for us on the cross.

May you be richly blessed this day.