by Minister Isaac Oyuga
20th April 2025
John 20 opens with a breathtaking twist- HE IS RISEN.
The primary lessons we can learn from this excerpt are;
- Jesus, when dying on the cross, was concerned about the man who asked for mercy. On one side of the cross was a robber who asked for mercy, while on the other side was another robber who mocked Jesus. Similarly, we have cried for mercy on one side of the cross. Yet, on the other side of the cross, some will be judged for the unpardonable sin, the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus made himself of no reputation and took the form of a bondservant. Judas Iscariot accepted the 30 pieces of silver and made the master, Jesus, a slave to him.
- Humility and obedience towards God are the struggles of anyone in the appearance of man. This is because human nature craves to be known so that people can hold them to their identity. It is important to note that obedience is the love language of the Kingdom of God.
- For Jesus to pray till He sweats blood, He was praying to God that not His will but God’s will. Jesus was beaten to the point that He could not be identified. He was spat on, yet, unfortunately, we want to be spot on. He died for wrongs He did not commit.
- Jesus knew what was coming, that something was being birthed after his death on the cross. The devil thought he was winning, but Jesus won.
- The death of Jesus on the cross brought glory to the Father. As he said, “not my will but yours,” He meant not for His glory but God’s glory.
- We can also emulate Christ’s mind. We can choose to have a mindset like that of Jesus, acknowledging who we are in Christ.
WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE AND RESURRECT?
- Jesus’ death and resurrection affirmed his divine identity. It was a distinctive mark. No one can speak or foretell His death and resurrection and precisely fulfill it except Jesus. This is what distinguishes Jesus from Mohammed. Jesus had the moral audacity; He rose from the dead. He paid the ultimate price on the cross. His name is above all other names. He is worthy of all glory. As many have claimed to be Jesus, and many more continue to come forth, Jesus is above them all. Jesus willingly surrendered His Spirit and died. He gave up his own life only to take it back again. Jesus offered His life for the atonement of sin. As He was in the beginning, He is in the end (John 14:28-29). Only Jesus, a divine identity whose name is above all other names, can make this distinction.
- Jesus died and resurrected to fulfill God’s plan to redeem humanity. He was the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Garden of Eden. Jesus offered the only sacrifice worthy to redeem man from His fallen nature. He took the account of God, suffered for the fallen ones, and was crucified for the fallen ones, yet He had no sin. The cross was the emblem of suffering and shame. Despite the robber’s actions, Jesus was willing to forgive Him His sins. An important question is, as much as we will fulfill the scriptures, from which side are we fulfilling them? For instance, Judas Iscariot fulfilled the scriptures from his prophecy. We can fulfill the scriptures on the side of God or on the side of those who have said no to the Lamb. Importantly, you can either serve God or serve the Mormon. You cannot be hot and cold at the same time.
- Jesus died and was resurrected to set the captives free and declare victory over the devil. There is power for Christians when they know that the one who held them captive, Jesus, through his death on the cross, held them under and declared them defeated. Our enemy is defeated. And through the death at the cross, it is finished. All struggles with sin are finished. It is important to note that there is no sin that the blood of Jesus shed on the cross cannot cleanse. We are at an advantage when we know we are fighting an enemy who has lost the battle. Notably, if you have not given your life to Jesus, death is not afraid of stinking you. As 1st Cor 15:12 portrays, the resurrection of the dead is a sure bet. The assurance of our resurrection is pegged on the resurrection of Christ. Thus, we should ask anyone who wants to claim Lordship over Lord Jesus Christ to show us their tomb.
- Jesus died and rose from the dead so that we may receive the Holy Spirit (John 16:5-15). We are freed from sin because the Holy Spirit has convicted us. We need the Holy Spirit for everything. No Christian claims to be alive without the involvement of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). It is important to note that we are not winning because we restrict the Holy Spirit to reveal the word of God to us.
In Conclusion, John 20:21-23 states, “… If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven…” Thus, if we forgive others their sins, they are indeed forgiven. As Matthew 12:31-32 portrays, ‘the unpardonable sin’ is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and comprises the hardening of one’s heart. Therefore, do not be a person with an unpardonable sin who is no longer remorseful and ashamed of his/her sin.
