Was Jesus in the grave for 3 days.
Q: I was wondering what you might understand about why it was to the Father’s satisfaction that “Jesus submitted himself to the brutality of mankind’, I mean surly Jesus wouldn’t have, if it wasn’t required. It had to be just and righteous, if it satisfied the Father. Why the brutality of mankind?
You ask deep questions.
In what way did Jesus fulfill the law? The common answer is that he satisfied it in some way such that it isn't gone but it doesn't apply.
Let me give you an uncommon answer. The law has a shadow... it is attached to the law, yet it is not the law. The shadow is a prophetic picture of Christ. And Christ fulfills it.
I have shown elsewhere that he fulfills the Nazarite law. He also fulfills the Leverate law, the laws of the sacrifices, feasts, of the Leper.... all of them.
Lets take a simple one. Ex 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
The law is plain. We should not use the Lord's name unless we are speaking with or about Him.
So what is the shadow? It is a dark saying or riddle. The name of the Lord is "I am". Jesus claimed the name for himself. 'Vain' also means empty. Jesus emptied himself (kenosis) . And Christ was made to be sin for us, so it might be said he was not held guiltless, but bore the guilt of us all.
Jesus took the name of the Lord in vain and was not held guiltless. This simple law paints a picture of Christ. Christ fulfills it, without being culpable of sin.
Paul explains the nature of law in how God performs against sinful men. In Romans 1, Paul explains that the consequence of sin is that God gives you over to it to wallow in the natural consequences of it. He gives you what you want, and you generate your own horrible consequences.
In order for Jesus to fulfill the law, he had to face the consequences of the law. The sin nature of man is to live instinctively, putting oneself first, rather than responding to the word of God.
For Jesus to bear the sin and consequence of sin for mankind, he had to face the consequence of everyone thinking of himself first.
The Jewish leaders didn't want to lose their power and influence so they did not respond to the Word of God, Christ himself. Pilate, Herod, the Jewish crowd, the Roman soldiers, all thought of themselves first. Through the midst of it, Christ put us first.
The 'heart of the earth', being the selfish desires of all men, had the consequences of torturing and murdering an innocent Christ. Even in this, Jesus forgave them and did not allow them to murder him, but laid down his life so they... so we... would be guiltless.
We think of the wrath of God being expressed by being hit by lightning or some other God initiated act. Bit the reality, according to Paul, is that He just removes His protection as we sink into the 'heart of the earth'.
Q: In respect to your mention of the heart of man. Resistance (hardness of heart) is failure to receive (of God, His Presence.) In that man insists that man is his own light, seeing himself, as a man. But it is the Word of God (Son of God) revealed in the flesh, Son of man, (Jesus Christ) that is the Light of men. If a man insist that what is in his own heart, be his light, without the Light of men that is of God, how can man receive of God?
You are correct.. I am referring to the heart of mankind at the time. The heart of the earthly system. Jesus submitted himself to the brutality of mankind Thursday night.
Q:Maybe the answer to this question is. When did Jesus start His progression into the heart of the earth? Could it be when He was given or officially betrayed in to the hands of man (sinners). Wasn’t He to receive or suffer at the hand of man (sinners) that which man (sinners) are to receive without Him?
This is a most excellent observation.
God says things in a double entendre. One way so that the unbeliever will continue in unbelief and another so the believer is strengthened in his. It is the method for sorting sheep and goats, wheat and tares.
As an example: God told Adam that the day he ate the fruit he would die. The unbeliever says God lied because he lived 900 years. The believer understands that Adam died spiritually, and brought death to all men that very day.
So ask... what is the heart of the earth?
- Mt 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
The heart of the earth is the heart of wicked man, certainly even a literalist would not insist that Jesus went to the center of the earth. Jesus submitted himself to the heart of wicked men on Thursday night when he was taken at Gethsemane.
- Thurs night to Fri eve Night and day
- Friday night to Sat eve Night and day
- Sat night to Sunday day Night and day
Three nights and three days.
He gave only one sign to the wicked generation, in such a way that they would harden themselves in their wickedness.
He gave many signs for believers, including this one.
