Drama In Calvary

The Exchange

Friend, after Jesus was taken to Pilate, it was necessary for Pilate to release one of the prisoners at the time of the feast. But the people cried out that Barabbas, who was a murderer and a thief, should be released instead of Jesus (Mk 5:12–15). It was right there that the exchange occurred. Jesus, "Who knew no sin," was made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21). He "Suffered for sins, the just for the unjust..." (1 Pet 1:18), and "He was numbered with the transgressors" (Mk 16:28).

The moment the exchange occurred, Jesus passed from spiritual life to death, just like Adam, "For the wages of sin is death" (Rom 6:23). So, He cried out on the cross, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mk 15:34) because God "Is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living" (Mark 12:27). When a father forsakes his son, it means he disowns him. So Jesus said that because He was disowned by His Father, he was no longer the son of God. He was disconnected from God, and just like Adam, he became a child of disobedience (Eph 2:2). And He "Being put to death in the flesh" (1 Pet 3:18), "...descended first into the lower parts of the earth?" (Eph 4:9), which is to say, hell (Acts 2:27). And devils tormented and tortured him.

                                        "The exchange has been made, you have been justified, just-as-if-you-never-sinned!"

The Prince of Life in Hell

Friend, the suffering of Jesus on earth during the crucifixion was nothing compared to what he faced in hell. Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" Mark15:34, but Isaiah 42:2 says, "He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street." So instead, he cried in hell (Psalm 22);

"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent."

"Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint:"

He goes on to say, "The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me," and "thou hast brought me into the dust of death." He was in the pit of it all. All of Satan and his demons tormented the prince of life in hell. He carried the sins of all, so he suffered the penalty of all men (1 Pet 2:24). He was not spared any torment. But the good news is that God heard his cry! Hallelujah! Psalms 56:9 says, "When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me."

                                        "Jesus tasted death for you so you wouldn't taste it; he went to hell for you so you wouldn't go there."

Victory in Hell

Friend, Psalm 56:9 says that God heard the cry of Jesus in hell. Right there in the pit of Hell, Jesus was "Quickened by the Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18) and was born again "By the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" (1 Peter 1:23). He passed from spiritual death to life (1 John 3:14). He became "The firstborn from the dead" (Col. 1:18). Right there in the pit of hell, Jesus was born again! He defeated Satan and all his host; "He spoiled principalities and powers; he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it (Hell)." (Col 2:15)

Psalm 114 illustrates this victory in hell; verse 1 records "When Israel went out of Egypt," a representation (Heb 10:1) of when Jesus "Passed from death unto life." Verse 3 says, "The sea saw it and fled; Jordan was driven back. The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs." These are the representations of the four classes of demons in Eph 6:12.

We can say that when Jesus passed from death to life, principalities saw him and fled, powers were driven back, wicked spirits skipped like rams, and rulers were like lambs. Why? "Tremble, thou earth at the presence of the Lord (Jesus)," and scripture records that he was at the lower part of the earth (Eph. 4:9). One born-again man made an open show of the devil. Jesus commanded the devil to lie down, and he bruised his head (Gen 3:15). Friend, this is the victory that overcometh the world (Satan is prince of this world—Jn 16:11), for whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world! (1 Jn 5:4).

"You were quickened together with Christ; the devil did not just run from Jesus alone; he ran away from you too!"

The Final Process

After the resurrection of the Lord Jesus in the morning of the third day, he couldn't go and preach the gospel of salvation to his brethren. When Mary saw him, he could not expound the scriptures to her because the process was not yet complete; instead, he said

"Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God."

John 20:17

So that morning, "Christ is not entered into the holy place made with hands...but into heaven itself..." but "Not without blood," for he entered "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood," "Once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin" and has dedicated the new covenant with his own blood (Heb 8, 9 and 10). Rev. 5 paints a picture of what happened in heaven.

"They sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy...for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." And he received the inheritance of the saints, among which was the promise of the Spirit (Rev. 5:12). Then he was set by God "At his own right hand in heavenly places...far above all principality, and power, and might and dominion.." (Eph 1:21-22) "And given him a name which is above every name" (Phil 2:9).

After all this was accomplished, Jesus descended again into the earth, for it was recorded that "the same day at evening...came Jesus and stood in the midst" of his brethren and said "peace be unto you" (Jn 21:19). And he expounded to them the gospel of peace, and they were born again.

"Friend, the process is complete!"

Jesus is Lord!

Min. Roi