In Old Testament times, God required animal sacrifices to provide temporary forgiveness of sins. This also foreshadowed the perfect and complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Leviticus 4:35, 5:10). The sacrifice of animals is an important theme found throughout Scripture because “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). When Adam and Eve sinned, God Himself clothed them with skins of sacrificed animals (Genesis 3:21, Gen. 15:10). God commanded the nation of Israel to perform sacrifices, too. When done in faith, this sacrifice provided temporary relief to man’s guilt and demonstrated God’s justice. These sacrifices had to be repeated once each year at the tabernacle in the wilderness and, later on, at the Temple in Jerusalem.
However, Jesus Christ entered into history as the eternal Priest to offer an eternal sacrifice for sin. The shedding of His blood provided a permanent sacrifice and a permanent covenant between God and man. Jesus did no wrong – He never sinned! He gave Himself willingly to die for the sins of mankind (1 Timothy 2:6). Jesus took our sin upon Himself and died in our place. “God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the greatest and most important event in the history of the world.
Why did God raise Jesus from the dead? One reason was to prove that Jesus was who He said He was: the divine Son of God, sent from heaven to save us from our sins. The Bible says that He “was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:4). The resurrection sets Jesus apart from every other person who has ever lived. Jesus is alive, and He wants to come into your life today.
God created us to have everlasting life. When we choose to disobey God and go our own way instead of His, this is sin, and results in separation from God. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and people. We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and invite Him into our life.
Do you believe that Jesus died for you?
The
Bible tells us, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame’.” (Romans 10:9-11).
Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I invite You right now to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
For further study look at:
Luke 24:1-12
Acts 1:1-11
Hebrews chapter 9
Leviticus chapter 4
Isaiah chapter 53
This is awesome! My youth group and I were just pondering this question on Sunday. Why did Jesus have to rise from the dead and not just die like all the other OT sacrifices? Awesome response…to prove he was the Son of God and to show the power of God. We also said to show that the work done on the cross was complete and finish and that all sin and death were completely overcome. And, because he was fully God and fully man, he was showing that humans with the indwelling Spirit of the Lord really can live a life of holiness and power. This is great! Love it! Thanks.