It Is Finished….. He is Risen Pt 1

We have arrived at the most pivotal week for Christians around the world. This is a week to truly reflect upon what Jesus Christ of Nazareth did to change the very fabric of the world. There are different names with slightly different types of tradition surrounding the remembrance of this week that occurred a little over 2000 years ago. Many call this week Holy Week and within this week there are different observances of the Passion of Christ. For example, in Oberammergau Germany, the “Passion Play” has been performed since 1634. Roman Catholics participate in “Stations of the Cross” while many Protestants hold “Cross Walks.” What is it about Holy Week that sparks the flames of love and worship in so many Christians? Are these remembrances for Christians only? Jewish people continue to observe the Passover while Christians remember the Last Supper. What about people who have no religious affiliation or those who claim another faith? The truth is Jesus came to us to save (to love on and to make whole) the entire world.

Our good friend and president of Liberating Ministries for Christ International, Dale M. Sides (www.lmci.org) wrote a book called Perfect Redemption. In that book he highlighted how the crucifixion of Jesus was so much more than what we often see today. Most of Christianity observes this on Good Friday. First of all, we want to point out that Jesus was not murdered in the sense that He was ambushed without warning. No, He gave His life willingly because of His incredible love for us. Imagine that your child is the target of a terrorist attack. You see it coming and you have a choice to make. Do you rush in and take your child’s place and receive the full force of the attack thereby saving your child’s life or do you stand by and let your child be killed instead? Jesus chose to go in there and receive the fatal assault Himself to spare us from eternal death. He did so knowing that because He was (and is) in the Father and the Father (God) was in Him, He would ultimately survive the attack by being raised from the dead. However, through that brutal death there was a great deal of shedding of blood. As Dr. Dale pointed out in his Perfect Redemption book, even the shedding of Jesus blood took on great significance and meaning for us.

In this incredible revelation you will see how Jesus bled 7 ways and what it means:

1)    Out of His forehead in the garden (Luke 22:43)

2)    Internally bruised (Is.53:5; Matt.26:67; Luke 22:64)

3)    Out of His head – crown of thorns (Matt.27:29)

4)    Out of His back (Is.53:5; Matt.8:17; 1 Peter 2:24)

5)    Out of His hands (Psalm 22:16; Luke 24:39-40)

6)    Out of His feet (Psalm 22:16; Luke 24:39)

7)    Out of His side – water and blood (Isaiah 53:5; John 19:34)

The 7 ways Jesus bled was for our healing and forgiveness of:

1)    Forehead = mental sins: doubt, worry, fear, anxiety, unforgiveness (fear)

2)    Internally = generational curses: cleansing of iniquity (fear, lust, anger, pride)

3)    Head = not making Him King; putting anything else first (idolatry)

4)    Back = to remove the sins done against our bodies: food, drugs, alcohol (lust)

5)    Hands = evil works done (anger)

6)    Feet = walking in self-willed disobedience (pride)

7)    His side = sins of the heart; transgressions (omission/commission)

Wow! This is the perfect redemption at its very core! This Perfect Redemption was accomplished in order for us to: 

1) Quicken our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit (forehead)

2) Cut off any inward agony (internally)

3) Redeem us from the curse of poverty; break the curse off the ground (crown of thorns)

4) Give us divine health (back)

5) Do the Father’s will with our hands; lay hands on the sick (hands)

6) Die to self and not walk in our own ways; wisdom for decision making (feet)

7) Reconcile us to God; reconcile men and women (side)

Ok, some of you may be saying this is all fine and good but I still haven’t made up my mind about Jesus…. Or, maybe you have made up your mind and decided He’s not for you. This is where we say don’t worry about focusing on that for right now. We believe that Jesus’ Perfect Redemption is bigger than your doubt. The only thing you need to do is to ask Him into your heart. If you want any of the promises of wholeness, He is faithful to offer them to you. You don’t need to go anyplace special, you don’t need to send out announcements; just ask Him into your life. (Romans 10:9-10, 13) The rest of your perfect redemption will be a journey in which His Holy Spirit will guide you. So, remember, as we go through Holy Week, what Jesus did to accomplish your salvation. Remember His last words which sum up that incredible accomplishment:

John 19:28-30 (NKJV)

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

It IS finished. Jesus paid the price.

~Sarah and Joanne