WTKM Devotions: Why did Jesus have to die?

Saturday:  April 3, 2010

Title:  To Secure Our Resurrection from the Dead

It won’t be long now until we begin placing seeds in our vegetable and flower gardens.  I am always amazed at the seed I place in the ground.  It has been dormant for all the winter months or longer and now placed in some warm damp soil it springs to new life. Although it happens billions and billions of times each year it is still awesome!

Hi, I’m Pastor Jeff Schimp of Glacier Hills Bible Church here in Hartford, Wisconsin.  Tomorrow is Easter Sunday.  It’s the day that Christians gather to Celebrate the Resurrection of  Jesus Christ from the dead.  This week on WTKM radio I have been addressing the question, “Why did Jesus have to die?”  The answer we give today is, “To secure our resurrection from the dead.”  Listen to the words of the Bible in this passage:

“If the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He Who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.”

Romans 8:11

From the Cross the Son of God cried, “It is finished (John 19:30 ).  As Pastor and Author John Piper states, “The great work of paying for our sin and providing our righteousness and satisfying God’s justice was finished in the death of Jesus.  Then, in the grave, he had the right and the power to take the keys of death and open the door for all who come to Him by faith.  If sin is paid for, and righteousness provided, and justice satisfied, nothing can keep Christ and His people in the grave.  That’s why Jesus shouts, “I died, and behold I am alive forever more, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Rev.1:18).

In death there is one thing we want – it is hope.  Hope that there is more to life than this.  Hope that we shall see and be with our loved ones again.  That is the message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The message of hope is affirmed in the Bible:

“If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him.”

II Timothy 2:11

To have died with Jesus Christ means that we have placed our faith in what Jesus Christ did for us upon the Cross.  Jesus Himself said, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though He  die, yet shall He live.” John 11:25

Like the new life of a seed, we too can have the assurance of new and eternal life through Jesus Christ.  If you’d like to learn more you may contact me through our web site  www.Glacierhillschurch.org

Glacier Hills Bible Church also invites you to our Easter Sunday Celebration.  We invite you for a free breakfast at 8 :30 AM followed by our Easter Service at 9:30 AM.

On the final day of these WTKM devotions I wish to thank Scott Lopas and Dick Feutz for hosting these devotional times.

Thank you for joining me today.  Have a very blessed Easter.