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 Fast-forward at least 4,000 years to a night in Jerusalem where
Jesus and His disciples had just finished the Passover meal. The night was
upon them now, and another scene began to be played out in another garden:
Gethsemane.
After the Passover meal had been finished, Jesus and His disciples had gone
to the Garden called Gethsemane. It was there that Jesus was later arrested,
having been betrayed by one of His disciples named Judas. The sequence of
events moved very quickly through that night: Jesus' appearance before a
cadre of officials: Jewish high priests, kings and Roman officials.
Ultimately, Jesus was led to a place just outside the city where He was
nailed to a Roman cross and put to death.
So Jesus was now dead. His blood had been shed, and above His head, attached
to the cross, hung a sign that said "King of the Jews." A few people had
gathered at the foot of the cross. Most of His disciples had run away and
were in hiding. Perhaps some were watching from a far distance, fearing they,
too, might be recognized. They may not have been able to see much of what was
happening.
The sky had grown dark a few hours before His actual death, so it was likely
difficult to see clearly, especially from any distance. John, one of Jesus'
disciples was there at the foot of the cross, and Mary, Jesus' mother. Of course some guards were there to oversee the crucifixion.
In the deafening quietness of the chilling darkness, death was slowly, but
surely descending on that place. It is quite possible that Satan and some of
his followers were there to witness that scene as well. Perhaps Satan
remembered the "other" garden and the words of "attacking" this offspring's
heal. It may have brought a smile to his face knowing that Jesus would soon
be dead.
It was ironic that across the city, at the temple, the priests were going
through their rituals of killing, cutting and burning the lambs that had
been offered as a sacrifice, as a pushback for a person's sins. Because
on that hill at Calvary, just outside the city, the One whom John the
Baptist had declared "the Lamb of God" began speaking at the afternoon
offering time, "It is finished." The Lamb of God on the cross was presenting
Himself as a sacrifice with His own blood for the forgiveness of sins,
through His death, even on a cross.
But then the resurrection! If Satan had shouted a victory cry when Jesus was
on the cross, his voice must have crackled with despair and disbelief "early
on Sunday morning." I Corinthians 15:54-55 shouts: "Death has been
swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
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 After spending 40 days with his resurrected Lord,
Jesus' disciple Peter reported to a large group of
people publicly on the Jewish day of Pentecost,
"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the
Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds,
wonders, and miraculous signs that God performed among you through
him, just as you yourselves know — this man, who was handed over by
the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by
nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles. But God raised him
up, having released him from the pains of death, because it was not
possible for him to be held in its power." —
Acts 2:22-24
Peter went on to say: "Therefore let all the house of Israel know
beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both
Lord and Christ." Now when they heard this, they were acutely
distressed and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "What
should we do, brothers?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and each one
of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness
of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For
the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far
away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself." —
Acts 2:36-39
For all those who have placed their faith in the work that Jesus did
on the cross, and have been justified by His blood and continue to
walk in His Spirit, they will one day be glorified by the changing
of their bodies to join the resurrected Jesus as He sits on the
throne in heaven. Jesus died once for all, was resurrected and
glorified to sit on the right hand of God's throne.
What goes around comes around. With the work on the cross completed,
the blood of Christ given as a sacrifice, and Jesus secure on the throne of God, at His appointed time the "final disposition of
Satan" will be accomplished by Jesus:
"And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire
and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are too, and they
will be tormented there day and night forever and ever." —
Revelation 20:10
Without the perfect life, death and burial of Jesus, God's Son,
there would have been no resurrection. Without the resurrection,
there would be no victory over death. Without the victory over death,
there would be no dispelling Satan to be banished forever.
[By JIM KILLEBREW]
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