Now,
in order to resolve any matter, it is imperative that we get to the root cause of the problem and not simply dealing with the effects because, the root cause of
everything that is happening especially in the area of worship, is Satan who
wants to be worshiped in the place of God, and therefore, if what we are doing
is not the truth we are worshiping the devil.
So,
let us look at the question of whether we are worshiping the true Messiah, or
whether we are worshiping an impostor? I will try to condense this article as
much as possible since most of us do not like reading long articles, but first, let us establish the facts.
On
two occasions the Jews requested from Jesus Christ a sign to prove His
Messiah-ship, the first occasion was after His first recorded miracle of
turning water into wine, and soon afterwards driving out both men and animals
from the temple, and over turning the tables; the Jews demanded of Him saying,
“What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this!”
Jesus’
reply was, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” The
Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are
going to raise it in three days?” But the temple He was referring to was His
body (John
2:18-21).
On
the second occasion, some of the teachers of the law (Scribes) and Pharisees
said to Jesus, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” Jesus
answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But
none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was
three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of man will
be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:38-40).
There
was no ambiguity in the mind of Jesus Christ, as to how many hours constitute a
day and a night; because, when He was told that Lazarus, the one whom He loved
was sick, He replied, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is God’s
glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
Then
He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” But His disciples replied,
“Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and you are going back
there?
Jesus
answered, “Are there not twelve hours in daylight? A man who walks by day will
not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night
that he stumbles, for he has no light” (John 11:4-10).
In
this context one has to conclude that, when Jesus said that He was going to
spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, He literally meant
seventy-two (72) hours, and not part of a day as a day, as it is commonly
taught.
On
another occasion some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to Him, “Leave this
place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” Jesus replied, “Go tell that
fox, I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the
third day I will reach my goal (be perfected)” (Luke 13:31-32).
This
He said in reference to what He would be doing during the three days and three
nights He would spend in hell, as alluded to by Peter who wrote; “For Christ
died for sin once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to
God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom
also He went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when
God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it
only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water’ (1 Peter 3:18-20).
These
spirits to whom the gospel was preached whilst in hell were judged according to
men in regard to the body (1 Peter
4:6). And those who
heard the voice of the Lord lived. As it is written: “I tell you the truth, a
time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of
God and those who hear will live” (John 5:25).
On
many occasions Jesus Christ explained to His disciples that, “He must go to
Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and
teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised
to life” (Matthew
16:21; 17:22-23; 20:19; Luke 24:46).
So
the provoking question however is, did Jesus Christ fulfill His miraculous sign
precisely as He foretold, and proved His Messiah-ship? Since the sign was a
test sign to prove that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah, anything short or
beyond the stipulated three days and three nights would render Him a hoax and
an impostor.
Stay
tuned
To
be continued
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