Conclusion

We must come to know Jesus more deeply. We must realize the truth that the knowledge of Jesus Christ is the most excellent knowledge (Philippians 3:8). Jesus is the Word who became flesh (John 1:14). Jesus, who became that “Word,” is self-existent (Exodus 3:14), was with God the Father, and this Word is God Himself (John 1:1). God the Father, God the Son Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit are one (the Triune God). The Son Jesus Christ reveals the nature (attributes) possessed only by God and also does the works that only God can do. The Bible says that God the Father, God the Son Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit are all God, all equal, and God is one. In other words, the Bible teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three persons who are also one God. Jesus, who is God the “Word,” the perfect God without beginning, the perfect and eternal man, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and became flesh (a human) through the virgin Mary, a descendant of woman. The purpose was to dwell among us, to be the mediator between God and us, and to be the atoning sacrifice. Therefore, Jesus, who became flesh, had a beginning (birth) and an end (death) on this earth. The purpose was so that we, who have a beginning and an end on this earth, and who were spiritually dead and eternally dead, may become eternal persons living forever in an eternal heaven without beginning or end. Therefore, we must have confidence that the Word became flesh. By faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the perfect God, perfect man, and eternal person, we must live victorious lives fighting spiritual battles with God’s power. And we must live a life of service following Jesus. We must live a life of service to the point that, like Jesus, we are willing to give our lives. In other words, we must serve until death as Jesus did (Philippians 2:8).

Matthew 20:28 says: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This verse broadly refers to the suffering of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ became a man and endured suffering during the 33 years He lived on this earth. In short, Jesus’ 33 years of life was a life of suffering. His suffering was not only at the age of 33 when He died on the cross, but He also suffered when He was young. For example, Jesus experienced a life of fleeing as a child (Matthew 2:13-18). The reason Jesus fled to Egypt after coming to this earth at God’s appointed time to die (Galatians 4:4) was because God’s appointed time for His death had not yet come. During His 33 years on earth, Jesus often fled and hid because the appointed time for His death had not yet arrived. Then, Jesus died at God’s appointed time (Romans 5:6), and before that, He told that He would die in Jerusalem, the place appointed by God (Matthew 16:21). Jesus not only said that Jerusalem was where He would die, but He also said, “He must rise again on the third day” (verse 21). In other words, He foretold that He would rise again three days after His death. Then Jesus went up to Jerusalem to fulfill that prophecy, endured suffering, and prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46): “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will” (Mark 14:36). Jesus prayed with great effort and earnestness (Luke 22:44). And He prayed until God the Father answered Him (Matthew 26:42, 44). After receiving the answer to His prayer, Jesus boldly went out to the evil mob who came to seize Him along with His 11 disciples (Matthew 26:46). The Lord’s amazing power (authority) was revealed (John 18:4-6). Though Jesus could have escaped when the large crowd came to arrest Him after His prayer in Gethsemane, He did not flee but allowed Himself to be taken. Jesus was then tried before the Roman governor Pilate (John 18:28–19:16). Pilate knew Jesus was innocent (John 18:38; 19:4, 6) and tried four times to release Him but failed (19:12; Luke 23:23), and finally sentenced Jesus to be crucified. The chief priests then sent two other criminals—two notorious robbers (Matthew 27:38, 44; Mark 15:27)—to be led to Golgotha with Jesus. This was to secretly tell the crowd that Jesus was the same kind of person as those two criminals. Jesus was crucified with the two thieves, and at that time, passersby, chief priests, scribes, and elders insulted and mocked Him. Why was Jesus, who was crucified, subjected to mockery, scorn, and insult? Because of our sins. Jesus bore all the mockery, scorn, and insults that we deserved. Jesus spoke seven sayings on the cross: (1) “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34), (2) “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (23:43), (3) “Woman, behold your son” (John 19:26), (4) “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) (Matthew 27:46), (5) “I thirst” (John 19:28), (6) “It is finished” (verse 30), (7) “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). After speaking these seven sayings, Jesus was crucified and died. Jesus, who died for our sins and was buried according to the Scriptures, rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). “Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17). Jesus came to this earth at God’s appointed time (Galatians 4:4), died at God’s appointed time (Romans 5:6), and will come again to this earth at God’s appointed time (1 Timothy 6:14-15). Jesus came to fulfill God’s will on this earth and fulfilled God’s will at God’s appointed time. We also must follow Jesus’ example and fulfill God’s will at God’s appointed time.