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Luke 24 1-8 JESUS HAS RISEN 10 04Mar2022 Luke 24 7-8 The grand design
📖 Luke 24:1-8
10 – 04Mar2022 – The grand design - Luke 24:01-08 - JESUS HAS RISEN - Bible reading: Colossians 1:15-20
“Lord Jesus, thank You, that as we live in the fullness of resurrection, we begin to see how this life of resurrection is connected to Your grand design. We give You all the glory and praise in Your precious name we pray, Amen.”
Luke 24:7-8 saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' " (8) And they remembered His words.
These were the words that Jesus spoke repeatedly to His disciples, while He was on the earth. The disciples were able to understand, only much later, what the Lord had told them.
“Why did Jesus have to go through crucifixion that resulted in His death, burial and His resurrection?”
Our immediate answer would be that it is for you and me. Yes, that is true, but we must get a hold of the grand design of God.
Philippians 2:6-8 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (7) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. (8) And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
This is what God has done for us in Christ, but, was there a larger plan?
Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Friends, this is the grand design of God. At the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, which is what will bring glory to God the Father.
When we begin to see the grand design of God, we begin to appreciate what the Lord has done for us and we fall before Him in worship. We, the church, have a part in the grand design of God.
Ephesians 1:20-23 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, (21) far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (22) And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, (23) which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
In the Philippians passage, at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth. Here in Ephesians, we see that Jesus is seated far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
The disciples, represented by the women, never understood the grand design of God. They came to anoint a dead body, not to experience the risen Christ.
Jesus is made to be head over all things, FOR THE CHURCH. Within the grand design of God, we see how the Lord has hidden the church. We are safe and secure within the grand design of God.
Colossians 1:15-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (16) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (17) And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. (18) And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (19) For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, (20) and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
Friends, we must always keep in focus the wonderful plan and design of God. We must also always see how the Lord has protected the church within His grand design.
Ephesians 1:9-13 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, (10) that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. (11) In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, (12) that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. (13) In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
The work of the Holy Spirit in us is the guarantee of us being a part of the grand design of God.
Let us give ourselves fully to the resurrected life of Christ, in the Holy Spirit, thereby affirming our part in the grand design of God.
This is the reason why the Lord, repeatedly, made it known to the disciples of His death by crucifixion, burial and resurrection, which they understood as they participated in His resurrected life.
Thought to ponder
Our task is to invite people to come under the shelter of God’s grand design.