The King Has Risen

Today, the kind of love people are used to receiving and giving is often superficial, temporary, and conditional. Those who do not know Jesus cannot truly say they know love, because only one person is the pure and complete definition of love: a love that is given, not taken; a love paid with blood, not just with words; a love that cannot be bought with money.

Only one could pay that high price on the cross… and that one is Jesus of Nazareth—or as I like to call Him: my Lord, my great Friend, and my Savior.

More than two thousand years ago, Jesus took on a human body, lived on this earth full of sin and evil (while He Himself was pure and perfect), and prepared twelve people, turning them into disciples so they could go and preach the Gospel—the Gospel that you and I know today. That same Rabbi is now our Teacher and the definition of what we know today as the Word of God.

There is no love like that of Jesus, because since the beginning of the world, no one has ever given themselves to death for people who, even today, do not recognize Him as the Son of God. Jesus, knowing the Father’s plan to send someone to save us, was not only obedient but also willing to die and later live within each one of us.

Jesus was handed over into the hands of wicked and sinful men—the same men for whom He was willing to die. A crown of thorns was placed on His head, which for the Roman soldiers was a form of mockery, presenting Him as the “King of the Jews.” But they did not know that three days later, that crown of thorns would be replaced with a crown of glory, honor, and majesty—and that the King they mocked would become the King, Lord, and Master of our lives.

Jesus’ hands and feet were nailed to the cross. His body was beaten and scourged until He was unrecognizable. Yet He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our sins; the punishment for our peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed, forgiven, delivered, and loved (Isaiah 53:5).

Jesus was separated from the Father and spent three days and three nights in hell, becoming the mediator between God and us, because no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).

Jesus rose on the third day, and now He is not only seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for us, but He also dwells in those who have chosen to receive Him.

Crucifixion is considered one of the worst ways to die, but Jesus turned it into the greatest, most valuable, and most sincere expression of love that has ever existed.

And if you are still not convinced of His love, Luke 23:34 reveals the words of Jesus:

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Jesus had the authority to ask the Father to intervene on His behalf, but instead, He chose to cry out for forgiveness… and because of that willingness, you and I can now be called children of God.

The blood of Jesus shed on the cross covered countless sins, diseases, and curses, and now that same blood flows in us.

There is no sacrifice like that of Jesus, because no one took His life from Him. He Himself said:

“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.”
(John 10:18)

The King came in the form of a man, died, went to hell, rose again, sat at the right hand of the Father… and soon He will return.

—Yirel Salinas