Home / Blog / The Best Thing to Ever Walk With Us
In the strictest sense of the word, Jesus wasn't murdered – it was a divine appointment. He willingly gave His life to atone for the sins of humanity and completed a work of redemption on the cross that was prophesied concerning the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53:12.
Jesus, knowing that all things had now been completed and fulfilled Old Testament Scripture said, "I thirst," because He was so dehydrated that His tongue clung to His mouth from lack of moisture (see Psalm 22:15). A jar of sour wine was standing nearby, so they put a sponge-full on a hyssop branch to His mouth. When Jesus received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished." Bowing His head, He gave up His spirit and breathed His last breath (John 19:30). The work of redemption has been completed once for all and the result of Christ's crucifixion on the cross will continually abide forever.
Jewish law dictated that the bodies of executed criminals were to be removed from the cross before sunset (Deuteronomy 21:23). When their legs were broken, the victims of the cross could no longer ease the strain on their arms and chest, causing greater constriction in their chests, which hastened their death. When the soldiers came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs, but they pierced the Savior's side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out (see John 19:31-34). This action ensured that no bones were broken which aligns with Old Testament prophecy of the Passover Lamb in Exodus 12:46 and Psalm 34:20.
Many believe Jesus' last words are, "It is finished" – but the Lord's last words in reality are exactly the direct opposite. They concern the beginning of something new. The last thing Jesus says is recorded in Acts 1:8-11.
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
Under the New Covenant, every believer is offered the Promise of the Father (Luke 24:49), the active presence of the Holy Spirit.
Earlier when they were together in Acts 1:4, Jesus commanded them to go to Jerusalem and wait to receive the gift the Father had promised – the gift of the Holy Spirit. Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31).
In John 16, Jesus tells His disciples something that seems unreasonable to them:
"It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away the Helper (Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you" (John 16:7).
When Jesus was with the disciples, they experienced new life, they saw many miracles – like blind eyes see, deaf ears hear, and the lame walk. Demons were cast out with a command and everyone who came to Him were healed. He turned no one away.
They saw Him calm the wind and stormy waves of the sea; they saw Him walk on the water and now fly away. How could it possibly be better for Him to leave? The Bible doesn't share what they felt at that moment, but they were likely disappointed and some were a little ticked.
But it did get better because Jesus said it would. The disciples soon discovered that life can really become better. Jesus was limited to what He could do in a single body made of human flesh. But born-again believers have the Holy Spirit, who is sent by our heavenly Father, who isn't confined to one body. Believers have the Holy Spirit with them wherever they go because He abides in us and His anointing rests upon us.
People who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live completely different lives.
When Jesus was on the earth, He often secluded Himself so He could spend time with the Father. But since the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we always have the Holy Spirit with us – He never leaves our side.
Jesus is the best thing to ever walk on this earth, and the Holy Spirit is the best thing to ever walk with us. Jesus did more than anyone has ever done and He tells believers in John 14:12:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."
The promise is not that disciples of Jesus will perform works that are greater in value or significance than Jesus. Rather, they are greater in scope and number in these respects: 1) Because He was crucified, Jesus' earthly ministry was limited to only a few years, but after His Resurrection and Pentecost, His ministry was and continues to be multiplied through Holy Spirit empowered believers. 2) Our works include the preaching of the gospel, which result in the blessings of justification, reconciliation, and the gift of the Holy Spirit who resides in the heart of every believer – all of which are post-resurrection manifestations of Christ's reign.
Mark 2:1-12 and Luke 5:17-26 tell us about a paralyzed man who had four friends. When Jesus was in Capernaum, it was heard that He was in a house and so many had gathered together that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. When they couldn't come near because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where Jesus was and let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying with ropes tied to each corner.
When Jesus saw the paralytic lying on his mat, Jesus immediately went to the heart of the man's problem – sin. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
Not all sickness is caused by sin (see John 9:1-3), but evidently this man's condition was the result of his disobedience to God. Even before He healed the man's body, however, Jesus spoke peace to the man's heart and announced that his sins were forgiven. Forgiveness is the greatest miracle that Jesus ever performs. It meets the greatest need; it costs the greatest price; and it brings the greatest blessings with lasting results.
Most of us probably know at least one friend or acquaintance who is sick. What would happen if we brought them to Jesus?
We can bring people to Jesus by praying for them. I don't mean just saying, "I'm praying for you," but actually asking them, "Can I pray with you?" There's a difference between "praying for" and "praying with" someone.
God still heals the sick. He can do that through our hands and our prayers, with Holy Spirit empowerment. We aren't Jesus, but His Spirit lives in us.
We have an amazing opportunity to believe what we cannot see – that's what faith is – "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).
The opening verses of Hebrews 11 don't define faith but describe what faith does and how it works. True Bible faith is not blind optimism or a manufactured hope-so feeling. Neither is it intellectual assent to a traditional doctrine. Faith does not consist of belief in spite of contrary evidence – that would be superstition. Biblical faith is confident obedience to God's Word despite circumstances and consequences.
Faith operates quite simply. God speaks. We hear His Word, trust what He says, and act on it no matter what the circumstances, or what the consequences might be. The circumstances may seem difficult, if not impossible to achieve, and the consequences frightening or unknown. But we obey God's Word no matter and believe He will do what is right and what is best.
Faith is the title deed of things hoped for. Our assurance rests on God's promises, which are true and irrevocable. Faith is possible only because God is faithful. He cannot lie. He is true to His word and will do exactly what the Bible says.
Get a new Spiritual Thought of the Day, along with our budget-friendly family activities, in your inbox.
Join the Newsletter