30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 23 44-49 THE DEATH OF JESUS 22 05Feb2022 John19 31-33 The building up of the body of Christ
📖 Luke 23:44-49
22 – 05 Feb 2022 – The building up of the body of Christ - Luke 23:44-49 - THE DEATH OF JESUS - Bible reading: I Corinthians 12:25-27
“Lord Jesus, we thank You that even as You died on the cross, You have given us precious principles on which we are built up as Your body, the church. In Jesus' most precious name, we pray, Amen.”
We have completed the study of Luke 23:44-49. We are still reviewing the death of Jesus. A couple of more incidents took place at that time.
To focus on these two incidents, we will move across to the Gospel of John.
John 19:31-33 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. (32) Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. (33) But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
This was a fulfilment of scripture.
John 19:36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "NOT ONE OF HIS BONES SHALL BE BROKEN."
This prophecy is given in the Psalms. Psalms 34:20 He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.
What is the significance of this prophecy, which was fulfilled?
As the Lord was bringing out the people of Israel from Egypt, their unity and they being the people of God was set in place by the institution of the Passover meal.
Exodus 12:46-48 In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. (47) All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. (48) And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it.
The Passover meal was given as a unique and special institution, exclusively for the Israelites. If a stranger desired to participate in the Passover meal, then that person would need to be fully amalgamated into the community of the Jews, through the exercise of circumcision, and only then take part.
The emphasis of the Passover meal was the importance of them being ‘one’. There should be no division amongst them as the people of God. To set this foundation in place, the bones of the lamb should not be broken.
The bones not being broken was the sign that the structure of the body of God’s people was in place. There was no break or division amongst the people of God. They then came out of Egypt in their ranks and so they were the people of God, set apart for God.
None of the bones of Jesus were broken. This was a fulfilment of prophecy but this was the principle for oneness in the body of Christ.
We, as the church of Jesus, celebrate the Passover meal as we participate in our Lord’s Communion. Jesus was the Passover Lamb that was killed for us. As we commune of the body and blood of Jesus, we are being built together as His body, the church.
The death of Jesus took place during the Passover festival. This was not a coincidence but the basis and foundation for the church.
In the communion, Jesus is inviting us, as the church, to partake of His body and of His blood. While we do so, we are conscious that none of His bones was broken and He is thus calling us as His church to be one, without any break or division amongst us.
Look at how the devil has worked effectively and has caused divisions and barriers amongst us. Should we not chase out the enemy and come back to the basis for us being one, as His church?
I Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
A body cannot function if there are broken bones. If we are divided then we are not functioning as the healthy and strong body of Jesus. If the body of Jesus is not strong and healthy, how can we wage war against our enemy, the devil?
We are a part of each other and together we complete the structure of the body of Christ. We must nourish and build each other for the development of each one and the overall development of the body of Christ.
I Corinthians 12:25-27 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. (26) And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it. (27) Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
This is the understanding for us as the church of Jesus Christ. There must be no schism or break amongst us.
Ephesians 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (20) having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, (21) in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, (22) in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit .
As we grow in oneness, in the body of Christ, we become the dwelling place of God.
Thought to ponder
Don’t allow the devil to convince you that oneness in the body of Christ is not possible.