The Empty Tomb as the Grave Couldn't Hold Jesus Christ's Body

Apostle Paul wrote that there were first-hand witnesses to confirm the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep ", (1 Corinthians 15:3-6). The Empty Tomb is significant evidence of the bodily resurrection. The women who went to the sepulchre very early Sunday morning, concerned about who would help them roll away the mighty stone, found the tomb already opened and empty and were told by an angel that Jesus had risen. The angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid His body", (Mark 16:6). Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, took responsibility for the burial of Jesus after His crucifixion in a new tomb he made for himself (Matthew 27:57).

By this resurrection (Philippians 2:9-11) God also has highly exalted Jesus, and given Him a name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Jesus is no longer a subject for any Pontius Pilate to preside over. He ascended into heaven in the glaring view of many witnesses (Acts 1:9). He keeps appearing to many to date and appointing prophets and priests over His Church. He is the Everlasting Reigning King, the Ruler of the universe, the Judge of all mankind, to Him be glory, honour and dominion forever and ever. He has indeed risen.

Jesus spent forty days after He rose from the dead giving the disciples further information on the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). Even when He was about to ascend into heaven so the Holy Spirit could come (John 16:7) the disciples were still confused, as many still are today. They seemed only to remember the many stories and parables Jesus told about the kingdom of God.  So they asked Jesus saying, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). It can mean that we are all still after political powers, territorial possessions, powers to physically fight our foes, even though we desire the power and authority of the Messiah over it somewhat. Jesus had specifically told us that only God knows that time (Mark 13:32). The kingdom of God includes the restoration of the hearts of Jesus' followers (Ezekiel 36:26), from every tribe and nation (Revelation 7:9). The disciples are worried about when Jesus' kingdom will come but Jesus wants us to concern ourselves with who and how to be in that kingdom. The kingdom can't fully come until we have been Jesus' witnesses around the world (Acts 1:8). This is one reason we should rally around Prophet TB Joshua, Emmanuel TV, SCOAN, and promoting many national and international crusades periodically to find the sheep of the other folds (John 10:16). Jesus is risen, He is risen indeed. Emmanuel

Prof. R. A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Walking with Jesus to Golgotha

 

The events leading to the journey to Golgotha happened very fast. The enemy will lose no time attempting to pursue a perceived foe. Jesus was arrested in the early hour in Gethsemane Garden (Mark 14:37, 14:41) and about six hours later put on the cross, (Mark 16:25). In this short period, He had been marched from this Garden back to the other side of Jerusalem and examined severally. He was examined first by the High Priest Annas, then by the Sanhedrin presided over by the High Priest Caiaphas (Matt. 26:57, Mark 14:55) and then taken to Pilate (Luke 23:1), to Herod Antipas (Luke 23:7), then back to Pilate (Luke 23:11) again. Pilate finally sentenced Him and handed Him over to the soldiers. They dressed Him up as a mock-king, then made to drag His cross to Golgotha to be crucified.

Several years later Apostle Peter wrote to the pilgrims, including those coming to SCOAN from all parts of the world today that, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time", (1 Peter 1:3-5).

We note that throughout this trial Jesus never complained, even with all the torture and great humiliation. Jesus does what he asks of His followers then and today. He takes on the difficult challenges of life knowing that in going through the difficult challenges we grow in faith and hope in the Lord. Jesus literally, picks up His cross and goes forward on the journey to Golgotha knowing what lies ahead. Showing the world that God’s love for all was too important to stop the journey. Prophet TB Joshua teaches his views that challenges are the soils on which faith grows. Jesus goes through this to secure our salvation.

At the cross Jesus finally said "It is finished", (John 19:30). We have no doubt that Jesus knew what His last words ought to be here in this life. He knew the power those final words would have for generations still to come. He had great purpose in them, which still breathe such life and meaning for our lives today. Jesus has reached His destination and all the scriptures fully fulfilled, in Him and only in Him. Happy Easter Season. Emmanuel.

Prof. R. A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Remember the Cross that Jesus Bore on Our Behalf

 

In the time of Jesus Christ, when He appeared in flesh and blood living amongst us, the cross symbolized painful execution and punishment for wrong. The Roman government of that day used it for capital punishment. Jesus accepted to bear this painful cross on our behalf. "He bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds, you have been healed,” (1 Peter 2:14).

In the world today the cross is a symbol of Christianity. People wear a miniature cross around the neck or display it in a place of worship as can be found in the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos Nigeria. The cross that used to be a symbol of torture, execution, repulsiveness Jesus Christ has turned it into a symbol of victory, triumph and salvation for everyone who would believe in Him. This is why believers throughout the ages have chosen this as a sign of their faith. In fact, without the cross in our teaching the theology will be incomplete, empty, and Christianity a powerless religion. According to Scripture, there can be no forgiveness without the shedding of blood (Heb. 9:22). Christ had to bear the punishment for our sin for God to grant us forgiveness.

If you don’t know Jesus as a personal Lord and Saviour please look to the cross. You may hear Him knocking at the door of your heart. Also by watching Prophet TB Joshua on Emmanuel TV or listening to SCOAN messages, people's testimonies should encourage you to experience Jesus first hand. The purpose is to help you know Jesus better and believe His words in your heart for your salvation. Then the transformation begins. Then the cross that seems heavy and unbearable will become a symbol of victory and celebration for our life. Emmanuel.

 

Prof. R. A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Jesus Has to Rise Within You

 

In one of his short, but very deep teachings, Prophet TB Joshua of SCOAN, Lagos Nigeria said, "What you give may attract people but the manner you give it may attract God". In other words, if our giving only attracts people, making the world our friends then we are enemies of God (James 4:4) but if it attracts God we are children of God. So our daily ordinary giving is a test of being dead or alive in Christ, a test of whether Jesus is still dead in us or has risen. Jesus is about all the possibilities within us, all the peace and godly living, and all the eternal life. We also read in Daniel chapter 1 how the King of Babylon tried to change everything about Daniel and his friends, including their names, their food, their devotion to their God. But Daniel knew how to follow his guide Jesus whose Spirit was living in him. Jesus has to rise in each of us before we can stop going astray and live right.

Apostle Paul in Romans Chapter 8 emphasizes being alive in Christ Jesus. He says, "Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit", (kindly read verses 5-6). The mind of the flesh is death but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace. We are controlled by the Spirit if we have the Spirit of Christ living in us. Furthermore, the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead, that is living in us, will also give life to our mortal bodies. The whole essence is that Jesus, existing in every mortal soul, has to rise in each soul to give life, otherwise that body is dead. It's not about being a good man or a good woman. Have you risen with Christ?

The existing world situation is evil, corrupt, unjust, uneven, fearful, but Jesus in you should rise and join His army to fight this evil. It's not about being a good person. Jesus has not been considered a good man but He is the Righteousness and the Integrity of God. He comes to oppose the existing darkness, to eradicate the establishment of injustice and evil world. He comes to show the Way, the Truth, the Life. He is the Way, the Life and the Truth. One of Pilate's many insights questions posed to Jesus is, "What is Truth?", (John 18:38). Yet He was still crucified. We need to know the Truth to be set free from sin power over us. Therefore Jesus has to rise within you so that whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it", (Isaiah 30:21).  Emmanuel

Prof. R. A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Are You Looking For Jesus?

 

In Matthew 2:1-12 we read about the wise men that came from the east to Jerusalem saying, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?" When they saw the young child Jesus with Mary His mother they fell on there kneels, and worshipped Him and presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. In Luke 2:43-50, Joseph and Mary the parents of Jesus had to turn back again to Jerusalem, seeking and looking for their son Jesus because they had disconnected from Him. Some people who love Jesus may have got disconnected. They ought to turn back to restore their relationship. You'd probably find Jesus in the temple, sitting amid the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. But be very careful because in the temples today some are merchants, fame-seekers, religious leaders who wouldn't enter into Jesus' kingdom nor allow others.  In Sunday school, we had been routinely taught to find Jesus through confessing our sins, repenting from them, praying and reading the Bible. Yes, we can also find Jesus in the scriptures, the Bible.

Nicodemus a Pharisees and a ruler of the Jews also came looking for Jesus by night. Nicodemus probably had watched Jesus, (as many have been watching Emmanuel.tv all over the places). He would have listened to His teaching and His power and came to the conclusion that "no man can do these miracles that thou does, except God be with him". Jesus taught us many lessons from this night visit. Jesus said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit". We need a rebirth and that God loves the world and gives His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Jesus should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Zacchaeus a Chief Tax Collector also wanted to see who Jesus was.  Zacchaeus being a short man in status could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus since He was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed Jesus gladly, (Luke 19:1-10). The religious leaders mocked at Jesus saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up to the call for repentance and becoming a changed man.

Today many other individuals or groups of people are looking for Jesus, but each for very different reasons. Most of these are looking for Him for the very wrong reasons. Just like in Jesus' day, the Jews were looking for Jesus so they could kill Him. Jesus spoke in very simple but authoritative language, He reached out to hurting people. He was also known to be a friend of sinners. Jesus' basic message is "Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand". We are supposed to, "Keep ourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life", (Jude 1:21). Instead of that, the teachings of Jesus irritated the Jewish leaders and they regarded Him a threat and a Public Enemy Number One. They got Him arrested and nailed Him on a tree. Today, some people also hate Jesus Christ, and by extension true Apostolic prophets like Prophet TB Joshua of SCOAN. The teaching coming from SCOAN is very simply, bringing people out for confession, deliverance and receiving a new life in Christ Jesus, almost always immediately. SCOAN's altar call is unique, effective, excellent and real and not a ritual of it.

Another group of people was looking for Jesus because of the great signs He had performed. They sensed that something big was about to happen. But it was not what these people thought. They thought Jesus would free them from the tyranny of Rome. Whilst Jesus came to conquer sin and death this group thought Jesus had come to conquer Rome. He did not come to make war with Rome; instead, He came to make peace between God and man. These people misunderstood His mission. They were looking for Jesus, but they wanted Him on their terms. Many groups are in this class looking for Jesus they can use quickly as magic or charm, prosperity gospel teachers, measuring rewards as answers to prayer people. Yes Jesus is rich but He will tell us to "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you", (Matthew 6:33).

The Christmas Jesus seekers can also form another class of their own. At Christmas, many people will celebrate Jesus’ birth with decoration and funfair, but live the rest of the year as though He never came. They want God in their lives, but they want Him on their terms. They are looking for the plastic Jesus they can hang around as part of the furniture in the house. When they lose their Jesus the police can assist them to recover such property. Christmas also brings high sales to some people and the only reason to look forward to it.

Peradventure we are still undecided about who Jesus is and need to read more of Him in the scriptures.  Jesus has many names and many titles, each for unique purposes and His roles. For example, in Revelation chapter 1 Jesus is Christ, the Faithful Witness, the First Begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty, the First and the Last, etc. He is also called The Word of God, the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS,(Revelation 19:13, 16). That Jesus "being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself. . . God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father", (Philippians 2:6-13).

Hence, beloved, you need to work out your salvation with fear and trembling by looking for Jesus to follow Him. God shall work in you both to will and do of His good pleasure. In John Chapter 6 a great multitude followed Jesus because they saw His miracles which He did on them that were diseased. Jesus also fed them. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, "This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world". Jesus perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king. Hence He departed into a mountain Himself alone. The people of this world are looking for a champion, a leader, a celebrity, a worldly figurehead to build another city, to fight their wars, to rescue them from the consequences of their own mistakes, etc.  Some others asked Jesus, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said unto them, "This is the work of God that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent". Jesus is the one looking for us. He told Apostle John, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him and will sup with him, and he with me", (Revelation 3:20). Emmanuel!!!

Prof. R. A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Jesus Paid a Sabbath Visit at the Pool of Bethesda

 

There was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, (please read John chapter 5). The Pool of Bethesda was in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate (John 5:2), surrounded by five covered colonnades. The Sheep Gate was doubtless the gate through which the sheep travelled on their way to be sacrificed in the temple. During Jesus’ time, the Pool of Bethesda lay outside Jerusalem city walls. The name of the pool, “Bethesda,” is Aramaic. It means “House of Mercy”, "House of Grace", or "House of Love”, and it is also a place where “a great number of disabled people used to lay; the blind, the lame, the paralyzed” (John 5:3).  The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos Nigeria is called by many as "Arena of Liberty", also having this same dual meaning, being regarded by some as a place where the infirm, the sick, the invalids, come seeking from Jesus. SCOAN is also a place of Grace where many receive healing, deliverance, the new life and freedom.

In the case of Bethesda legend had it that an angel would come down into the pool and “stir up the water.” According to the legend, the first person into the pool after the stirring of the water “was made well from whatever disease with which he or she was afflicted” (John 5:4). The Bible does not teach that this actually happened; rather, the superstitious belief probably arose because of the pool’s association with the nearby temple.

On the day that Jesus visited this public pool of Bethesda, there was a man there, possibly amongst scores of others, and he “had been an invalid for thirty-eight years” (John 5:5). Jesus interacted with him twice, before his physical healing at the public pool and afterwards in the temple. Jesus asked the man “Do you want to be healed?” Jesus knew that not every sick person would want to be healed, and that some could be so discouraged that they put away all hope. Jesus was dealing with a man who might have his heart withered as well as his legs. Hence Jesus started by building up the faith of this man. The man replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred, (verse 7). He was probably saying to himself, “if only I was able enough, fast enough, strong enough, have someone else to help me then I could have been healed”. Or he was basically saying, "Yes, I want to be made well, but I don't see how this can happen”. The paralytic was in need of saving but there beside him was the Saviour of all mankind. When Jesus spoke to him, he heard the word of a mere man whilst he kept gazing at Bethesda for superstitious healing, expecting healing by work and not by faith or by grace.

Jesus swept aside all superstition and bypassed altogether the need for magic water with one command: “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk” (verse 8). The man was instantly cured, and “he picked up his mat and walked” (verse 9). The sick man limited God's help to his own ideas and did not dare promise himself more than he conceived in his mind. We create a small God in our heads, a God who is limited by whatever box we try to put Him into, a God we limit by what we have heard, out thoughts, or what we read in the newspapers.

Amazingly, not everyone was happy about the man’s miraculous healing. The day Jesus healed the man at the poolside happened to be a Sabbath. As the man left Bethesda, the Jewish leaders saw him only carrying his mat and didn’t see him walking and healed. They stopped him. “It is the Sabbath,” they said. “The law forbids you to carry your mat” (verse 10). The man told them that he was simply obeying orders. The man who made me well said to me, "Pick up your mat and walk” (verse 11). The Jews inquired who would so brazenly promote Law-breaking, but the man who was healed had no idea who He was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd, (verse 13). The contrary men of the world see only criticism and not the healing, or the changed life, or the restored sanity. The reaction of the Jewish leaders shows that, no matter how much proof God provides, there will be some people who refuse to see the truth. Jesus was an awesome Miracle Worker, but the religious leaders couldn’t see the miracle. All they could see was that someone had violated a rule. The issue was not the breaking of God’s command, for Jesus fulfilled all the Law and was completely subject to it (Matthew 5:17). The only thing being broken was a pharisaical interpretation of one of God’s laws. Therefore, a blessing meant to increase faith only increased the blindness of those who refused to acknowledge the blessing.

Jesus knew that the man who was physically healed still needed some spiritual healing. In fact, the religious leaders would have created more confusion, doubts and more unbelief in him. Just like in our days sponsored oppositions keep discouraging many not to visit SCOAN and be healed or to come and know more about Jesus. Hence Jesus traced him to the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you” (verse 14). Jesus’ words are a rebuke of unnamed sin. The man was probably living contrary to God’s will somehow and he received a warning of “something worse.” What could be worse than thirty-eight years of paralysis? May be an eternity in hell (see Mark 9:47). Thus Jesus healed him both physically and spiritually.

The Bible listed a few of the people fortunate to have this same direct encounter with the Lord Jesus for our benefit. Jesus healed people and told them, “Your faith has made you well”. He healed 10 lepers (Luke 1:11-19), the woman with the issue of blood (Matthew 9:20-22), a blind man (Mark10: 46-52). In this particular case, it was at Jesus’ compassion. Other cases of people who encountered Jesus include the twelve apostles, Nicodemus (John 3), the woman at Jacob's well in the town of Samaria called Sychar (John 4), Mary and Martha (John 11), the Apostle Paul on his way to Damascus, and many others. An encounter with Jesus would often not be exactly what we expect but it will bring out our true needs, revealing who we truly are, get to the true heart of the issues and sending us out to the field to tell others all about Jesus. Jesus will be known for Whom He truly is, The Son of God, The Messiah of the world, the Prophet of the world, the Spring of Living Water. This is how SCOAN is changing lives and changing nations by leading people to have an encounter with Jesus so that we are both physically and spiritually healed. Emmanuel

Prof R. A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria