We have completed the journey through that part of the tabernacle which serves as a pattern for Jesus’ life. Now, we will look closely at Jesus’ death, His resurrection, and ascension. The next feature in the progression through the Mosaic tabernacle is the veil in front of the Holy of Holies, and here is the scripture that connects this veil with Jesus’ death.
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, Matthew 27:50-51 NASB
Behind the third veil is the Holy of Holies with the ark of the covenant, representing Jesus resurrection and ascension to God Almighty’s presence in heaven. We will employ several patterns to investigate Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension.
We begin with the father-son relationship between God Almighty and Jesus Christ, a fundamental concept of the gospel.
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 1:1 NASB
And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 16:17 NASB
However, Jesus is not the only one who was a son of God Almighty.
the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. Luke 3:38 NASB
The man Adam and Jesus were created as sons of God Almighty because neither had a natural father.
These two sons of God Almighty, who bracket the Old Testament period, are extremely important to all humanity, since events in their lives affect every person who has lived or ever will live on earth. The apostle Paul wrote of the importance to all humanity of these two sons of God Almighty.
So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:18-19 NASB
The man Adam’s transgression and disobedience brought sin, condemnation, and death to all of humanity. Jesus’ righteousness and obedience brings justification, righteousness, and life to all humanity. In the next chapter, we will explore the implication of the statements that there resulted justification of life to all men and that the many will be made righteous.
We have already mentioned the following contrast of the two sons of God Almighty.
So also it is written “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 1Corinthians 15:45-47 NASB
The designation of Jesus as the last Adam suggests that Jesus brought a conclusion to things common to both of them. For instance, the man Adam’s transgression and disobedience created the need for the Mosaic Law as a tutor of humanity. Jesus’ faithful observance of the Law fulfilled the Law and eliminated humanity’s obligation to follow the Law as a means of reconciliation to God Almighty.
For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:14 NASB
The apostle Paul also makes the distinction between the man Adam as a living soul and Jesus as a life-giving spirit, and we gain insight regarding this distinction by considering the spiritual journeys of these two sons. We can organize the man Adam’s spiritual journey by the three steps of his creation and the ternary nature of humanity–body, spirit, and soul (Section 2.4).
Then the LORD God
- formed man of dust from the ground [body], and
- breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [spirit]; and
- man became a living being [soul]. Genesis 2:7 NASB
The man Adam’s journey began in the physical realm of the ground when he was formed … of dust from the ground, and thus humanity’s body is consistently associated with the ground. From the ground, God Almighty moved the man Adam into the spiritual realm of the garden/dust (Section 2.5).
Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. Genesis 2:15 NASB
Note that the man Adam was put … into the garden of Eden, indicating that the man Adam was created outside the garden/dust realm. With the breath of God Almighty, the man Adam was moved to the garden/dust realm where the spiritual component of humanity was ignited by His presence, and the man’s spiritual journey reached an apex there.
The third phase of the spiritual journey of the man Adam is after God Almighty withdrew His Spirit from him, and thus, without the necessary support, the dust must return to the lower, ground realm (Gen 2:22). The man Adam returned to the ground (physical realm) where he functioned as a living being (soul) clothed with skin or flesh in the kingdom of darkness. There, the man Adam was cursed with death, the final step and the low point in his spiritual journey.
This sequence of three phases for the man Adam is a pattern for only part of Jesus’ spiritual journey, for Jesus both started in and returned to heaven. Jesus was Deity in heaven but came to earth to take part in humanity.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:5-7 NASB
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5 NASB
When on earth as the last Adam, Jesus followed the spiritual journey of the first Adam. Specifically, the designation “born of woman” signifies Jesus’ placement in the physical realm of the ground as a living soul for the thirty years, from His birth of the body to His baptisms. Jesus, by being born under the Law, was made like His Jewish brethren.
Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17 NASB
Though the man Adam and Jesus were living soul(s) in the same physical realm, there is a difference in the lives of these two sons of God Almighty. After his disobedience, the man Adam was sent to the ground to cultivate it (Gens 3:23-24), but he did not produce the desired fruit (of the Spirit). On the other hand, Jesus, when sent to the physical realm, was able to cultivate the ground and produced the fruit of the Spirit desired by God Almighty. Setting aside His self and will empowered Jesus to resist all temptation and to live without sin. Jesus was the perfect Jewish lad for thirty years as He participated in the customs and requirements of the Law.
When Jesus was baptized with water and with the Holy Spirit at the River Jordan, Jesus experienced His second birth, that of the spirit.
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:5-6 NASB
After His second birth by the Spirit, which brings one into the kingdom of God Almighty, Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God Almighty and His membership in it.
Furthermore, when He was declared to be God Almighty’s full-grown Son (Matt 3:17), Jesus became a life-giving spirit and attained a spiritual dimension missing in all humanity. By this transformation, Jesus, the last Adam, moved into the dust/garden realm, and God Almighty fulfilled His promise made in His curses that (the last) Adam would return to the garden/dust realm (for you are dust, and to dust you shall return, Gen 3:19). The good news is that there will be others who fulfill this promise of attaining the garden/dust realm.
When the man Adam was placed in the garden/dust realm by God Almighty, he had a marvelous light-body (body), was in the presence of God Almighty (spirit), and was blameless (soul). Jesus as a life-giving spirit in the garden/dust realm had this trinity of attributes as well. We see evidence of a light body for Jesus at His transfiguration when, for a moment, He had a light body which we may assume was similar to that of the man Adam.
And some eight days after these sayings, it came about that He took along Peter and John and James, and went up to the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. Luke 9:28-29 NASB
Jesus, because of His baptism with the Holy Spirit and adoption as a Son, had unrestricted access to the presence of God Almighty, just as the man Adam had.
“For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.” John 3:34-35 NASB
Jesus had a divine nature which allowed Him to live without sin.
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 NASB
Therefore, during His ministry as a life-giving spirit while in the garden/dust spiritual realm, Jesus had a trinity of heightened attributes similar to what the man Adam had in the same realm. However, unlike the man Adam, Jesus overcame temptations offered by Satan, only did the will of God Almighty, and did the tasks that He was assigned.
But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” The disciples therefore were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to accomplish His work.” John 4:32-34 NASB
Next, Jesus, like the man Adam, went from the garden realm to the ground realm to endure death as a living soul. Specifically, after the last supper, Jesus led his disciples to the garden of Gethsemane where He would commune with God Almighty in prayer.
When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, into which He Himself entered, and His disciples. John 18:1 NASB
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Matthew 26:36 NASB
When authorities came to arrest Jesus, He refused to invoke the dominion of the earthly realm which was available to Him. When Peter defended Jesus with his sword, Jesus rebuked him.
Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” Matthew 26:52-53 NASB
Such authority and power were rightfully His, but Jesus chose obedience over entitlement. Jesus chose to be in subjection to those over whom He had dominion and was lead away from the garden (realm).
Jesus therefore, knowing all things that were coming upon Him, went forth, and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also who was betraying Him, was standing with them. When therefore He said to them, “I am He”, they drew back, and fell to the ground. John 18:4-6 NASB
Jesus capture included a fall to the ground, an indication of Jesus’ move from the garden realm to the ground realm.
Because Jesus had no sin, He was not under the sentence of death pronounced upon humanity, that is, if one sins, then one must die. Hence, Jesus was entitled to life without death (eternal life in physical world), yet Jesus willingly accepted the sentence of death universal to all others. Having set aside his dominion, Jesus followed the path of the first Adam when He took the sins of the world upon Himself and became sinful. Like the man Adam, Jesus then endured a curse of death from God Almighty when He was hung on the cross.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us – for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERY ONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE – in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14 NASB
The last Adam through obedience suffered the same death of the body that the first Adam suffered through disobedience.
The death Jesus willingly accepted affected His three components–soul, spirit, and body (Section 2.4), just as it had affected the man Adam (Section 2.7). Jesus’ soul became unrighteous when He bore the sins of the entire world upon Himself.
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 1Peter 2:24 NASB
Jesus, bearing our sins, then suffered separation from God Almighty, i.e., the death of the spirit.
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?” Matthew 27:46 NASB
Jesus willingly accepted physical death of the body.
“For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” John 10:17-18 NASB
This willing acceptance of an unwarranted death is precisely what makes Jesus worthy of praise, worship, honor, and glory.
Jesus fulfilling the Law by His life and death was an important accomplishment which benefits all humanity. First, Jesus, as a sinless Jew, fulfilled the Law’s standard for behavior. Thus, Jesus provided escape for humanity from slavery to the Law (Rom 6:14) and slavery to sin.
knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; … For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God … For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:6,10,14 NASB
Then, through His obedience, Jesus’ willing, sacrificial death fulfilled the Law’s mandate of the sacrifice of a lamb without blemish as the propitiation for sin.
knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 1Peter 1:18-19 NASB
Whereas death was the end for the man Adam, it was not for the last Adam; death could not hold Jesus.
“And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” Acts 2:24 NASB
God Almighty resurrected Jesus as the first-born from the dead.
He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. Colossians 1:18 NASB
Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God Almighty as King of kings and Lord of lords (Mark 16:19). So Jesus Christ followed the path of the first Adam to death but then extended it from death to resurrection and then to dwelling in heaven. Notice that Jesus’ resurrection of the soul to eternal life is considered a birth, that of the soul. Thus for Jesus, we have considered three births (of body, spirit, soul) and three deaths (of body, spirit, soul), which characterize His humanity (3 + 3 = 6).
We compare and contrast the spiritual paths for the first Adam and the last Adam (Jesus) in the following illustration.
All humanity has or will follow the man Adam to death of the body (condemnation to all men, Rom 5:18). In the next chapters, we learn how Jesus has extended the path for all humanity from death to life in heaven (justification of life to all men, Rom 5:18).
Having compared and contrasted the impact upon all humanity of the two sons of God Almighty, we now consider their “interaction” from a sibling perspective. Because these sons of God Almighty lived millennium apart, there is no personal interaction between them in the realm of space-time. However, God Almighty transferred the status of His “first-born son” from the man Adam to the Israelites.
“Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My first-born.” ’ ” Exodus 4:22 NASB
Thus, Jews of Jesus’ time are God Almighty’s first-born son and are Jesus’ spiritual brethren.
However, we will narrow the scope of God Almighty’s first-born to just the leadership of the Jews. Jesus spoke of the behavior of religious leaders of the Jews, His spiritual brothers.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Consequently you bear witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up then the measure of the guilt of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how shall you escape the sentence of hell? Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation.” Matthew 23:29-36 NASB
To His spiritual brethren, Jesus assigned persecutions and murders from Cain to Jesus’ time.
We will use Cain and Abel as a pattern for the Jewish leadership and Jesus as spiritual brothers. In our discussion in Chapter 2 (Section 2.7), we noted the different regard God Almighty had for the offerings of Cain and Abel. Cain brought an offering from the fruit of the ground, and we know that God Almighty had cursed the ground because of Cain’s father. Abel offered a life from His flock, and we know that God Almighty will require the life of the Lamb of God as a sacrifice. A more fundamental differentiation between the two brothers is righteousness and sin. Cain was a child of the evil one and his deeds were evil (1John 3:12). On the other hand, Abel was righteous (Heb 11:4). From this we understand that the offerings which God Almighty considered were not the fruits of their physical labors, but rather the spiritual fruits of their lives.
Just as there was a difference in offerings to God Almighty by the first brothers, so also there was a difference in offerings by spiritual brothers in Jesus’ time. The Jews sacrificial offerings to God Almighty were according to the mandates of the Mosaic Law, and, like the offering of Cain, those offerings were not pleasing to God Almighty.
“What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” / Says the Lord. / “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams, / And the fat of fed cattle. / And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats.” Isaiah 1:11 NASB
The Israelites could only offer a shadow of God Almighty’s plan for redemption of humanity.
For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never by the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near. … For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin. Hebrews 10:1,4 NASB
On the other hand, God Almighty had regard for the sacrifice offered by the “younger” brother Jesus, who like Abel was righteous.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2 NASB
In contrast to the offerings of the rest of the Jewish community, Jesus’ offering of his life was an acceptable sacrifice to God Almighty. This matter of unacceptability/acceptability of the sacrifices was the basis for Cain killing Abel because Cain was envious of Abel. Likewise, envy by the leadership of the Jews was the basis to kill Jesus.
For he was aware that the chief priests had delivered Him up because of envy. Mark 15:10 NASB
Cain acted in accordance with his spiritual father, Satan, and killed his younger brother Abel (Gen 4:8). The elders of the Jews, descendants of the man Adam, killed the “younger brother” Jesus.
Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas; and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth, and kill Him. Matthew 26:3-4 NASB
The sons of Jacob/Israel are another example of brother attacking brother and provide a pattern for Jesus’ betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection. In this pattern, Joseph is a type for Jesus, and Joseph’s brothers are a type for the Jewish leadership.
Both Joseph and Jesus were loved by their father. Joseph was the most loved son by Jacob/Israel.
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic. Genesis 37:3 NASB
God Almighty loved His Son, Jesus.
And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17 NASB
Both sons were clothed by their father. Joseph received a multicolored coat from his father.
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic. Genesis 37:3 NASB
Jesus received radiant and exceedingly white clothing from His Father.
And six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up to a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. Mark 9:2-3 NASB
Both men were critical of their brethren. Joseph criticized his brothers.
These are the records of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father. Genesis 37:2 NASB
Jesus criticized his brethren of the Jewish leadership.
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,” … “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,” … “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,” … “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” … “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” … “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” … “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” Matthew 23:13,14,15,23,25,27,29 NASB
Both of these sons were hated by their brethren because of their relationship with their father. Joseph was hated by his brothers because of their father’s love of Joseph.
And His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms. Genesis 37:4 NASB
The Jewish leadership wanted to kill Jesus because of His relationship with God Almighty.
For this cause therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him [Jesus], because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. John 5:18 NASB
Both of these sons told their brethren of the future. Joseph spoke of the future in dreams.
Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. … Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, “Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” Genesis 37:5,9 NASB
Jesus spoke to His disciples about the future destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.
And Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. And He answered and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here shall be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” Matthew 24:1-2 NASB
The brethren of both Joseph and Jesus were tending the flock. Joseph brothers were tending the flock.
Then his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock in Shechem. Genesis 37:12 NASB
The Jewish leadership was tending the flock of Israel.
Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?” ’ ” Ezekiel 34:1-2 NASB
Both Joseph and Jesus were sent by their father to the flock and the brethren tending it. Joseph was sent to his brothers and the flock.
And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “I will go.” Then he said to him, “Go now and see about the welfare of your brothers and the welfare of the flock; and bring word back to me.” So he went from the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. Genesis 37:13-14 NASB
Jesus was sent to the flock of the house of Israel.
And behold, a Canaanite woman came out from that region, and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” But he did not answer her a word. And His disciples came to Him and kept asking Him, saying, “Send her away, for she is shouting out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 15:22-24 NASB
The brethren plotted to kill the “younger” brother. Joseph’s brothers plotted against him.
When they saw him [Joseph] from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death. Genesis 37:18 NASB
Jesus’ brethren, the Jewish leadership, plotted to kill Him.
Now the feast of the Passover and Unleavened Bread was two days off; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to seize him by stealth, and kill Him; Mark 14:1 NASB
Each was stripped of clothing. Joseph was stripped of his coat of multiply colors.
So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him; Genesis 37:23 NASB
Jesus, after His capture, was stripped of His clothing.
And they stripped Him, and put a scarlet robe on Him. Matthew 27:28 NASB
Each was considered dead to the father. Jacob/Israel believed Joseph was dead.
and they sent the varicolored tunic and brought it to their father and said, “We found this; please examine it to see whether it is your son’s tunic or not.” Then he examined it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” Genesis 37:32-33 NASB
Jesus, separated from His Father by the burden of the sins of the world, died.
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?” … And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Matthew 27:46,50 NASB
Each was put into the earth. Joseph was put into a pit.
“For I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon [pit].” Genesis 40:15 NASB
Jesus, after His death, was put in a tomb in the earth and descended into the lower parts of the earth.
Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore on account of the Jewish day of preparation, because the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. John 19:41-42 NASB
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “WHEN HE ACSENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPITVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.” (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) Ephesians 4:7-10 NASB
Each was released from the earth. Joseph left the pit.
Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came to Pharaoh. Genesis 41:14 NASB
Jesus left the tomb.
“He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Luke 24:6-7 NASB
Each was made ruler. Joseph was made ruler over all of Egypt.
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Genesis 41:41 NASB
God Almighty has made Jesus both Lord and Christ.
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ – this Jesus whom you crucified.” Acts 2:36 NASB
which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His [Jesus’] feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, Ephesians 1:20-22 NASB
Each provided the needs of life. Joseph provided food during the famine.
So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, you shall do.” … And the people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth. Genesis 41:55,57 NASB
Jesus provided the spiritual bread and water of life.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35 NASB
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’ ” John 7:37-38 NASB
Each gave gifts to brethren. Joseph gave gifts to his brothers and family.
Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. To each of them he gave changes of garments, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. Genesis 45:21-22 NASB
Jesus gave His brethren the gift of the Holy Spirit.
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be with you.” John 14:16-17 NASB
Each brings his brethren to where he is. Joseph brought his father and brothers to live with him in Egypt.
Then Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob and their little ones and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. And they took their livestock and their property, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and came to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him: his sons and his grandsons with him, his daughters and his granddaughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt. Genesis 46:5-7 NASB
Jesus will bring his brethren to live where He is.
“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:2-3 NASB
Thus, Joseph and his brothers provide a pattern for Jesus’ betrayal, death, and resurrection.
Next, we consider Jesus’ death from the perspective of a father’s treatment of a rebellious son. God Almighty declared in the covenant with ancient Israel how a rebellious and disobedient son is to be treated.
“If any man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father or his mother, and when they chastise him, he will not even listen to them, then his father and mother shall seize him, and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gateway of his home town. And they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey us, he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death; so you shall remove the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear of it and fear.” Deuteronomy 21:18-21 NASB
Through a public process, a stubborn and rebellious son was: 1) seized, 2) rebuked by his parents, 3) condemned by the elders, 4) taken out of town, and 5) put to death by the men of the city.
God Almighty applied this prescribed procedure for a disobedient son to His first son, the man Adam. Following his disobedience and failure to protect the garden, the man Adam was “seized by his father.”
And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to the man the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:8-9 NASB
The man Adam was rebuked and condemned by his Father in a curse.
Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; / Cursed is the ground because of you; / In toil you shall eat of it / All the days of your life. / Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; / And you shall eat the plants of the field; / By the sweat of your face / You shall eat bread, / Till you return to the ground, / Because from it you were taken; / For you are dust, / And to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:17-19 NASB
Next, the man Adam was taken out of the “city.”
therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. Genesis 3:23 NASB
Finally, the man Adam was put to death by one from the “city.” Death is from Satan (Heb 2:14), who was in the garden (city) with the man Adam.
So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died. Genesis 5:5 NASB
As set forth in Deuteronomy 21:18-21, the man Adam, for his rebellion and disobedience, received the treatment of a disobedient son from God Almighty.
Even though Jesus was obedient, He was treated as disobedient by His Father because of the sin upon Him. Whereas God Almighty acted directly with the man Adam, it is through the actions of the leadership of the Jews that Jesus’ death sentence was implemented. The actions of the elders of His home town offer a preview of how He would be treated at the end of His ministry.
And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. … And all in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they rose up and cast Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. Luke 4:16, 28-29 NASB
When Jesus came before the elders of His home town, He was judged by them to be worthy of death for His (rebellious) teaching. In accordance with Deuteronomy 21:18-21, He was taken outside the gate of the city by the elders in order that they might put Him to death. Since it was only a preview, Jesus was unharmed.
But passing through their midst, He went His way. Luke 4:30 NASB
The Jewish leadership, whether knowingly or not, followed the step by step process for punishment of a rebellious son as they arranged Jesus’ death. First, Jesus was seized by the authorities (his father and mother shall seize him).
When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, into which He Himself entered, and His disciples. Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place; for Jesus had often met there with His disciples. Judas then, having received the Roman cohort, and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. John 18:1-3 NASB
And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. Matthew 26:50 NASB
Jesus is brought before the elders (bring him out to the elders of his city).
And those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. Matthew 26:57 NASB
Jesus is rebuked and accused by the chief priests and elders.
And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He made no answer. Matthew 27:12 NASB
Jesus is taken outside the gates of the city (at the gateway of his home town).
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered [was crucified] outside the gate. Hebrews 13:12 NASB
Jesus is put to death by the men of the city (all the men of his city shall stone him to death).
But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas, and to put Jesus to death. Matthew 27:20 NASB
As an aside, we may consider the fact that Jesus was killed outside the gate as an indication that His redemptive work was not restricted to only those who could enter the gate, but is available to all.
Both sons of God Almighty were treated the same, and both were put to death in accordance with the manner prescribed in the Mosaic Law for a disobedient son.
Jesus’ death by crucifixion has meaning with respect to the trees in the garden of Eden. As we noted in a discussion of the garden of Eden, the tree of life is symbolic of Jesus on the cross of Calvary (Section 2.5) because Jesus is the fruit from the tree of life which we are to eat in order to gain eternal life.
“I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh.” John 6:51 NASB
Also, the two men crucified beside Jesus are a manifestation of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil of the garden.
And they crucified two robbers with Him, one on the right and one on the left. Mark 15:27 NASB
One of the robbers represents good while the other represents evil.
And one of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” Luke 23:39-42 NASB
Therefore, Jesus’ death by crucifixion is the physical fulfillment of that which was foreshadowed by the two trees in the middle of the garden (Gen 3:3) of Eden.
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