From Garden to Glory: 10 Days Through the Bible's Grand StorySample

Day 8: The 50 Most Important Days in the History of the World

From the Cross to Pentecost

CRUCIFIXION

Even though our salvation is more than the summary statement “Jesus died on the cross to save me from my sins,” it is never less than that. The cross is the center point of our salvation.

The cross of Christ, the place of so much suffering, is also the place of so much victory. It’s the paradox of the gospel—life comes through death. The cross, that which was intended to shame and kill, became that which removes shame and gives life. This is why the cross is the symbol of our faith.

The cross of Christ is our only hope.

RESURRECTION

The death and resurrection of Jesus could be called the hinge of our entire salvation. And it is important to note that both his death and resurrection were essential. If Jesus had merely been a good man who happened to have died a horrible death, how would that have helped us? Throughout history, there have been many good men who have died terrible deaths. But Jesus was not just a good man, he was a perfect man. He was fully man and fully God. And his death was on our behalf. He took the punishment we deserved and died in our place.

Our entire faith rests on the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:13-19). But our hope is not in vain! Thanks be to God that in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive (verses 20-22).

Our hope, as those who are in Christ, is that because Jesus’s human body was raised from the dead, our human bodies will be raised from the dead as well.

ASCENSION

In day 1, we looked at the fact that it is not enough for Rapunzel to merely be out of the tower; we want to see her returned to the kingdom and restored to her parents. We long for full restoration.

The ascension of Christ is key in our understanding of where the Bible’s story is headed—full restoration. As we look at each of the key events that occurred during those 50 days, we see that the good news for us keeps getting better and better! At the cross, our sins are forgiven. At the empty tomb, we receive victory over death. And at the ascension, we see that this story keeps heading up—literally.

The stone was rolled away, and Jesus walked out of the tomb— death could not hold him. He is not just the crucified Savior; he is the risen Savior. And he is not just the risen Savior, he is the ascended Lord. At the ascension, we see Jesus continuing back up, all the way to full restoration.

The ascension of Christ was the victorious re-entry of the conquering King. He won the battle and returned to the throne room as the rightful King—and he made it possible for his bride, the church, to go with him.

SESSION

When a king is on his throne, it is said that his court is in session. When Congress is assembled, we say they are in session. To be in session means that a ruler (or ruling body) is in place to work for the good of those he (or the body) governs.

At the time of Jesus’s ascension, more than 400 years had passed since the last king of Israel was on his throne, and nearly 1,000 years since David was on his. Yet the Jewish people had been longing for a Davidic king. Why? Because they knew the promises God had given in 2 Samuel 7. And they knew that whatever their covenant-making God had promised, he would fulfill.

Not only had God promised David an eternal throne and kingdom through the prophet Isaiah, he said this promised one would rule and reign over all things (Isaiah 9:6-7).

We’ve seen that the road to the cross was the great descent, and from there, the road turned and began the ascent. The road didn’t end until Jesus was again seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 10:12). In Ephesians 1:20-22, we read that not only was Jesus seated at the right hand of God, but all things have been put “under his feet.”

We can be sure that Jesus is seated on his throne right now. And what is he doing? He is reigning and ruling over all things, including the circumstances of your life.

We have a good, righteous, powerful, and loving King who rules and reigns for our good. And his court is in session.

PENTECOST

This great story of redemption has, from the beginning, been a work of our triune God: planned by the Father, accomplished by the Son, and applied by the Holy Spirit.

Throughout the Old Testament, it was primarily the Father who was in the spotlight. In the incarnation—with Jesus coming to earth—the Son came to the front of the stage. However, after the ascension, the Spirit steps into the spotlight.

This is what happened:

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).

The Father sent the Son, and the Father and the Son sent the Spirit. God himself now dwells in the hearts of his children through the pouring out of his Holy Spirit. Christ dwells in us because he has poured his Spirit into our hearts. And God in us is even better than God next to us, which is why it was better for Jesus to go away. The new covenant, promised in Ezekiel 36 and fulfilled at Pentecost, accomplished that which the old covenants could not—holiness of life, made possible because the Holy Spirit now dwells in the hearts of God’s people.

And it’s not just individual believers who have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, the Spirit also dwells in the corporate people of God (Ephesians 2:19-22).

That which the Spirit builds, the Spirit fills. The dwelling of God is not merely with his people, but in his people. And amazingly, this isn’t the end of the story. There is still more good news to come!