In this final piece on our series on How Jesus Obtained a Great Name, I will expound on how Jesus acquired a great name by his conquest.
But before I do that, I like to inform us that during the period from the fall of man until Christ ascended and assumed his place at the right hand of the father on high after his resurrection, the underworld was two compartments separated by an impassable gulf.
On one side were the Old Testament saints, who had trusted in the blood covenant, the Abrahamic blood covenant, which Jesus called Abraham Bosom. Across this impassable gulf, the incorrigibly wicked were incarcerated in Hades, awaiting the resurrection and judgment (Luke 16:19-31).
You see, when Adam-transgressed humanity came under condemnation… For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused (spiritual) death to rule over many (Romans 5:17).
1Timothy 3:16 declares, And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit. Why did God take on flesh?
Hebrews 2:14 provides the answers, saying, Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature].”
Jesus was God manifested in the flesh. By this, he identified with humanity, gave himself as ransom or substitute. He was made sin at the cross… God made him who had no sin to be sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).
When Jesus was made sin, He was turned over by God to the adversary; the father abandoned him, hence he cried, My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me (Mathew15:24).
He became estranged from the life of God and assumed the nature of fallen man came under condemnation, forged a union with the adversary.
He came under the domain (kingdom) and dominion of the adversary. Satan became his master. He died on behalf of humanity.
The original rendering, says “And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his deaths” (Isaiah 53:9).Note that the word “death” in the original is plural, thus signifying that he experienced two types of death.
When his spirit was made sin, he died spiritually and yelled, Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani? meaning My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me.
He expired physically hours later, saying, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost (Luke 23:46).
Scriptures label his death “Hidden wisdom” — Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Cor 2:7-8).
Highlighting the implication of his death, Paul is his missive to the Hebrews, said that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no affect him who had the power of death — that is, the devil — And also that He might deliver and completely set free all those who through the [haunting] fear of death were held in bondage throughout the whole course of their lives (Hebrews 2:14-15).
It is noteworthy to mention that since Jesus had been made sin, when he died he went to hell and engaged in warfare.
In hell, He whopped the devil and his regiment; He stripped Satan of his authority. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it (Col 2:15).
Marginal rendering paints a more graphic picture: Having put off from himself the principalities and powers,” thus showing that the demonic host tried to hold Jesus down.
There was a serious combat in hell. Here, Jesus met the claim of justice against humanity — and was justified (made righteous) in the Spirit (1Tim 3:16).
Recall he had been made sin and died spiritually. After he met claim of justice against human race, he was justified (made righteous) in the Spirit, raised from the dead as the first begotten of dead.
When Jesus was raised, the new creation became a reality. Hallelujah!
Thus by his death he brought to nought and made of no effect him who had the power of death — that is the devil — stripped him of his authority. He spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Hallelujah!!!
By Emmanuel Emeke Asiwe
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