This is the final biography of the characters that appeared prior, during and after the death and resurrection of Jesus, Christ.  Those I’ve talked about over the past few weeks define who Jesus was and still is today.  His story is the greatest ever told and it’s not just a fairy tale or a happily ever after.  His life was necessary for the redemption of mankind.  Jesus wasn’t just a man.  He was also God in the flesh.  He gave the sacrifice of His life to take away the sin that has haunted us since Adam and Eve wanted to be like God.

He lived an average life, yet He was far beyond average.  He felt every pain, loss and emotion that we feel, yet he never succumbed to sin.  He showed us how to use His Father’s Word to fight off the devil.  He showed us, by example, how to serve others when He washed His disciples feet.  He had compassion for the poor, sick and troubled.  He didn’t separate Himself from the lowest of the low – never making excuses for it.  He knew the law better than the Pharisees and Sadducees and He alone was able to accomplish every bit of it.  He became angry when He saw how His temple had been turned into a den of thieves.

When He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, asking that the coming events would pass by Him, He knew that it was not part of God’s.  He knew in advance that He would be the atoning sacrifice, the unblemished lamb who would die for all – ONCE!

As He endured the pain and suffering of the cross – the ridicule of His own people and the Romans – the mockery, spit, sour wine, wounds, lack of oxygen and eventual death – He was paying for the sin of the world.  His resurrection three days later, proved that He had conquered death and that we too will live for eternity, even after our last breath.

Jesus is our brother, our friend, our hero and our God.  Without Him we would be doomed to the pits of despair in hell.  With Him, we have a prepared placed waiting in heaven.  Thanks be to Jesus, for giving us His passion – for paying the price by giving us His life – for taking our place and making us clean before Holy God.