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The crucifixion of Christ Jesus was foretold by many long before it ever happened, centuries before, in fact. There are an array of testimonies describing it from different people. One of my favorites is when Jesus prophesied it himself in Matthew 20:17-19,
As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the road He said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and they will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and flog and crucify, and on the third day He will be raised up.”
This is a detailed and chronological description of what Christ Jesus was about to endure, the betrayal, the custody, the all too painful beatings, death on a cross, and the resurrection. He knew and was preparing the disciples for those events.
If we don’t believe, if we don’t pay attention, if we are not aware, we will miss what God did, what God does, and what God will do to us, in us, and through us. We will miss the sacrifice Christ Jesus willingly took for us. We will miss the promise that He conquered death, which no longer stings. We will miss His grace, mercy, and overwhelming love. We will miss the hope He gives, and we will miss that His Holy Spirit was given to help us at every step.
Saul was a scholar, a government official, and a well-respected man of knowledge who hunted and killed Christians. Saul was very good at it, too. When Christ Jesus came to Saul, he was completely transformed into the most devoted follower of Christ Jesus. His name was changed to Paul. Paul was all in. Are you?
