When the Old Testament Jews read the 53rd chapter of the Prophet Isaiah, do you think they realized that they were sitting at the foot of the cross? Jesus Christ was stricken, smitten, and afflicted, not because he was evil or a criminal. Jesus didn’t deserve this punishment for himself. Jesus was punished as our substitute.
Isaiah 53 doesn’t stop with Jesus’ death. It goes on to detail what happened on Easter. If our sins were paid for on Good Friday, why is Easter so important? If our souls were bought by Jesus’ blood on Good Friday, why does Easter matter?
He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25 NIV)
Our justification is the public declaration that our sins were paid for. Easter is the proof, not the payment. Easter is the proof that there is nothing more than needs to be done. Easter is the proof that we will live.
It is not uncommon for graves to be reused. Watch the Bible Class and see why Jesus had to be buried in a new grave – with the rich. It has to do with the proof that Christ is our substitute.
This is the fifth Bible Class on our summer series – VIC: Very Important Chapters of the Bible.
Please click HERE to view Bible Class slides.