Journey To Calvary

One of the greatest truths that every Christian ought conversant with; its the glorious journey to Calvary. This topic is really a broad one but let's look at some salient points worth noting. Every New Testament truth has a bearing in the old. So let's start by seeing where the Journey to Calvary actually began from.

According to Genesis, we realise that Almighty God created man in His image and likeness (lemme not go into the details of that). Along the line, the enemy stepped in - disguised as a serpent and led the first couple to sin by disobeying God. After this event that introduced the sin gene into humanity; God as His custom was - paid them a visit. It was during this visit that curses were released upon them including the serpent. Let's take a look at the curses upon the woman and the serpent.

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.

This is where the journey actually began. Man had sin and had fallen out of fellowship with the Almighty. However, no Spirit being could have access into this world without a body (that explains why the devil needed the body of the spent).

By the verse above, Papa God was actually saying that - this woman here will give me a body for me to legally step into the universe and restore man back to myself by bruising your head.

Prophet Isaiah understood this very well and documented it as; UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN.... (Isaiah 9:6)

The child was born but the son was given. Think about it

Now, in the Gospel we record that Christ was born of Mary with Almighty God. This perfect birth paved way for the realisation of the Journey to Calvary that began in Genesis. Christ walked the earth for thirty-three years and in the fullness of time; the journey actually began. Scripture says, He together with His disciples went to Gethsemane to pray some few hours to His arrest. Here, we are told His sweat turned into blood. The agony of the separation that was about to take place was weighing heavily upon our Lord.

Let's look at some points that are worth noting from this point till the Lord finally completed the restoration process.

1. Judas betrayed Him with a Kiss: This was a reflection of what took place in the Garden of Eden. "Kiss" signifies love, affection, etc and in those days it was a means of greeting our loved ones. By Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss, it was re-echoing the kissing (teaming up) between Satan and Adam + Eve.

2. Going before Pilate and Herod: In Eden, God judged the sin of the trio (Adam, Eve and the serpent) by cursing them. Now, man had been giving power to judge God in the person of Jesus and bring witness to second to the fact indeed Jesus Christ needed to be crucified

3. Taking the Place of Barabbas: There was a murderer called Barabbas in prison then. Pilate asked the people to choose between Jesus and Barabbas on who should be made free. In the fulfillment of prophecy, the people chose the freedom of Barabbas. The meaning of the name of this man is even prophetic. His name means "son of the father". I dare say, that he was positioned there by the Almighty as a representative of Adam (all of man kind) for indeed Adam was the son of the Father (God). Through this exchange, Christ took upon Himself the sin of humanity.

4. He was severely whipped; one of the curses released upon woman was that she will go through pain during child birth. By this merciless whipping and tearing of the Lord's body - He was subjected to pain that goes beyond that which a woman goes through at birth. Earlier, in Gethsemane His sweat turned into blood to nullify the curse laid on man in Eden - "you will sweat before you eat".

5. Crown of Thorns; by putting upon Him a crown made of thorns - man was being reinstated into the royalty they enjoyed before the fall. The dominion man had in Eden was being restored.

6. The Cross, the nails and the Spear; as if all this was not painful enough - Jesus our Lord was made to carry the cross to Calvary. The nailing and spearing of His side caused His blood to gush out. So that by the shedding of this blood, you and I can have forgiveness.

7. He was Naked; before the fall man and woman were covered by the glory of God. Even though to the natural it seemed they were naked, they weren't for the glory was their covering. That glory was lost by the fall making man realise that he was nude. By Jesus being crucified naked, He took upon Himself all the disgrace associated with the fall of man.

8. The Place called calvary; its no mistake that He was crucified at Calvary. Calvary is also translated Golgotha which means the "place of skull". About 99% of our spiritual warfare takes place in our minds. Jesus' crucifixion and death at calvary gives as victory in this battle in our minds.

Let's hold on here for now. In due time, we shall continue. But look at all this that, He went through for you and I. Is it too much for Him to ask you to submit to His Lordship and live for Him? Is it too much for Him to ask you to go out and preach the Gospel?

References: Genesis 3, Luke 2, Luke 22 & 23.
SELAH
Writer: Launcelot Gyamfi Kyei
President of Sweet Breath from Heaven Ministries