Divine Intention

Human resistance does not thwart divine intention. The cross represents human resistance; the empty tomb represents divine triumph. The communion we observe on Sunday testifies to the divine triumph over human resistance last Friday; otherwise, there would be no reason to observe it. In this case, that earlier rebellion even helped accomplish the divine intent.

In effect, the Jewish people and the religious leaders in Jesus’ day had tried to redefine the Messiah’s role away from personal righteousness toward political independence. They failed; God resurrected the One they crucified. Death on a cross and three days in the ground were as futile as Jonah’s attempt to run away from God’s commission to preach in Nineveh.

We participate in that triumph over the grave when we take these emblems of what put him there. The righteousness he achieved on Golgotha God regards us a sharing when we die with him, so to speak, on our cross and get our old selves buried beside him in the tomb (Romans 6:2-4). Here we demonstrate our aspiration to walk with him in the newness of his life.