(Psalm 118:24)

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Our text verse, here in Psalm 118, is one of the favorite verses of the saints of God. It is often used to remind us that every day is a gift from our wonderful God. As we think about the blessings that we receive each day from the hand of God, we realize that we have so much to rejoice and be glad about!
This verse in the Psalms can also be used to remind us of some very important days that stand out to us in the Holy Scriptures. While it is certainly true that each and every day belongs to God, there are also some special and specific days that supply the saints with a reason to rejoice. Our message will focus upon three of the most important days in the story of God’s great plan and creation. Two of these days look back at events of the past, and the third day gives us a glimpse of the great day that is coming for all of God’s people!

  I. The Day Jesus went to Calvary

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him…” ~Luke 23:33

*When some look at Calvary they see suffering criminals. When others look at Calvary they see a sad crucifixion.  But when God’s people look at Calvary, they see salvation completed!

        A. Jesus Perfectly Satisfied the Father!

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ~Romans 3:24 – 25

The word “propitiation” signifies the fact that Jesus Christ fully absorbed the wrath of God. God could not justify sinners by simply forgetting or winking at their sin. It was required that a perfect sacrifice be made. The blood of animal sacrifices provided a temporary atonement for God’s people, but lacked the power to forever remove their sins. Only the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ could fully satisfy the demands of God’s law and justice. And because Christ fulfilled the will of His Father, all of those who trust in Him are viewed by God as having perfect and complete righteousness. What a reason to rejoice!

        B. Jesus Paid the Sin Debt in Full!

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” ~I Peter 2:24

The redeemed saints of God see the cross differently than sinners, because it was the place where our awful sin debt was paid. The Lord Jesus Christ was so much more than a gifted teacher or a great example, dying without purpose. He died as our Substitute, paying the entire debt of sin that no man could account for on his own. God has forgiven us of all our sins, not because we deserve it, but because of what Christ accomplished for us on Calvary!

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” ~Ephesians 4:32

        C. Jesus Punished Satan Fatally!

One of the first pictures of redemption in the Old Testament included a promise of retribution for the enemy of man’s soul. The Bible says that the Redeemer would “bruise” the “head” of the serpent, which is clearly a type of the Devil (Genesis 3:15).
The fact that the bruising is said to take place on the head signifies that the injury would be a fatal one for Satan. The word, fatal, by very definition, means “causing ruin or destruction; disastrous.” What the Devil assumed would be victory for himself, turned into his retribution and his ruin. Because of Calvary, Satan is nothing more than a defeated foe that can never condemn the saints of God!

“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” ~Romans 16:20

There is no doubt that Jesus died on the cross of Calvary. Christ did not merely pass out or slip into a comma, only to be awakened later. His body literally died and He commended His spirit back to His Father. However, the soul of the Lord Jesus lived on and descended into the heart of the earth. “Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?” (Ephesians 4:9) Our Lord accomplished so much during this short period of time, as His body rested in Joseph’s tomb.
  *He Disposed of our Sins!

“For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” ~Hebrews 9:26

  *He Deprived Satan’s Authority!

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” ~Hebrews 2:14

“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” ~Revelation 1:18

  *He Delivered the Saints!
“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” ~Ephesians 4:8

After Christ’s death, His body was placed in a tomb for three days and three nights, but His soul made a subterranean trip to Hell (Matthew 12:40, Acts 2:27, 2:31). After dumping our sins there, He took the key to Hell, opened its “gates”, and went out, locking the “gates” behind Him (Jonah 2:2, Matthew 16:18, Revelation 1:18). He then crossed the “great gulf” and preached deliverance to the saints in Paradise (Luke 16:26, I Peter 4:6). Christ then took the key of Death, opened the door to Abraham’s Bosom, and transferred all the inhabitants to Heaven!

 II. The Day Jesus Conquered Death

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is one of the most glorious doctrines found in the Bible. Time would not allow us to cover all of the accomplishments that Christ secured in His victory over death. However, a simple glimpse back upon His triumph will provide us with a great source of strength and encouragement. 

        A. Jesus Declared His Deity.

“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” ~Romans 1:4

The Lord Jesus Christ always has been and always will be God! His eternal deity is an undeniable fact of Scripture. Every real Christian believes in His eternal existence and equality with God. His resurrection demonstrates that fact to an unbelieving world. Christ declared to those who were blinded in their religion, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). Bible believers recognize that Jesus was speaking of the resurrection of His body from the dead. Every declaration that Christ spoke concerning His deity was proven by His triumph over death.
No other “religious leader” of the past or the present can make the claims that Jesus made and prove them by returning from the dead. There is none like Him!

        B. Jesus Defeated Death!

“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” ~Matthew 28:6

Even the most feared enemy on the face of the earth could not keep our Saviour down. Christ proved that death could not defeat Him, as He walked out of the tomb by the mighty power of God. There is victory over Satan, victory over Sin, and victory over the Stone!

“DEATH MEETS HIS MATCH”

By: Elwood McQuaid

Father Time met pale King Death sitting by a tomb.
"Hello, old friend, I guess you're here to seal somebody's doom."

"You might say that," sly Death replied. A smile slid up his face.
"Inside reposes that Jesus man Who said He'd save the race."

"And you, Time, why you stopping here? Don't you have things to do?"
"I come each day to draw the veil and let the morning through."

"Say, why you watching just one grave, with all your vast domain?
Looks like you'd be out ramblin' round and smitin' folks with pain.

"Well, this one's something special. He challenged me, they say.
Said He'd rest here just three days, then stir and walk away."

"Now I'm the conqueror you know, they don't talk up to me.
When I steps in to cut 'em down it's for eternity."

"I sure can testify to that," responded Father Time.
"I ain't seen one shake off the dust since you been in your prime."

"Well, I got other things to do; I must be on my way.
I'll see you when I come back by to make another day."

So whiskered Time went up the hill to bid the sun to rise.
He left Death standing by the tomb, lookin' strong and wise.

Next day, Time ambled by again, "And how are things?" he queried.
"Kinda quiet," Death replied. "I'm startin' to be wearied."

"I won't be here when you come by about this time tomorrow.
I'm anxious to be on my way, and spread some grief and sorrow."

Now Father Time was quite surprised when he came back to see
Death a quiverin' on the ground in frightful agony!

His eyes were set, his throat was marked, his clothes in disarray.
It wasn't difficult to see that Death had had his day.

"What happened Death?" asked Father Time, "What makes you look so bad?"
"I've never see you shake this way or seem so scared and sad."

Death pulled himself up on a rock, looking sick and humble.
Hung his head an' wrung his hands and Time could hear him mumble.

"Was sittin' here before the dawn about to take my stroll,
When all at once this whole wide world began to reel and roll."

"That rollin' stone jumped off the door and skipped on down the hill.
Then everything grew dark and quiet, seemed like the earth stood still."

"I saw Him standing in the door, He didn't move or speak,
Just looked at me an' all at once, I felt so tired and weak."

"He came and got a hold on me, and threw me to the ground,
Put His foot here on my neck then took my keys and crown."

"Two angels came to talk with Him, they glistened like the sun.
He said, 'The plans all finished now, Redemption's work is done'."

As they passed the garden gate I heard Him say, just then,
"He's setting free the captives and givin' gifts to men."

Time and Death met once again off yonder by the gate.
"It's good to see you," said Old Time. "I've wondered bout your fate."

"I'm just a lowly servant now, there's little time to roam,
I just push open this old gate and help the saints get home!"

  *There is Victory for the Saints!

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”  ~I Corinthians 15:21 – 22

         C. Jesus Delighted His Disciples!

“And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.” ~Matthew 28:8

What a joy it was for the disciples to have their eyes opened to the glorious resurrection of Christ! Every Christian who has been blessed by God to believe in the resurrected Saviour rejoices that He is alive. The day of His resurrection was truly the day that the LORD made. Those of us who know Him as our personal Saviour should rejoice and be glad about it. We have something that no worldly religion has, a living Saviour! And because He lives, we live also! Jesus said, “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” ~John 14:19

III. The Day Jesus Calls His Church

Up to this point, we have focused upon two of the great days of the Lord that have taken place in the past. Our third and final point will take a brief look at a great day that is soon to come for every child of God. It will be a wonderful day of the Lord when the trumpet of God sounds and all the redeemed children of God are caught up to meet Him in the air!

       A. Jesus will Resurrect the Sleeping!

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” ~I Corinthians 15:51 - 52

       B.  Jesus will Rapture the Saved!

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up…” ~I Thessalonians 4:16 – 17

Even though the word, rapture, is never used in the Bible, the thought that Jesus is coming in the clouds to gather up His people is clearly taught in the Holy Scriptures. No real Bible believer would ever teach that the Rapture is just a fairy tale. Not one promise of God has ever failed to come to pass and the Rapture will certainly not become the first broken promise. The Son of God is coming and the saints of God are going Home! 

       C. Jesus will Reunite the Saints!

“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” ~ Thessalonians 4:17

What a day that will be when all the children of God are reunited in the air! There will be a glorious resurrection and a grand reunion for all of God’s saints. We will meet our loved ones and we will see our Lord, face to face! There will be great rejoicing on that day, to be continued forever in the presence of God! Are you thankful for this day that the Lord has made? And are you looking forward to the day when He calls His children home?
 
 
 

Evangelist Jeremiah Dixon
Knoxville, TN
 
 
 

www.liftingupjesus.com