RESURRECTION: OUR REDEMPTION:
THE CROSS; THE TORN VEIL; THE EMPTY TOMB
No one has any idea of the untold number of events God orchestrated to put everything in place for this culminating event in the ministry of Jesus—the empty tomb. Yes, He arose from the tomb, even with the several thousand-pound, disk-shaped stone still in place covering the opening. Absent the Resurrection of Jesus, none of us would have any hope of the glorious eternity awaiting us when we shall leave this earth. As He was raised from the dead, so shall we who have bowed our knee in obedience to the LORD: And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 1 Corinthians 6:14
Jesus, as God manifest in the flesh, “walked” a long journey to reach the point of Resurrection, but only a small part of His journey on this earth is recorded in the Bible: And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. John 21:25 However, that upon which He opened the curtain for us to witness gives us more than enough to know and receive Him as LORD and Saviour of our lives.
The curtain of this drama opens with a brief account of creation: In the beginning God created … Genesis 1:1 Not only are we given only a snippet of the creation, but we are assured by God that every thing—in the beginning—was good or perfect: And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good … Genesis 1:31 This included the entire universe with all the plants, animals, and man: male and female: … for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11
So, why, Adam and Eve, (every man and woman) did you sin?
However, something went awry with our “parents”—Adam and Eve. Even though they had a perfect environment—and walked with God in a way no man does today—they, like 21st century man, felt that God’s provisions and ways were not good enough. Their … lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life … (1 John 2:16), also embedded in each of us, reared its ugly serpentile head. They listened to someone who brought a different “gospel.” That “other gospel” told them God’s ways were not fulfilling enough. The serpent told them: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:5
Yes, Satan, through the guise of the serpent (Genesis 3), told Adam and Eve that God lied when He made it very clear that 
disobedience regarding only one tree in this huge, plentiful garden, would lead to death. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2:17 For some reason, both Adam and Eve TOOK and did eat from the only prohibitive tree of all the provisions in this plentiful garden. They sinned against God. Their rationale was what underlies man’s rationale today:
The price of Adam and Eve’s lustful desires was death—just as God said. Death came into this perfect world that was not meant to accommodate death. However, as with all sin (rebellion against the Word of God), evil has much more far-reaching effects unbeknown to those who violate the Word of God. Not only would Adam and Eve eventually die, but their rebellion would be passed on to all generations. Sin’s leaven “morphed” into thousands of different types of sins (adultery, fornication, sodomy, stealing, murder, drunkenness, lying, et al.), some of which each of us have at one time or another given into. Not only did sin change man and woman, but the untainted earth from which we were “formed” also bore the stain of the sin of Adam and Eve: … cursed is the ground … Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth … Genesis 3:17-18
Man tries to camouflage his sin.
Adam and Eve’s consciences were pricked when they sinned, knowing they had disobeyed God. What did they do? They tried to hide from God and covered themselves with fig leaves. Hiding from God, of course, is impossible. However, God provided coats of skins for these two rebellious people. But this required that God kill the first innocent animal whose blood had to be shed to provide a temporary “covering” for the rebellion of Adam and Eve.
Additionally, even the land became cursed. Thorns and thistles would now come forth as noted above, which had not been there before. Oh, Adam and Eve, how could you do such a foolish thing? You had it ALL—a perfect world! The same question can be asked today: “Oh,” (put your name here), “how could I sin against God?” We are all guilty. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Romans 5:12
Adam and Eve were banished from their place of perfection and their walk with God changed. That’s what sin does: it separates 
us from God. So he [God] drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. Genesis 3:24 Before being driven out of the Garden, God also cursed the serpent: Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life. (Genesis 3:14)
Sin brings about more than physical death.
Rebellion against God brings about not only physical, but also spiritual death. Spiritual death is eternal separation from God. What that means is an eternity (after physical death) in torment instead of an eternity in the presence of God.
So was it God’s anger that cast Adam and Eve out of the garden of perfection? No, it was because God cannot look upon sin. His love did not change for mankind, but His “ability” to “walk” with man had been blocked by their sin which is something God cannot look at. Separation from God is the penalty or payment for sin. It’s spiritual death: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
This penalty for sin (evil) cannot be “satisfied” (atoned for) by anything that humans can do. Atonement is a gift from God by which He REDEEMS man. Redemption requires something supernatural—the shedding of blood by someone who has never sinned.
Life’s drama began in a garden of perfection … and Jesus “shows” up!
See our video and article at: https://www.restorationofthefamily.org/is-it-foolishness-or-faith-part-3-seed/
This was something only God could provide through a love that no human can comprehend. It was our loving God HIMSELF Who had a plan in place before the foundation of the earth. He knew that man would sin and that sin would separate us from Him. What was the plan? For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
It was written by the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, that Jesus would volunteer to be sent (begotten) even KNOWING the horrific price He would need to pay: Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I [Jesus] have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me. Isaiah 48:16 Thus, it was Jesus Who was SENT into this world in human flesh as a sacrifice to pay for the many sins in which every person chooses to participate. We’re told in Leviticus 17:11: For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. The shed blood of Jesus is our lifeline to Heaven. Because God is a spirit, and a spirit does not have blood, God could not, as spirit, shed blood.
God had to become human, with flesh and blood, to shed blood. Thus, as prophesied, God would become flesh and humble Himself through HIS only begotten son, Jesus Christ: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 1 Timothy 3:16 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 The human mind cannot understand how God did this nor how He made all of creation. But He does!
Jesus, BEFORE He was nailed to the cross, KNEW what He would voluntarily suffer. And God had this recorded hundreds of years before this event took place as many details are recorded throughout the Old Testament. Yes, Jesus KNEW that He would be so brutally beaten that His closest followers would not recognize Him when He first approached them after His Resurrection: As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: Isaiah 52:14 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. Isaiah 50:6 One could not imagine the disfiguration of the face of Jesus with multiple beatings and having His beard ripped from His face!
The nails through the palms of the hands*—NOT through His wrists—of Jesus and through His feet were NOT what held Him to that cross. He had the power to come down at any time. Forget not what the Scripture says: … he humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8.
*See our video and article at: https://www.restorationofthefamily.org/the-hands-of-jesus/
Review also what happened when Judas brought … a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders … Matthew 26:47 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place … Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my 
Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? Matthew 26:51-54 And did you notice that man, with his ignorance, made a crown for Jesus out of thorns? Review Genesis 3:18. Thorns and thistles shall it [the earth] bring forth … Jesus WORE this crown “fashioned” from the curse He had placed on the earth. The cross was not defeat but victory for you and me:
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin … But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:55-58
Thus, as the sinless, innocent lamb, Jesus went to the cross to shed untarnished blood to pay the WAGES for our sins. However, be not deceived, “payment” for individual sin is not atoned UNLESS there is repentance—that is, a turning away from sin with true remorse, having nothing to do with the sin. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance … For godly sorrow [true repentance] worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world [false repentance] worketh death. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10
But there’s more: the MIRACLE of the torn veil.
Scriptures tell us that, simultaneously, when Jesus ... yielded up the ghost (died), some additional amazing physical things also happened. One of those which affects every believer is that … the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom … Matthew 27:50-51 Not only did the shed blood of Jesus provide the way for our sin debt to be paid (when we repent of sin), but this symbolic visual of the supernatural tearing of the temple veil by God, from the top to the bottom, gives each of us direct access to Almighty God through Jesus Christ.
Prior to this, there was a veil in the Temple which barred all but the High Priest from the presence of God. However, when the veil in the Temple was torn in two at the death of Jesus, direct access to God was made available to all who, through repentance and faith, make Jesus LORD of their lives. There is no longer a priest, pastor, or ecclesiastical figure through whom we are to provide sacrifices or to whom we must confess our sins, etc.
Through the symbolical rending of the temple veil, every person has total and complete direct free access to Jesus. Jesus said … I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. John 11:25 We are not to worship or bow down before any other than God (through Jesus Christ). Every person is on the same level regarding access to our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28
The author of Hebrews tells us: Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh. Hebrews 10:19-20 (The Greek word used for “new” here is totally unique in the Bible.) The tearing of the veil/the flesh of Jesus provides the NEW way for all to directly communicate with the LORD.
The price of sin for our creator included serving on earth in fashion as a man, and He had to humble himself and become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8 But His love for you and me far outweighed what He gave.
Perhaps each of us should re-assess our lives and consider the price of our sins which Jesus paid and then share the message of the cross with others.
If you have questions, need prayer or would like to be added to our distribution for future newsletters, please contact us. We are blessed when we hear from you.
In Christ’s Service,
Judith Brumbaugh
Founder/President
Restoration Of The Family, Inc. PO Box 621342 Oviedo, FL. 32762 www.RestorationOfTheFamily.org RestorationOfTheFamily@gmail.com
