Seven Things Jesus has Done for Us

Sometimes the most wonderful things and the most important are obvious. We can, however, take the obvious for granted because we have become over-familiar with it. Let us not lose the joy and encouragement of acknowledging what is so well known but utterly foundational.

1. Jesus was born

When Adam sinned, God promised that the seed of the women would destroy Satan who had tempted Eve (Genesis 3:15)¹ 15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.”. Jesus was the seed of the woman. The first Adam failed when facing Satan but Jesus, as the last Adam did not yield to Satan’s temptation (Matthew 4:1-11). Overcoming Satan, Jesus as our close relative, was able to redeem us. Under the Law, when a man lost an inheritance, an immediate family member was allowed to buy the legacy. The person buying back the estate was called the kinsman-redeemer. Jesus became our kinsmen redeemer in being born (Hebrews 2:14)² 14 Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself, in the same way, partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,.

2. Jesus lived on earth

He experienced all the things that we have experienced except sin. Since He perfectly understands the challenges we face He can aid and relieve us in all the challenges of life (Hebrews 2:18)³ 18 For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.. He was the perfect teacher, and He went around doing good. We know about the grace and truth of God because Jesus has revealed this (John 1:17)⁴ 17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realised through Jesus Christ..

3. Jesus died on the Cross

Jesus made a way whereby we could be forgiven. We have all sinned, and Jesus took our punishment when He died on the Cross. Jesus fully showed us His love when He did this (Romans 5:8)⁵ 8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.. As sinners, we have all broken the Law of God. The law declares us cursed, but Jesus removed the curse. He did this by taking the curse upon Himself. The Law says that anyone who dies hanging on a tree is cursed, and when Jesus died on the Cross, He became cursed according to the Law (Galatians 3:13)⁶ 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”. When Adam sinned, he realised he was naked before God and tried to clothe himself but failed. This meant Adam hid when God approached. The Bible tells us that when Jesus died for us, He made atonement. Atone means to cover or clothe. Jesus clothes His people with the garments of salvation (Isaiah 61:10)⁷ 10 I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh! My soul will be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels..

4. Jesus rose again

Jesus defeated death when He rose from the dead. Because He has risen, one day we will also rise (1 Corinthians 15:22)⁸ 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.. If Jesus had not risen from the dead we would not have our sins forgiven (1 Corinthian 15:17)⁹ 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.. The resurrection of Jesus gives us tremendous hope.

5. Jesus ascended

This means that after His resurrection Jesus went back to the throne of God and is now sitting and reigning there (1 Corinthians 15:25)¹⁰ 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.. Because He has ascended, He took captivity captive and has given us gifts (Ephesians 4:7, 8)¹¹ 7 But to each one of us, the grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to people.”. At this time He makes intercession for us to the Father. In other words, Jesus prays for us as we live our lives. His perfect, effective prayers sustain us. We can be saved to the uttermost because of this (Hebrews 7:25)¹² 25 Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.. When we get things wrong, Jesus is our advocate. He is the go-between for us and God the Father (1 John 2:1)¹³ 1 My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counsellor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.. Since Jesus pleads for us, we can come boldly in prayer and expect God to hear what we say (Hebrews 10:22)¹⁴ 22 let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and having our body washed with pure water,. We also know that Jesus is preparing a place for us at this time and we will be with Him forever (John 14:2, 3)¹⁵ 2 In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also. .

6. Jesus will come again

Life will not continue as it now is. Wonderful days are coming. One day the people of God will be caught up to be forever with Jesus. There will be no more sorrow, pain, suffering or death. This little time of trouble will be replaced with an eternity of Joy. This gives us tremendous hope (1Thessalonians 4:16-18)¹⁶ 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, 17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words..

7. Jesus will create a new heaven and a new earth

There are many trying to save the planet. There is so much that has been lost and will be lost despite men’s best efforts. This creation is riddled with sin, disease, death and extinction. Man will fail in trying to build a better world. The good news is that Jesus is going to create a new world and a new creation where nothing good is ever lost. Those who believe in Him and submit their lives to Him will live in this new creation forever. This creation will be forever expanding, becoming more and more wonderful. With Jesus forever is abundant joy and life (2 Peter 3:10-13)¹⁷ 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat; and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, 12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells..

Questions

1. Can you think of other things that Jesus has done for us?
2. How should we live in light of what we have received?
3. Are you ready for Jesus’s return?