What Christ Accomplished

"And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, ³¹ who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem."

Luke 9:30-31

As Jesus prayed on the mountain, He was transfigured and was clothed with glory.  He spoke with Moses and Elijah because God is the God of the living, and the subject of their discussion was intriguing:  His upcoming decease He was about to accomplish.  Most people do not see death as an accomplishment, but Jesus through His death would accomplish more than mortal man or scheming devil could know.  Jesus was about to conquer death by His own death and provide eternal life through His atoning sacrifice.

When John the Baptist saw Jesus he identified Him as "The Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world" (John 1:29).  The scripture is filled with things Jesus accomplished on Calvary culminating in His death, burial, resurrection, ascension and intercession for as many as receive Him.  Paul wrote in Galatians 1:4-5 of Christ "...who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ⁵ to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."  By His atonement Jesus made a way of salvation by faith in Him possible, washed us from sin and imputed righteousness to all who believe.  Jesus has delivered us from sin, Satan and hell and saved us for eternal life and glory with Him.

Recently I was struck by the prophetic utterance of what Christ would accomplish as if it was already finished in Isaiah 53:4-5:  "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. ⁵ But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."  Many Christians are aware our sins were placed upon Jesus but have not considered that our griefs, sorrows, afflictions and sickness has been as well.  Having overcome sin and death by His divine power, so we also are no longer slaves to grief, sorrow or afflictions.  Knowing Jesus has accomplished this, faith in Him prompts us to be casting our cares upon Him because He cares for us.

There are times when we care about things we cannot change, but God's care for us is combined with almighty power.  Isn't it possible we have tried to shoulder grief and sorrow that overwhelmed us ourselves when Jesus has already borne it for us because we did not know this is part of His accomplishment?  If we will gladly give Him our sin, won't we give Him our grief and afflictions too?  We are not sufficient or able to do even this, but thanks be to God who helps and strengthens us to believe, receive and give.  Jesus was a "man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" and yet He continually has perfect peace and fullness of joy.  We cannot understand how this can possibly be, but what is impossible with men is possible with God.