24
Gemma Adam
Isn’t it incredible what Jack Bauer can achieve in just 24 hours? Time and time again this Counter Terrorist Agent proves himself invaluable to the American population. Thousands, if not millions, owe their lives to that man and the tremendous sacrifices he makes to save his people.
At the time of Jesus, the Jewish nation was waiting with great anticipation for a man a bit like Jack Bauer. In the Old Testament, God had promised that one day a ‘messiah’ would save his people from oppression and bring them into a land they could call their own, where there would be no more suffering or pain. The prophet Isaiah describes this land: “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them” (Isaiah 11v6). This promise had not been realised by the time of Jesus’ birth. In fact the Jewish people were at that time living under the oppressive rule of the Romans. They longed for the Messiah to come and fight the Romans and bring about victory for his people.
When Jesus went through the country performing great miracles and teaching about God in a way nobody had heard before people began to wonder, is this the long awaited Messiah? Could he be the one who would rescue them? Jesus’ name in fact means ‘he rescues’. But when Jesus’ life ended through horrific execution on a cruel cross, it seemed clear that he could not be the Messiah. Hadn’t his mission failed? That would never happen to Jack Bauer!
If only they had properly remembered all of God’s promises in the Old Testament. Yes, God did promise a Messiah who would rescue his people but he had also told them that his chosen king would, first of all, suffer and die. Isaiah prophesised 500 years before Jesus was even born: “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering…He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth” (Isaiah 53 v3,7)
This is exactly what happened to Jesus. He was put on trial before being sentenced to death on a cross and he didn’t say a word. He was silent before his accusers as a sheep before her shearers is silent. If God had predicted this so many hundreds of years before, this couldn’t have been a freak accident. This was all part of God’s plan. “It was the Lords will to crush him and cause him to suffer” (Isaiah 53 v. 10).
In the 24 hours that Jesus was on the cross he carried out the greatest rescue mission ever known. Even better than Jack Bauer saving thousands from destruction by evil terrorists, Jesus’ death means that all people can be saved from the punishment of God that our rebellion against him deserves. Isaiah explains: “He was pierced for our transgressions [our wrong doing], he was crushed for our iniquities [our wickedness]; the punishment that brought us peace [with God] was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53 v5,6).
And after Jesus had dealt with our sin through his death, God raised him to life. This was the final and conclusive proof that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah, the Son of God.
I write on a day when two car bombs have been discovered in vehicles in central London, just days before the anniversary of the 7th July terrorist attacks on the London underground. It’s easy to think that the world’s greatest need today is freedom from the threat of terrorist activity. But actually, the world’s greatest need is the forgiveness of sin, and freedom from the danger of God’s judgement. One day, we will all face the almighty God, the maker of heaven and earth, and we must give an account of our lives. The truth is we have all like sheep, as Isaiah puts it, turned away from God. Like stupid animals we have chosen to live our lives our way instead of living for the one who created us. And as a result we will all face God’s judgement and eternal punishment unless we accept Jesus’ great rescue mission for us. We simply have to repent of our rebellion against God, believe in Jesus and turn to live a life that pleases him and not ourselves. The bible says “If you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10v9).
And for those who do that, ‘God’s people’, there is a great hope for the future. Just as God kept his promise to send a Messiah who would suffer and die to save his people, he will also keep his promise to bring about a perfect world for them to dwell in. A land where there will be no more pain and suffering. Where the wolf will live with the lamb, as Isaiah prophesised. Where people of every tribe, and language and people and nation will live as one family in perfect fellowship with God. God has promised that one day Jesus will return to bring his kingdom in all its fullness. That day will be the start of a wonderful eternity for those who have believed and trusted in God’s promise and Jesus’ rescue. But for those who have continued to live in rebellion against God, it will be the start of eternal misery. God always keeps his promises and because of the death and resurrection of Jesus (his great rescue mission) we can be sure that God’s promise of a new heaven and a new earth will be fulfilled.
Nothing Jack Bauer could offer comes close. The peace that CTU provides Los Angeles with lasts only until the next series! But Jesus offers everlasting peace with God and an eternal future free from sin and suffering.
Please get in touch if you would like to know more about Jesus’ great rescue mission for humanity