Jesus Tasted Death On The Cross

 

…Adam tasted the sweetness of the apple and obtained the bitterness of death for the whole human race. In contrast to this, the Lord tasted the bitterness of gall and obtained our restoration from death’s sting to the sweetness of life. He took on himself the bitterness of gall in order to extinguish in us the bitterness of death.” – Chromatius Of Aquileia

“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” – Matthew 16:24-25 ESV

Jesus took on Satan in head-to-head combat and won. He wrestled lost humanity from the devil’s evil grip. Our Lord lived in constant communion with the Father. And he waged spiritual war with the devil by obedience to the Father. Satan's defeat on the cross was decisive. 

"After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit." - John 19: 28 -30 NKJV.

Jesus took on the religious system of the day and exposed the worthless traditions of men that had taken it over. He came to offer the broken and hurting a new way of life. Jesus called those that would be his disciples to turn their backs on superstitions and dead religious practices. He commanded his disciples to deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow him. And he is still calling us to embrace the way of the cross today.

The path to the cross is a path of submission to God – empowered by the Holy Spirit. We relinquish our rights of self-determination for the way of Jesus.

We need help to embrace the lifestyle of the Kingdom of God - Jesus is our example. He loved those who hated him. It’s contrary to our nature to love our enemies - we need God’s empowering grace.

By the time Jesus had reached the garden of Gethsemane, he could say that the devil had no place in him(John 14:30.) He was and is the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

The first Adam lost the battle with Satan in a garden called Eden. Jesus (who represents the last Adam) won his struggle in a garden called Gethsemane.

Jesus tasted death on the cross so that - all who trust him would have eternal life in God’s kingdom.