{"id":1695,"date":"2011-05-08T18:56:10","date_gmt":"2011-05-08T23:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/?p=1695"},"modified":"2011-10-31T18:43:56","modified_gmt":"2011-10-31T23:43:56","slug":"twirl-033-5811-dying-into-new-life-crucified-with-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/lessons\/twirl-033-5811-dying-into-new-life-crucified-with-christ","title":{"rendered":"TWIRL 033 (5\/8\/11): Dying into New Life&#8212;Crucified with Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>This Week In Recovery Lesson<\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Dying into New Life&#8212;Crucified with Christ<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;\">For some, this concept of dying to your old self (or ways) in order to experience new life is new and mysterious. For others, the concept is familiar and worn and so easily taken for granted because it remains mysterious and has not really been experienced. For those in the process of dying to the selfish ways of thinking and doing into the transformative experience of new life, it is never old or worn out since the experience is something of a miracle every moment that it is realized by experience.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What does it mean: dying to self?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As you read this, it is generally understood that you accept and believe that Jesus Christ, equal with God as a member of God, humbled Himself to the point of embryonic human likeness and capacity, emptying Himself of all divine authority in order to experience the human condition and plight on every level. It is generally understood that you accept and believe historically that Jesus lived on earth as an infant that grew into a boy and then a man. It is generally understood that you accept historically that Jesus was\u00a0an innocent man having been convicted of a crime he did not commit, sentenced to death by\u00a0execution, tortured and then crucified on a cross. It is generally understood that you spiritually accept and believe that Jesus died on the cross as the one and only acceptable sacrifice for your sin, reconciling you into relationship with God through the process of justification\u2014just as if you had never sinned: past, present, and future. It is generally understood that you accept and believe historically that the tomb turned up empty on the third day just as Jesus and the prophets predicted it would. It is generally understood that you accept and believe spiritually that Jesus arose from the dead through the experience of resurrection and is fully alive today. It is generally understood that you accept and believe that the Bible is the written Word of God without exception.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What do you believe about Jesus Christ in relation to God?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What do you believe about the human birth, life, and death of Jesus?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What do you believe about the resurrection of Jesus?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What do you believe about the Bible?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Finally, as you read this, it is generally understood that you accept and believe that you have the opportunity to experience Jesus Christ\u2014King of kings and Lord of lords\u2014alive in you, directing your life; thoughts, desires, choices, and behavior. So, how does this translate into how you think, what you want, what you choose, and what you do?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What does it all mean as you search for meaning, struggling through the obstacles laid out before you each and every day. What does it all mean considering the historical events throughout your life; hoping to rise up to each occasion, meeting expectations hoisted upon you\u2014none bigger than the expectations you have for your self? What does it all mean in the face of the lies that you have come to believe about yourself and about your place in the world? How does what Jesus did according to the plan of God factor into your plans according to the systemic expectations you live with? How has painfully struggling to live up to a standard that you cannot possibly live up to worked out for you so far? What does it all mean?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down.\u00a0For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law\u2014I stopped trying to meet all its requirements\u2014so that I might live for God.\u00a0My old self has been crucified with Christ.\u00a0It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.\u00a0I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.<\/strong> Galatians 2:18-21 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Before getting into the examination of this Scripture, what is your initial impression as to its meaning?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Let\u2019s examine this truth from the Word of God.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What exactly happened here that Paul the Apostle declares that the old self has been crucified with Christ? What did Jesus experience, and if what Paul said applies to each of us, how did we\u2026 or do we\u2026 participate in the experience? Jesus, in human likeness, was reduced to being fully human during his time on earth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As God, Jesus willfully laid down His authority and capacity as God (<\/span><a title=\"Read Philippians 2:5-8\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=phil%202.5-8&amp;version=NLT\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Philippians 2:5-8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">). As a human being, Jesus Himself said that he had no authority and was entirely dependent on the authority and capacity of God in order to live the life he was called to live (<\/span><a title=\"Read to John 5:30\" href=\"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/wp3\/believe\/I%20can%20do%20nothing%20on%20my%20own.%20I%20judge%20as%20God%20tells%20me.%20Therefore,%20my%20judgment%20is%20just,%20because%20I%20carry%20out%20the%20will%20of%20the%20one%20who%20sent%20me,%20not%20my%20own%20will.\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">John 5:30<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">). While Jesus, as a man of flesh, did not have a sin nature, he certainly did take on a human nature. (Remember that Adam did not have a sin nature, either. It was in his human nature that he gave into his selfish motivation and sinned.) Jesus did have control over his ability to choose with responsibility and accountability for how he would choose to live out each day. His choice was to depend on God as the only means by which he would not yield to temptation to give in to his human urges and desires (<\/span><a title=\"Read Hebrews 4:15\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=heb%204.15&amp;version=NLT\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hebrews 4:15<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Having clicked on the links and reading Philippians 2:5-8, John 5:30, and Hebrews 4:15, what would you say is true about the humanity of Jesus?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to those scriptures, what would you say about the divine authority of Jesus while flesh and blood on the earth? <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Advancing forward to the day of Christ\u2019s betrayal, arrest, and surrender, let\u2019s consider what Jesus experienced in his human flesh; physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Allow me the room to lay this out from various portions of Scripture so that we can more closely examine the experience of our Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><sup id=\"en-NLT-24028\">1<\/sup> When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24029\">2<\/sup> \u201cAs you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man\u00a0will be handed over to be crucified.\u201d\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24030\">3<\/sup> At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest,\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24031\">4<\/sup> plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24032\">5<\/sup> \u201cBut not during the Passover celebration,\u201d they agreed, \u201cor the people may riot.\u201d <\/strong>Matthew 26:1-4 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><sup id=\"en-NLT-24047\">20<\/sup> When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table\u00a0with the twelve disciples.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24048\">21<\/sup>While they were eating, he said,\u00a0\u201cI tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.\u201d<\/strong>Matthew 26:20-21 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While having dinner with your beloved friend and leader of the revolution you absolutely believe in with all your heart says to the best of friends around the dinner table, &#8220;Believe it! One of you will betray me TONIGHT&#8221;, what is going through your mind; what are you feeling?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><sup id=\"en-NLT-24063\">36<\/sup> Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said,\u00a0\u201cSit here while I go over there to pray.\u201d\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24064\">37<\/sup>He took Peter and Zebedee\u2019s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24065\">38<\/sup> He told them,\u00a0\u201cMy soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> <\/strong><strong><sup id=\"en-NLT-24066\">39<\/sup> He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying,\u00a0\u201cMy Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.\u201d <\/strong><strong><sup id=\"en-NLT-24067\">40<\/sup>Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter,\u00a0\u201cCouldn\u2019t you watch with me even one hour?\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24068\">41<\/sup>Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> <\/strong><strong><sup id=\"en-NLT-24069\">42<\/sup> Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed,\u00a0\u201cMy Father! If this cup cannot be taken away\u00a0unless I drink it, your will be done.\u201d\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24070\">43<\/sup> When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn\u2019t keep their eyes open. <\/strong><strong><sup id=\"en-NLT-24071\">44<\/sup> So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again.<\/strong> Matthew 26: 36-44 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><sup id=\"en-NLT-25872\">41<\/sup> He walked away, about a stone\u2019s throw, and knelt down and prayed,\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-25873\">42<\/sup> <\/strong><strong>\u201cFather, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.\u201d<\/strong><strong> <sup id=\"en-NLT-25874\">43<\/sup> Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-25875\">44<\/sup> He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. <\/strong>Luke 22: 41-44 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What would imagine Jesus is feeling with the anticipation of all that is about to take place any minute now, with the understanding that he will be nailed to a tree within hours?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What would you guess it felt like when he asked his dear friends to support him prayerfully during this night of sheer torment and they fell asleep?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How miserable and stressed out do you think you would need to be for your blood vessels to pop through your skin until you bled?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><sup id=\"en-NLT-24072\">45<\/sup> Then he came to the disciples and said,\u00a0\u201cGo ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look\u2014the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24073\">46<\/sup> Up, let\u2019s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!\u201d <\/strong><strong><sup id=\"en-NLT-24074\">47<\/sup> And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. <\/strong>Matthew 26:45-47 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><sup id=\"en-NLT-26754\">4<\/sup> Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them.\u00a0\u201cWho are you looking for?\u201d he asked.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-26755\">5<\/sup> \u201cJesus the Nazarene,\u201d\u00a0they replied.\u00a0\u201cI Am he,\u201d Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) <sup id=\"en-NLT-26756\">6<\/sup> As Jesus said\u00a0\u201cI Am he,\u201d they all drew back and fell to the ground!\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-26757\">7<\/sup> Once more he asked them,\u00a0\u201cWho are you looking for?\u201d\u00a0And again they replied, \u201cJesus the Nazarene.\u201d\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-26758\">8<\/sup> \u201cI told you that I Am he,\u201d Jesus said.\u00a0\u201cAnd since I am the one you want, let these others go.\u201d\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-26759\">9<\/sup> He did this to fulfill his own statement:\u00a0\u201cI did not lose a single one of those you have given me.\u201d\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-26760\">10<\/sup>Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest\u2019s slave.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-26761\">11<\/sup> But Jesus said to Peter,\u00a0\u201cPut your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?\u201d <\/strong>John 18:4-11 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What picture comes to your mind of what happened in this passage from John 18?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How would you say it happened that a battalion of skilled Roman soldiers were forced back and dropped to the ground?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How is it that Peter was able to draw his sword and swing for the head of a priestly leader while confronted by an army of hundreds? <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There is a great deal to digest here in studying the event leading up to Christ\u2019s crucifixion. Jesus knew that the time had come. In fact, it was Jesus who stirred up the pot and got the stew boiling when he defiantly ripped through the temple with a whip in front of everyone who was paying attention (as many as a million Jews were in the city of Jerusalem for Passover). In the midst of the crowd, the violent actions of Jesus got the attention of Temple leaders, including key Pharisees well connected to Roman authority. It was on now as it needed to be for Christ\u2019s act of ultimate sacrifice to be realized.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Jesus had been betrayed by a friend he loved dearly, and went with his closest friends to a familiar olive garden to pray. This time of immense grief and torment reveals much about the state that Jesus was in as a fully human being apart from his divine nature. Jesus was alone\u2014utterly alone as he prayed, depending on his Heavenly Father for any strength at all to get through this incredible distress.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We are told that Jesus asked God to consider another way to accomplish their eternal plan for you and me as he prayed,\u00a0<strong>\u201cMy Father! If this cup cannot be taken away\u00a0unless I drink it, your will be done.\u201d <\/strong>We are told that He prayed the same thing again, and that as an angel from heaven descended to strengthen Jesus, it was not sufficient as Jesus prayed even harder; his physical body so distressed that blood vessels burst through his skin and Jesus sweat large drops of blood. I cannot begin to imagine his torment and struggle. And things were just getting started.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They came for him, armed with weapons in anticipation of a battle. Other Bible translations use words like \u2018battalion\u2019 and \u2018contingent\u2019 to describe the army that showed up to arrest Jesus. As many as 600 highly skilled Roman soldiers were on hand as they approached Jesus in the vicinity of the olive garden.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As they drew near, Jesus asked (keep in mind that he is not looking too good here), \u201cWho are you looking for?\u201d Led by Judas and Malchus (assistant to the high priest, very familiar with Jesus), apparently they did not immediately recognize him under perhaps moonlight and the glow of torches, as someone responded, \u201cJesus of Nazareth.\u201d Jesus responded, \u201cI AM he.\u201d This is incredible since though Jesus is fully human he reminds us all that He is still God, the great I AM. At his response, John the Disciple writes that \u201c<strong>they all drew back and fell to the ground!\u201d <\/strong>All 600 Roman soldiers in all of their combat garb were forced back and went down?\u00a0Including Judas and Malchus? Or maybe Judas was left standing so that he could see the power of God at work in the vulnerable of moments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Peter would draw his sword and seek to take off the head of Malchus. Peter was undeterred drawing his sword as this small Roman army was held down and unable to stop him. Apparently Malchus, pinned to the ground under the force of the Holy Spirit, turned away his head and Peter clipped his ear. Peter, one man in the moment, could have wiped out the entire battalion of Roman soldiers. When you really take a moment to think about this, it is an unbelievable event. It is everything that Peter, Judas, and all of the disciples had lived for over the past three years. Their time had come. Jesus would overthrow the Roman Empire and be king. They would all rule with him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But that was not the plan.\u00a0<em><strong>The plan was one of surrender and sacrifice<\/strong><\/em>. The Holy Spirit of God relented and the stunned army of soldiers returned to their feet and perhaps reluctantly approached Jesus. Jesus willingly surrendered and was taken away.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><sup id=\"en-NLT-25883\">52<\/sup> Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the Temple guard, and the elders who had come for him.\u00a0\u201cAm I some dangerous revolutionary,\u201d he asked,\u00a0\u201cthat you come with swords and clubs to arrest me?\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-25884\">53<\/sup> Why didn\u2019t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.\u201d\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-25885\">54<\/sup> So they arrested him and led him to the high priest\u2019s home. And Peter followed at a distance.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-25886\">55<\/sup> The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. <\/strong>Luke 22:52-54 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What might you say about the emotional roller coaster from the friends to the betrayer among those sharing a mutual love with Jesus?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What might you be feeling if you had sacrificed three years away from your family (with their blessing) to support a revolution that would result in your leader overthrowing your oppressor, only to see him willingly surrender, when you know he has all the power?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The fact is is that Jesus is just that: a dangerous revolutionary, and though the power of darkness continues to reign in the world, the revolution is coming. So, crucified with Christ having died into new life, we are participants in leading the greatest revolution in all of human history. More on that coming up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><sup id=\"en-NLT-24783\">60<\/sup> Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, \u201cWell, aren\u2019t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?\u201d\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24784\">61<\/sup> But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, \u201cAre you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?\u201d\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24785\">62<\/sup> Jesus said,\u00a0\u201cI Am.\u00a0And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God\u2019s right hand\u00a0and coming on the clouds of heaven.\u201d\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24786\">63<\/sup> Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, \u201cWhy do we need other witnesses?\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24787\">64<\/sup> You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?\u201d\u00a0\u201cGuilty!\u201d they all cried. \u201cHe deserves to die!\u201d\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24788\">65<\/sup> Then some of them began to spit at him, and they blindfolded him and beat him with their fists. \u201cProphesy to us,\u201d they jeered. And the guards slapped him as they took him away.<\/strong>Mark 14:60-65 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><sup id=\"en-NLT-24807\">12<\/sup> Pilate asked them, \u201cThen what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?\u201d\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24808\">13<\/sup> They shouted back, \u201cCrucify him!\u201d\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24809\">14<\/sup> \u201cWhy?\u201d Pilate demanded. \u201cWhat crime has he committed?\u201d\u00a0But the mob roared even louder, \u201cCrucify him!\u201d\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24810\">15<\/sup> So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><sup id=\"en-NLT-24811\">16<\/sup> The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor\u2019s headquarters and called out the entire regiment.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24812\">17<\/sup> They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24813\">18<\/sup> Then they saluted him and taunted, \u201cHail! King of the Jews!\u201d\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24814\">19<\/sup> And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-24815\">20<\/sup> When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified. <\/strong>Mark 15:12-20 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The experience of Christ\u2019s crucifixion was beyond the dread he had experienced in the olive garden. The torture was beyond anything that I could possibly imagine. As Jesus carried the cross (the beam of the cross estimated to be 125 pounds up to 300 pounds if Jesus carried the cross as shown in the picture), strapped across his exposed flesh, as far as half of a mile to his execution, he collapsed three times. <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It has been said that the sin of mankind took residence in that beam of wood and began to embed itself into the flesh of Jesus; that the gravity of our sin was so much to bear that Jesus collapsed under its weight. Simon the Cyrene would be summoned to help Jesus carry the cross the rest of the way.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As Jesus hung from the cross, he was alone in his suffering. So alone in the darkness of sin and its eternal consequence (whose sin? yours and mine), Jesus alienated himself from God. <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We know this because he cried out, \u201cMy God, My God, Why?!\u201d Jesus suffered alone and abandoned from anything good or holy or merciful. He had left all authority with the Father as he left humbled himself to nothing as a man of flesh and blood. Jesus was left to die; and die he did.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Jesus had told his disciples that his death would be like Jonah in the belly of the whale (<\/span><a title=\"Read Jonah 2\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=jonah%202&amp;version=NKJV\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Jonah 2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">), but that he would suffer in the belly of the earth for three days and nights (<\/span><a title=\"Read Matthew 12:40\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew+12:40&amp;version=NLT\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Matthew 12:40<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">). What did he mean by that? We know about Christ\u2019s death on what we call Good Friday, and his resurrection on Sunday. What happened on Saturday? Some like to romanticize this notion that Jesus flew like Superman into hell, Sheol, Hades, purgatory, or whatever you want to call it, and rescued all who had perished before his act of mercy at the cross. Paul says it quite differently.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><sup id=\"en-NLT-28078\">1<\/sup> So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-28079\">2<\/sup> And because you belong to him, the power\u00a0of the life-giving Spirit has freed you\u00a0from the power of sin that leads to death.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-28080\">3<\/sup> The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.\u00a0So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin\u2019s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NLT-28081\">4<\/sup> He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.<\/strong> Romans 8:1-4 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While I tend to prefer the New Living Translation of the Bible, it seems to be missing something, particularly in verse three. Please consider the New King James Translation:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><sup id=\"en-NKJV-28114\">1<\/sup> There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,\u00a0who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NKJV-28115\">2<\/sup> For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NKJV-28116\">3<\/sup> For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God\u00a0<em>did<\/em> by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NKJV-28117\">4<\/sup> that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. <\/strong>Romans 8:1-4 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do you see it? Do you see what Jesus experienced on the second day, between his crucifixion and resurrection? No one really talks about it. The souls of Jesus the human being, sacrificed for my sin, experienced condemnation on my behalf. He went all the way. Listen to how Jonah described his experience:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>\u201c I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, and He answered me.\u00a0\u201c Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,\u00a0<em>And<\/em> You heard my voice.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NKJV-22548\">3<\/sup> For You cast me into the deep,\u00a0Into the heart of the seas,\u00a0And the floods surrounded me;\u00a0All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NKJV-22549\">4<\/sup> Then I said, \u2018I have been cast out of Your sight;\u00a0Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.\u2019\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NKJV-22550\">5<\/sup> The waters surrounded me,\u00a0<em>even<\/em> to my soul;\u00a0The deep closed around me;\u00a0Weeds were wrapped around my head.\u00a0<sup id=\"en-NKJV-22551\">6<\/sup> I went down to the moorings of the mountains;\u00a0The earth with its bars\u00a0<em>closed<\/em> behind me forever;\u00a0Yet You have brought up my life from the pit,\u00a0O LORD, my God.\u201d <\/strong>Jonah 2:2-6 (NKJV)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The critical difference between Jonah and Jesus is that for Jonah, his terror was simulated condemnation as a representative symbol of the condemnation of souls beloved by the Creator. Jesus experienced the literal condemnation of selfish sin. What occurred in the physical realm concerning the crucifixion of Jesus I can imagine, as brutally terrifying and painful as it was. What to Jesus in the spiritual realm? I have no idea. Praise God that Jesus arose, resurrected as a man into new life, then exalted into His rightful place as God; King of kings and Lord of lords.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What would you say it means to you that: 1) Jesus as God left his place of authority to become like you, 2) Jesus experience the dread of physical and psychological torture to the point of death, 3) Jesus hung there on a cross with the gravity of his body weight against at least three nails driven into his hands (wrists) and feet (likely both ankles)?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What does it mean to you that Jesus&#8217; sacrifice was done out of love for you?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What is the result of Christ&#8217;s death and resurrection as it applies to you?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Please proceed by clicking <a title=\"Open TWRAC 033\" href=\"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/applications\/twrac-033-5811-dying-into-new-life-crucified-with-christ\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #003366;\">TWRAC 033<\/span><\/a> for this week&#8217;s application challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"horizontal\" data-via=\"StevieMG\">Tweet<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"twttr_buttons\"><div class=\"twttr_twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=TWIRL+033+%285%2F8%2F11%29%3A+Dying+into+New+Life---Crucified+with+Christ\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-via=\"\" data-hashtags=\"\"  data-size=\"default\" data-url=\"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/lessons\/twirl-033-5811-dying-into-new-life-crucified-with-christ\"  data-related=\"\" target=\"_blank\">Tweet<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This Week In Recovery Lesson Dying into New Life&#8212;Crucified with Christ For some, this concept of dying to your old self (or ways) in order to experience new life is new and mysterious. For others, the concept is familiar and &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/lessons\/twirl-033-5811-dying-into-new-life-crucified-with-christ\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lessons","category-twirl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1695","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1695"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1695\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1710,"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1695\/revisions\/1710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}