Where He Is We Can Be

     Yesterday I paid tribute to Mike Rowland. Mike DID nothing for eternal rest. He was not even there when Jesus was scorned, mocked, intimidated, insulted, and finally was killed for just BEING. Mike was not harassed and killed; Jesus was.  "Being" was written in caps because the mob killed God. The death of Jesus redeemed mankind, not just a few, but everyone because God wants that none should perish (John 3:16). Mike wasn't there protecting Jesus or declaring him innocent. He had nothing to do with saving mankind or himself.
     That is an important point. If the reader will remember, after sinning, Adam and Eve sought to cover their own sin and skin with fig leaves. Not all their skin but merely their loins. They could not do that as fig leaves were flimsy excuses for clothing, and covered very little (Gen 3:7). Then the Word - who was called Jesus - stepped in and provided the sacrifice. An innocent animal, surely a lamb, died and redeemed the two sinners. Death was the cure for death for the first time, and the Lamb repeated the sacrifice of Himself once and for all on Calvary. Mike wasn't there and did not pay his own penalty for sin,  although he deserved death!
     That is not meant to single-out Mike. None of us were there on Calvary to cover our own sins. By grace, Jesus covered Adam's sin, and by grace he covered ours. Adam arranged the fig leaves to cover his shame, but the "Adam" on Calvary just lifted up Jesus. He trusted Jesus for salvation, and was with him that day in Paradise (Luke 23:43).
     Mike did not work-off his sins. On the other hand, he accepted Jesus's sacrifice instead. Not only that, but Mike even assisted in killing God as Jesus was dying to save him. Mike had no power to save himself, but he had enough power to kill God. Who killed God? Did Mike do that alone? Not so; we all killed God.
     Eve drew first blood. She inflicted harm on God when she was deceived. She knew not what she did just as the Jews at Calvary (Luke 23:34). The Serpent in the Tree of Knowledge was symbolic of Moses's brass serpent on his pole (Num 21:19). Eve saw the serpent alive. Mike saw the lifeless brazen serpent on his own tree (the cross). He knew that Jesus own crucifixion crucified the Old Serpent - the Devil. Mike looked on the Devil as good as dead because Jesus's own death defeated the Serpent.
     Adam's sin was greater. Unlike Eve and even Pontius Pilate, the instigators of Jesus's death knew what they were doing, or should have known because they were teachers and students of the Law. The Jews committed a greater sin (John 19:11). However, don't blame the Jews for all have sinned and deserve death (Rom 3:23). As such, everyone just as well hammered the nails and thrust the spear that killed God; although none of us were even there!
     God's death commenced in the beginning when his "Brutus" - Adam - thrust a knife in God's back. Like Brutes who killed Caesar, it was for power. Adam thrust the knife that killed his own brother. Surely, the Word said, Et tu Adamus right after Eve forsook Him. Since that time, everyone has been Adamus and Brutus. We all assisted in the assassination of our Emperor and King! Mike did too, but he accepted the sufficient sacrifice. Like Adam, he was ashamed and put on the cloak of Jesus's own Flesh as recompense for his own brutality or Brutus-like attitude.
     When Mike or anyone accepted blame for Jesus's death, and trusted Jesus's atonement, Brutus (Adamus) was crucified vicariously on his tree. That was the malefactor with Jesus in Paradise that day. On the other hand, one was so brutish that even though he was about to die, he was too stubborn to confess, I too am Adamus. Two Adam's died on their crosses with Jesus: repentant Adam and his altar-ego - unrepentant Adam. Mike was the real Adam who lifted up God as sufficient for salvation.
     Mike must be admired. He became serious about the purpose for Jesus'a was birth and death. The former was for the latter. Mike is enjoying his pardon at this moment. He was certain of that before he passed.
     Are you certain? Are you even persuaded that you need not die. Part of regeneration (born again) is realizing that you have no power to save yourself. The other half of rebirth is that Jesus does! We must all cease listening to the deception that Jesus wasn't God and God was not Creator. Indeed, God had the power to create and the power to re-create us. Now take up your own cross (Mat 16:24) and follow Jesus, and Mike, to eternal life.