Did Jesus Cheat?

The only time I cheated in school was Kindergarten. 

(Where was this shirt when I really needed it?!)

Even at that young age, numbers never made sense to me. But they made sense to Emily! And so I casually glanced at her answers on the way to my first ever 100%, sticker covered counting page! Thankfully, my 1st grade teacher realized I couldn't tell addition from subtraction and got me straightened out the following year.

So yes, I cheated.
But, did Jesus?

That's the question I was recently asked through my role as an online writer with GotQuestions.org

"Could Jesus really be a complete sacrifice if He rose from the dead? Isn't that cheating?"

I think it's a great question. And the good news is that Jesus didn't cheat death, He beat death!

Neither Jesus' death or resurrection were to be a surprise, clearly stating the need for both on numerous occasions:

"The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." Luke 9:22

So while Jesus knew that He was appointed both to die and to rise again, that didn't make His death any less of a sacrifice or hardship. In fact, to see the distress of Jesus crying out, "My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?", grabs me every time. So don't be of the impression that the cross was a breeze for Jesus since He would rise again.

Jesus rising from the dead wasn't cheating death, but beating death! His resurrection proved to everyone that when He offered us eternal life, He could deliver! Jesus says in John 10:28, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish." If Jesus were still dead, there would be no reason to believe such a claim.

So Jesus rising from the dead doesn't diminish the life and death He lived to become our complete sacrifice. Instead, it serves as the ultimate proof that Jesus can deliver on absolutely every promise He makes. 

You Don't Question God!!!!

A new Christian recently told me the one thing he knew is that you don't question God.

I told him he actually knew less than he thought.

People often say to question God is presumptuous and even faithless. I argue there are two ways you can question God. One is acceptable, and one is not. 

The Old Testament prophet Habakkuk questioned God. With all the evil he saw around him, he questioned if God was paying attention.

"...why do you look idly at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?" Habakkuk 1:13

Take a few minutes to read the short book of Habakkuk, and you find this man questioning God on every page! What's more remarkable, is that each time he brings his questions and complaints, God is willing to answer Habakkuk's questions and accusations.

Why would God do this? Essentially, it was due to the attitude this prophet displayed in his questions. Habakkuk closes his book saying that even when the situations around him don't make sense, 
"...yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation." (Habakkuk 3:18)

1) The wrong way to question God
Questioning Him in anger, unwilling to hear the response. You refuse to allow God's purposes to have priority above your own.

2) The right way to question God
Questioning in sincerity, willing to hear. You recognize that God doesn't always work the way we do (Isaiah 55:8-9), and so you genuinely seek to understand.

To question God correctly, doesn't mean you can't be honest in your emotions. If you read all of Habakkuk's short book, you see a man with very raw emotions. But, he didn't allow his feelings or circumstances to close him off to genuinely listen for God's answers. This honest dialogue between a man and his God, ultimately satisfied the prophet and settled his heart for what was to come.

So talk to God. Bring your questions, because He can handle them. And while you're at it, be sure to bring your thanks as well for all the ways He's worked before.