Part Two: The Scarlet Thread!

The Ministry of the Messiah

As Jesus began His earthly ministry, John the Baptist identified Him with prophetic clarity: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29, KJV). Here was the fulfilment of every sacrifice, every Passover lamb, every Day of Atonement—God's ultimate provision for sin.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus revealed Himself as the answer to humanity's deepest need. He declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6, KJV). He claimed to be the bread of life (John 6:35, KJV), the light of the world (John 8:12, KJV), the good shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11, KJV), and the resurrection and the life (John 11:25, KJV).

Jesus taught that He came "to give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45, KJV), making explicit what the scarlet thread had intimated from Eden onwards. The Son of Man must be lifted up, "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:15, KJV).

The Cross: Where the Thread Turned Crimson

The scarlet thread reached its darkest yet most glorious moment at Calvary. Betrayed for thirty pieces of silver as Zechariah foretold, abandoned by His disciples, Jesus stood trial before Pontius Pilate. Pilate declared, "I find no fault in this man" (Luke 23:4, KJV), yet the sinless Lamb was condemned to die.

They led Him to Golgotha, where "they crucified him" (Luke 23:33, KJV). There bearing the sins of the world, Jesus fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy: "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5, KJV).

The physical suffering was immense, but the spiritual agony surpassed comprehension. As God laid upon Him the iniquity of us all, Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46, KJV). The Father turned His face from the Son, who became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21, KJV).

Then, with His work complete, Jesus declared, "It is finished" (John 19:30, KJV), and yielded up His spirit. At that moment, "the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom" (Matthew 27:51, KJV). The barrier separating humanity from God's presence was torn open—not by human hands, but by divine power. Access to the Father was now available through Christ's blood.

The Resurrection: Victory Secured

On the third day, as prophesied, Jesus rose from the dead. The angel at the empty tomb proclaimed: "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said" (Matthew 28:6, KJV). This resurrection validated everything Jesus claimed and accomplished. Paul later wrote: "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, KJV).

The risen Christ appeared to His disciples, proving His victory over death. He showed Thomas His pierced hands and side (John 20:27, KJV), the eternal marks of His sacrifice. Satan's head was crushed, as promised in Eden, though Christ's heel was bruised in the process.

The Scarlet Thread Extended: The Gospel Commission

Before His ascension, Jesus commissioned His followers: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved" (Mark 16:15-16, KJV). The scarlet thread would now extend through the Church to the ends of the earth, as believers proclaimed the message of redemption.

Peter boldly preached on Pentecost: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12, KJV). Paul declared: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9, KJV).

The Thread's Eternal Fulfilment

The scarlet thread that began in Eden will reach its ultimate fulfilment when Christ returns. John's revelation describes the victorious Christ: "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True...and his name is called The Word of God" (Revelation 19:11-13, KJV).

In the new heaven and new earth, "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:4, KJV). The curse of Eden will be fully reversed.

The Thread That Saves

From Genesis to Revelation, from promise to fulfilment, the scarlet thread of redemption reveals God's passionate pursuit of fallen humanity. Every sacrifice pointed to the Cross; every prophecy found its "yes" in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20, KJV). This Christmas, we celebrate not merely a baby in a manger, but the incarnation of God's eternal plan of salvation.

As we trace this crimson thread through Scripture, we see that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16, KJV). The thread that began with a promise in Eden and ran through patriarchs, prophets, and priests, was dyed deepest red at Calvary and now extends to every person who will grasp it by faith.

Have you taken hold of this scarlet thread? Have you trusted in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world? This Christmas season, may we marvel afresh at the wonder of God's redemptive plan, completed in Christ Jesus our Lord. "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15, KJV).

Key Takeaways:

• Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of God's redemptive plan – From Eden's promise to Calvary's cross, every prophecy and sacrifice pointed to Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
• The Cross was both humanity's darkest hour and God's greatest victory – At Calvary, Jesus bore our sins, suffered separation from the Father, and declared "It is finished," tearing the temple veil and opening direct access to God.
• The Resurrection validates Christ's claims and secures our victory – Death could not hold the Author of Life; His rising on the third day proved His power over sin and death.
• Salvation is available to all through faith in Christ alone – There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved; it is by grace through faith, not by works.
• The scarlet thread extends through the Church to all nations – Believers are commissioned to proclaim the gospel to every creature, extending God's offer of redemption to the ends of the earth.
• The thread will reach its eternal fulfilment when Christ returns – In the new heaven and new earth, all tears, death, sorrow, and pain will cease, and the curse of Eden will be fully reversed.