More Things JESUS Said: Words from the Cross - Part 2

On the surface, the events that occurred in the life of JESUS on Holy Week Friday were not “good”.

So, why is that day celebrated in Christian circles as “Good Friday?” Because it’s the day on which CHRIST JESUS satisfied GOD's wrath for sins of the entire world and purchased for us the Father’s mercy.

JESUS’ agonized cry from the cross of “It is finished” (John 19:30)  opened the door for all people to ask the LORD for and receive salvation (Romans 10:13.) The word “finished,” as used in the verse is “tetelestai” from the Greek, an actual accounting term used to indicate that a debt owed has been “paid in full.”

JESUS’ great suffering and crucifixion paid for all a debt we couldn’t pay, purchased GOD’s forgiveness for those who would believe, and restored GOD’s people back to Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

JESUS’ life’s mission was to save the world from perishing (John 3:17.) And He did it, not as an innocent victim of circumstances, but as a willing partner with His Father to fulfill the Scriptures:

“I give my life so that I can take it back again. No one takes it away from me; I give my own life freely. I have the right to give my life, and I have the right to take it back. This is what my Father commanded me to do.” John 10:17- 18

With those three words, “it is finished,” JESUS freed GOD’s people from the power of sin and every form of evil – addiction, generational curses, fear, and every stronghold that kept us in chains before we believed.

We have freedom now, because Christ made us free. So stand strong. Galatians 5:1

This is the good news for which every child of GOD should lift high our hands, our eyes toward heaven and shout a lusty Hallelujah, PRAISE the LORD!

With one sacrifice He made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:14

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy and righteous FATHER, may we never forget the work that JESUS finished at cross that changed the trajectory of the entire world and of every believer. Thank YOU, SAVIOR and LORD, for giving freely giving YOUR life. Thank YOU, Heavenly Father for a love so great that YOU willingly crushed YOUR SON and made Him suffer as a perfect sacrifice for an imperfect people. All for our joy and YOUR glory. To YOU belong all dominion, all power and all glory, for ever and ever. We pray and ask all things in the matchless Name of JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

More Things JESUS Said: Words From the Cross

Palm Sunday through Resurrection Sunday are the holiest days on the Christian calendar, and known to most Christians as Passion Week. The events of this week brought JESUS’ mission on earth to an end, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and scriptures (Isaiah 53.)

Day six, Good Friday, could hardly be called “good” since it was the most difficult of JESUS’ entire ministry. On that single day, JESUS was subjected to betrayal, endured multiple unlawful trials, false accusations, condemnation, mockery, beatings, the most inhumane tortures, and abandonment by His closest supporters. 

Finally, the end, death by crucifixion. A shameful form of execution reserved for the vilest of felons. Through it all, JESUS said very little, and not one word in His own defense.

But from the cross, JESUS spoke, making seven recorded statements. While each have great significance for Christianity, two in particular leave no doubt about JESUS’ unconditional and divine love for mankind.

Based on Bible accounts, these would be the first and sixth statements, in order:

“Father, forgive them, because they don’t know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

“It is finished.” John 19:30

How does one forgive such injustices as JESUS endured?

Theology professor Justin Holcomb explains it this way in an article published in Christianity.com: “The wrath of GOD against sin had to be poured out on JESUS, the perfect sacrificial substitute, in order for forgiveness and salvation to be poured out to the nations…. the day that seemed to be the greatest triumph of evil was actually the deathblow in GOD’s gloriously good plan to redeem the world from bondage….”

Rather than focusing on His most agonizing human suffering, JESUS was looking beyond to the mission that His Father had given Him to carry out, on behalf of mankind. (Isaiah 53.)

The Jewish leaders who lied and deceived to have Him crucified, the Roman soldiers who humiliated and spat on Him, the criminals and gawkers who jeered and mocked Him – none understood that their actions would fulfill GOD’s plan and the scriptures.

   

When JESUS prayed to GOD the Father to forgive His enemies, He knew that a judgement day would come when every person who acted against Him that day would recognize the extent of what they had done, and to whom, and repent for their sin. Romans 14:11-12; Philippians 2:8-11. And some did come to repentance that very day:

• A Roman soldiers who witnessed the unique circumstances of JESUS’ death Mark 15:37-39;  
• One of two thieves crucified with JESUS and was promised a place in paradise Luke 23:39-43;
• Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin sect, publicly takes JESUS’ side John 19:38-40

Less than a month thereafter, some 3,000 who had witnessed and taken part in the events of Good Friday were saved in one day. So began the church as we know it. Acts 2:36-42

The forgiveness JESUS prayed for on the cross is for all people who would come to believe in Him – past, present and future. All our sins are forgiven, those we commit in ignorance and those that are deliberate – past, present, and future.

JESUS completed His mission; He paid the penalty for all when He give his life as a ransom.” (Matthew 20:28). So, as death approached, He was able to utter with confidence His next to final words,

“It is finished.”

With one sacrifice he made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:14

To be continued…

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our FATHER in Heaven, may we never cease to be grateful to YOU for the events of that first Good Friday. With awe and reverence we acknowledge CHRIST JESUS as SAVIOR and LORD, REDEEMER and KING. Father, may JESUS’ prayers on the cross on our behalf echo in the hearts and minds of our future generations Teach us to bear all things with patience and perseverance and focus only on the reasons why the events of Good Friday are “good” – for our joy and YOUR glory. To YOU belong all dominion, all power and all glory, for ever and ever. We pray and ask all things in the matchless Name of JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

More Things JESUS Said: “You Are the Salt of the Earth.”

Christians are half-way through the 2019 Lenten season calendar – the 40-day period leading up to Easter Sunday during which we prepare our hearts and minds to commemorate CHRIST’s resurrection, three days after His crucifixion and burial. With this one-time divine act of grace, JESUS purchased the gift of eternal life in heaven for all who believe. (John 3:16)

Believers in turn worship and honor JESUS’ life and ministry daily, not just once a year at Easter.

Romans 12: 1-2 reminds us that since GOD has shown us such great mercy through His SON, we honor Him by giving our lives back to JESUS and being a world-changer on His behalf.

Everything that JESUS did and said during His life on earth up to His resurrection and return to the Father become the foundation on which we base our lifestyle choices. The world does not shape our thinking and choices – JESUS does and He gave a specific task and role to His followers – 

“You are the salt of the earth...You are the light that gives light to the world.” Matthew 5:13-14 

How are JESUS followers “salt of the earth”?

Not everyone cooks but we all eat and we all know the difference salt makes in enhancing the flavor of our food. The right amount of salt changes a blah-tasting dish to one that’s finger-licking good while too much salt will thoroughly ruin a meal. We also know that substitutes do not satisfactorily replace the real. Although human life cannot be sustained without salt, too much salt can be harmful to health.

Salt is also used as a purifier and a preservative.

As we maintain optimum physical well-being by careful use of salt, so too we desire our spiritual saltiness to have maximum effect.

The doctrine, beliefs and moral values, of the gospel teachings are said to be like salt to seekers of truth. As believers we should both live the gospel and share its good news to a dark and dying world (be salt).

Scripture tells us to be ready always to explain and share the gospel news – what we have in CHRIST (1 Peter 3:15.) And to do so with respect and gentleness. Being pushy and aggressive with GOD’s grace is like putting too much salt in a dish – it’s unpalatable to the hearer and the damage is often irreversible.

Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary on “You’re the salt of the earth,” states in part, “Mankind, lying in ignorance and wickedness, were as a vast heap, ready to putrify; but Christ sent forth his disciples, by their lives and doctrines to season it with knowledge and grace.”

Combining our knowledge of the gospel with grace is key to exposing others to the cleansing and redeeming love of JESUS the SON and GOD the Father.

The Apostle Paul’s zeal for spreading the gospel to the Gentile world is well documented in the Scriptures, by his own hand and that of others. Paul is a model for us of what it takes to be “the salt of the earth.” His epistle to the church at Colossae gives us a glimpse into what it takes to do as well as maintain our passion.  

In Colossians 4:2-4 Paul asks believers to pray with him that:

• GOD will give opportunity to tell people His message
• He can preach the secret that GOD has made known about CHRIST (that Jews and Gentiles will share in GOD’s promise of eternal life through His grace Ephesians 3:5-6)
• He can speak the message in a way that will make it clear

Paul also gives the Colossian church advice on living and sharing the gospel (Colossians 4:5-6):

• Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers,
• Make the most of every opportunity.
• When you talk, you should always be kind and pleasant so you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should.

Paul's story is memorable. He was a persecutor of Christians who JESUS called into His service after which he suffered many hardships and challenges that eventually cost him his life. But Paul, once He met JESUS, never faltered (Acts 9,)  

In some parts of the world Christian persecution still exists. But for many, we have freedom and open access to everything we need to press forward. It’s all written down for us in the Scriptures.

Fear of being wrong, or looking or sounding foolish, may cause us to shrink back and question ourselves. But here’s the deal – our role as CHRIST’s representatives, the salt of the earth, is one of simply living what He has done for us and telling what the WORD of GOD says. The changing of lives and hearts is GOD’s doing, through His Holy Spirit and the divine power of His WORD. (Hebrews 4:12; Acts 2:14-42)

JESUS tells us that if we love Him, we obey His teaching. The reward for doing so is access to the Father’s enduring love and the divine wisdom and knowledge of the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, those who do not love JESUS, do not merit these rewards. (Matthew 4: 23-25)

Choosing to do what JESUS says is always a win/win for the believer.

Prayer and Thanksgiving:  Holy Father, thank you for YOUR saving grace that made us partners with JESUS in taking the message of truth and hope to a world that would perish without it. Father we ask that YOU increase our love for the things that YOU love.  Thank YOU, JESUS, for giving us life with joy to the fullest through the things YOU have done and said. We pray and ask all things in YOUR NAME. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile