Crucified, That We Might Live 3/31/2018

Good Morning,

The view from our den is still dark on the outside and the wind is staring to pick up some speed. Our Springer Spaniel Gibbs is next to me chewing on a bone. My wife is still asleep and it is very quiet in our home. I have a very hot cup of Door County German Chocolate Coffee to drink and many thoughts on my mind. Some of them will be on this page very soon.

Colossians 2:14 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁴ having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Yesterday was the day that Christianity calls "Good Friday". The day is remembered for being the day that Jesus Christ suffered on the cross unto death for our sins, the sins of the world. He paid the price so that those who would receive Him as Lord and Savior would never spend a moment in hell, but rest in for eternity in Heaven. Let's just read a short account of the verses explaining His death.

Then Pilate set Barabbas free for them; and after he had Jesus whipped, he handed him over to be crucified. (Matthew 27:26)

 

When they came to the place called “The Skull,” they crucified Jesus there, and the two criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. (Luke 23:33)

 

We despised him and rejected him;
he endured suffering and pain.
No one would even look at him—
we ignored him as if he were nothing.
“But he endured the suffering that should have been ours,
the pain that we should have borne.
All the while we thought that his suffering
was punishment sent by God.
But because of our sins he was wounded,
beaten because of the evil we did.
We are healed by the punishment he suffered,
made whole by the blows he received.
(Isaiah 53:3-5)

On that day, I, the LORD God,

will make the sun

go down at midday,

and I will turn daylight

into darkness.

(Amos 8:9)

 

When the army officer and the soldiers with him who were watching Jesus saw the earthquake and everything else that happened, they were terrified and said, “He really was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54)

 

“It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)

 

For Christ died for sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death physically, but made alive spiritually (1 Peter 3:18

These verses help to walk us through what happened on Good Friday. Jesus was beaten, mocked, flogged and then nailed to the cross on display in pain and agony. I want you to think about this. Jesus paid the price for our sins. The price for our sins is a heavy load. If He had not paid that price we would be destined for hell. I venture to say that Jesus bore an eternity of pain and horror during that time on the cross. Not only was there physical pain but every ugly sin was represented there and He was alone. The fright alone would have killed me. Total darkness occurred and the pain of raw nerves rubbing against the cross and to be horrendous. The pain of having nails pierce His hands and feet is unimaginable. My friends our debt of eternal hell was experienced that day by Jesus. I for one cannot fathom that kind of love. I just can't imagine the ugliness of that day.

Revelation 14:11 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹¹ And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

1 Peter 2:24 New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

Dear Friends, when I think about a King who came from glory to suffer and die for me, I ask this question, "Who am I"?  I kneel with my head bowed and I am grateful for the love displayed on that cross. You might want to share this one, it is the reality of the cross. A reality hard to swallow.

God bless,

Marty