"At The Cross" (Nothing and No One Says It Better)

"From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land."
(Matthew 27:45, NIV)

It was a day not unlike today here where we live, dark, cloudy, rain.  On that day so long ago, "There was war in heaven," as John would later say in his Revelation, and there was war on the earth, principalities and power out to destroy the only One Who could save humanity.  Satan's desire was to finish the war once for all.  He did not realize, however, that all that was being "played out" that day was not in His control, "Therefore My Father loves me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  No one takes if from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This command I have received from My Father."  A lot of bloodshed would have been avoided through the centuries if stupid people calling themselves "christian" would have realized this Truth.  The Jews did not kill Jesus.  The Roman Governor did not kill Jesus.  My sin and your sin killed Jesus.  When through the centuries stupidity killed Jews as "Christ killers," the Holy Spirit was telling the murderers, "You are the ones who took Jesus to the Cross." 

As on this day so many centuries so long ago, when, "darkness came over all the land," darkness is still, "over all the land."  But as 2 Cor. 3 tells us, "Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord [Jesus], the veil (darkness) is taken away." And never, ever forget: "It's Friday--------- but Sunday's coming!"

Alas!  and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred Head
For such a worm as I?

Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine--
And bathed in its own blood--
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His Soul in anguish stood.

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity!  grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide
and shut his glories in,
When Christ, the Mighty Maker died,
For man the creature's sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give my self away,
'Tis all that I can do.

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!  (Isaac Watts, 1707)

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"Gazing On The Crucified"

"But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly." (Matthew 27:14)

Based upon the reading of the four Gospels, we can come to the conclusion that it was only to the accusations Jesus did not, "answer[] him...one word...."  Could the reason be that Jesus was bearing the whole of humanity's guilt, all humanity, all the sin and sins of humanity, from Adam to you and me?  He was taking all which sin and its judgment could put upon humanity. 

Most people are very quick to defend themselves.  Even the people who boast, "Well, I don't care what anyone thinks of me," are people who care what people think of them; that's why they say that.  Jesus, however, was not thinking of Himself at the moment of our text.  Jesus had, and still has, you and me written on His High Priestly Breastplate and, "See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands...."  As our Savior Jesus looked, "on the palms of [His] hands," and saw my name, your name, He was "reminded" of why He was before Pilate, why He was going to "the Cross, the grave, the skies"------ love for you and me.

Western Christendom celebrates this evening the "Last Supper."  It should not be called "the Last Supper."  In reality, it is the Last Passover Seder, the Jewish Festival which celebrates the deliverance from bondage in Egypt, which Jesus was to celebrate with His disciples in this present age.  In the partaking of the Bread and the Cup, the Flesh and Blood of Jesus, we celebrate our deliverance from sin; we celebrate Jesus.  We feed on Him, but not just on what Christendom has traditionally called Maundy Thursday.  Rather, ours is a day by day feeding, yea, moment by moment, in fact, right now, right here, right there where you are, yes, right NOW.  We have seen Jesus; we are ruined for the world.  

Father, in Jesus' Name,
"Since mine eyes have looked on Jesus,
I've lost sight of all beside,
So enchained my spirit's vision,
Gazing on the Crucified."
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* I will be on CTV  discussing the April 19 March of Remembrance, April 16 at 09:00.  The program will also air at other times during the day, and I believe you can access it on their "archive" site.
* I will share a little of our last mission on our Blog:   jhs58.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

For Most Western Churches: Palm Sunday

For most of the Western Christian Church, this is Palm Sunday.  Okay, I had a new statement for Palm Sunday.  In the words of Julius Caesar to the Roman Senate, I believe we could hear our Lord Jesus Christ say, "Veni, vidi, vici," i.e, "I came, I saw, I conquered."

Woody and Sarah

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2