This weekend of course believers all around the world will celebrate the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The fact that Jesus rose again distinguishes Christianity from all other world religions who have no Savior to offer and none to proclaim. To fully appreciate his divinity I believe we must first understand his humanity. I'm not sure of course what you're facing in life today but I'm certain that if you're his child he's always there for you and whatever it is he'll see you through. Remember that the writer of Hebrews once said we can now come boldly to the throne of grace anytime to find mercy and grace to help in our time of need. Jesus is our faithful High Priest who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities because he himself was tempted in all points but yet never sinned. He overcame it all for us when he cried out on the cross,"IT IS FINISHED!" and then yielded up his spirit. When Jesus walked the earth of course he was often moved with compassion while feeding the hungry, healing the sick and raising the dead. It was that same love and compassion that drove him to the cross to hang on a tree for six grueling hours of pain and agony for you and me and for all the world to see.
Remember with me for a moment just what it was Jesus was facing long ago that fateful day. According to the ancient Hebrew tradition once every year a spotless lamb was to be sacrificed for the sins of the people and the blood offered upon the altar by the high priest (Hebrews 9). This time however it wouldn't be the traditional lamb slain for sin no this time it would actually be God's only Son the precious Lamb of God! Knowing that his time had finally come Jesus met with his disciples for one last supper. There he explained to them that his time had come and now he must suffer and now he must die. And although Jesus himself knew all along that he left heaven precisely for this his disciples had no idea they just didn't understand what he was saying and they didn't know why. After their final Passover meal they all sang a hymn together then headed for the Mount of Olives where Jesus began to agonize in prayer sweating great dops of blood while calling on his Father. His disciples had followed him and walked with him three amazing years watching him so often perform miracles like healing the sick raising the dead and feeding the poor. After all that now all this?!
But Jesus knew exactly why he left heaven and exactly what he must do, "THEY WENT TO A PLACE CALLED GETHSEMANE AND JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES 'SIT HERE WHILE I PRAY.' HE TOOK PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN ALONG WITH HIM AND HE BEGAN TO BE DEEPLY DISTRESSED AND TROUBLED, 'MY SOUL IS OVERWHELMED WITH SORROW TO THE POINT OF DEATH' HE SAID TO THEM,'STAY HERE AND KEEP WATCH' (Mark 14:32-34)." God's one and only Son was now facing intense suffering beyond belief and his disciples could not watch and pray with him but somehow could only fall asleep. He knew he must now face death all alone but even still knew his Father was there with him even though so high above yet so near right there with him even from his heavenly throne. Here's what the apostle Paul once had to say about what Jesus did for us on the cross that incredible and unforgettable day,"NOW THEN WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST AS THOUGH GOD DID BESEECH YOU BY US. WE PRAY YOU IN CHRIST'S STEAD BE YE RECONCILED TO GOD. FOR HE HATH MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US WHO KNEW NO SIN THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)." Not only did Christ die for us but he became sin for us as well. Supernaturally because of the cross he bore we were made righteous and he saved us thank God from that terrible place Jesus referred to so often the place he called hell!
In spite of all this and all he did for us still many don't believe today that Jesus still is the truth the life and the way. Although fully divine he's fully human too and he alone knows every day exactly somehow what you and I may be going through. To us as believers he is our faithful and true High Priest who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. In spite of what the world and the enemy may say he's always there he feels our pain and he really does care! No matter what you're feeling and facing in life he understands you and if he's your Savior today he's always right there for you. He will never leave you or ever forsake you. That's because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever! One of the most amazing things to me and there are many of course is that he never changes his mind about us and for some reason he never stops loving us. No matter what we say or what we do he always remains faithful and he always remains true! And know this too that after he rose from the dead he appeared to his disciples and to more than five-hundred brethren. Yes it's all true my friend Jesus is alive and he's coming again soon. And if you believe he's risen and that he died personally for you then salvation can be yours today because he loves you deeply and the truth is he will forgive you too!
Remember with me for a moment just what it was Jesus was facing long ago that fateful day. According to the ancient Hebrew tradition once every year a spotless lamb was to be sacrificed for the sins of the people and the blood offered upon the altar by the high priest (Hebrews 9). This time however it wouldn't be the traditional lamb slain for sin no this time it would actually be God's only Son the precious Lamb of God! Knowing that his time had finally come Jesus met with his disciples for one last supper. There he explained to them that his time had come and now he must suffer and now he must die. And although Jesus himself knew all along that he left heaven precisely for this his disciples had no idea they just didn't understand what he was saying and they didn't know why. After their final Passover meal they all sang a hymn together then headed for the Mount of Olives where Jesus began to agonize in prayer sweating great dops of blood while calling on his Father. His disciples had followed him and walked with him three amazing years watching him so often perform miracles like healing the sick raising the dead and feeding the poor. After all that now all this?!
But Jesus knew exactly why he left heaven and exactly what he must do, "THEY WENT TO A PLACE CALLED GETHSEMANE AND JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES 'SIT HERE WHILE I PRAY.' HE TOOK PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN ALONG WITH HIM AND HE BEGAN TO BE DEEPLY DISTRESSED AND TROUBLED, 'MY SOUL IS OVERWHELMED WITH SORROW TO THE POINT OF DEATH' HE SAID TO THEM,'STAY HERE AND KEEP WATCH' (Mark 14:32-34)." God's one and only Son was now facing intense suffering beyond belief and his disciples could not watch and pray with him but somehow could only fall asleep. He knew he must now face death all alone but even still knew his Father was there with him even though so high above yet so near right there with him even from his heavenly throne. Here's what the apostle Paul once had to say about what Jesus did for us on the cross that incredible and unforgettable day,"NOW THEN WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST AS THOUGH GOD DID BESEECH YOU BY US. WE PRAY YOU IN CHRIST'S STEAD BE YE RECONCILED TO GOD. FOR HE HATH MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US WHO KNEW NO SIN THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)." Not only did Christ die for us but he became sin for us as well. Supernaturally because of the cross he bore we were made righteous and he saved us thank God from that terrible place Jesus referred to so often the place he called hell!
In spite of all this and all he did for us still many don't believe today that Jesus still is the truth the life and the way. Although fully divine he's fully human too and he alone knows every day exactly somehow what you and I may be going through. To us as believers he is our faithful and true High Priest who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. In spite of what the world and the enemy may say he's always there he feels our pain and he really does care! No matter what you're feeling and facing in life he understands you and if he's your Savior today he's always right there for you. He will never leave you or ever forsake you. That's because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever! One of the most amazing things to me and there are many of course is that he never changes his mind about us and for some reason he never stops loving us. No matter what we say or what we do he always remains faithful and he always remains true! And know this too that after he rose from the dead he appeared to his disciples and to more than five-hundred brethren. Yes it's all true my friend Jesus is alive and he's coming again soon. And if you believe he's risen and that he died personally for you then salvation can be yours today because he loves you deeply and the truth is he will forgive you too!
No comments:
Post a Comment