Showing posts with label the cross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the cross. Show all posts
Saturday, March 31, 2012
The Cross and Transformation
The cross means many things to many people. For Romans in Jesus’ day, it was a deterrent. Criminals would be crucified on crosses to communicate one message: Don’t mess with Rome. Over time, the cross has found itself in a dichotomous existence. The cross became both a symbol of torture and a symbol of relief. It became both a symbol of intimidation and a symbol of hope. Ultimately, it became the symbol of Christianity.
We all know and remember Jesus’ words to take up our own cross and follow him (Luke 9:23). The words intimate a radical call to discipleship that requires us to endure hardships that come our way. What about when one is required to take up Jesus’ cross? What about the man mentioned in passing in the Gospels? His name was Simon and he hailed from Cyrene. Mark’s Gospel records the following: “Then [the soldiers] compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear [Jesus’] cross” (Mark 15:21).
Here was a man who was minding his own business. We’re not too sure why he was coming into town on that fateful day. Maybe he was among the many pilgrims making the trip for the Passover. I’m quite sure he didn’t have carrying the cross of a “criminal” on the agenda. Yet, he was forced to carry Jesus’ cross. He had no choice, but let’s not trivialize his willingness to do so. Had he heard the Lord’s instruction to go two miles if forced to walk one (See Matthew 5:41)? We’re not sure? We certainly know one thing:
The day Simon encountered the cross his life was profoundly transformed.
Simon’s name means “harkening, listening.” I believe Simon lived up to his name on that day as Jesus trudged up to Calvary. In being forced to carry Jesus’ cross, he was listening. He was listening to God’s call to become a disciple of Christ. Simon’s life was never the same. The cross has that kind of affect. I recall countless stories of believers whose lives were changed the day they encountered the cross. In that moment they realize the selfless nature of the work of the cross, contrasted by the selfishness that characterized their lifestyle. They realize the transformative power of what seems to be, on first glance, merely two planks of wood.
Early Church tradition suggests that Simon’s sons, Rufus and Alexander, became missionaries. Imagine them hearing their father’s story growing up. “I went into town to grab a few turtle doves and came back having carried the cross of the Son of God.” I’m quite sure that story never grew old. One man’s encounter with the cross led to generational encounters with the message of the cross.
Never discount your ability to impact your family with the message of the cross.
The message can break generational curses. It can reconcile broken family relationships. The cross may serve as the bridge you need to close the chasm that has existed in your family for decades. The cross means many things to many people, but there is one word that sums up its message: transformation. Think about how the cross has transformed your life. I challenge you to share that story with someone you’ve never shared it with. In taking up your cross, don’t ever forget about his.
Scripture Of The Day: "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)
Cross-Bearing
Cross-Bearing
Sometimes, we will say, "We all have our crosses to bear. My cross is my supervisor at work," or "My cross is this health problem," or "My cross is this relative." But I think we have lost the meaning of the cross.
If you were living in first-century Jerusalem and saw someone surrounded by Roman guards and carrying a cross down the street, there would be no question in your mind where that person was going. You would know that he was about to be taken outside of the city, laid on the cross, and crucified.
Someone carrying a cross was someone who was about to die. So when Jesus said, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me," His disciples would have understood what He meant.
Taking up the cross speaks of dying to ourselves and wanting God's will more than our own. It does not mean that your life is ruined when you decide to walk with God.
What it does mean is that you now will have life and have it more abundantly as Jesus promised, because you want God's will more than your own. Jesus said, "Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:35).
Are you taking up the cross and following Jesus? Bearing the cross will affect and influence every aspect of your life. The result will be life as it was meant to be lived: in the perfect will of God.
Scripture Of The Day: "When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, 'Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." - Mark 8:34 (NKJV)
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Heaven’s Altar
Brutal and inhumane, scary in its stance, the Cross was carved to represent death. It was hewn by human hands to serve punishment and execute wrath upon its victim.
As a child, I didn’t understand the Cross. My young mind could not fathom the level of brutality that would drive nails into the hands and feet of a person while he hung dying a slow death. The gore of the scene I imagined disturbed me and so I would be careful not to conjure the image often. By the time I was a teenager, the Cross became more of an idea, a theological concept, an iconic representation of the Christian faith than it was a testament of the divine sacrifice.
But things change with age. My understanding of my own sinfulness and nothingness outside of Christ steadily becomes more pronounced as I mature. You see, the human propensity and uncanny ability to decline into sin makes us fragile. Our inability to stay the course of righteousness on our own means that we are in need of the bloody atonement that was wrought on the rugged Cross.
Visible to the eyes of the witnesses that day was the broken body of Jesus as He hung bleeding. But unseen was your sin, egregious and obscene, hanging there with Him. What Mary couldn’t see as she stood weeping for her son was my sin, ugly and wicked, hanging there mocking Him. Yet it is the invisible reality of what occurred in the spirit realm that day that still affects all of us today. It is the perpetual efficacy of the Cross of Calvary that ensures our continual victory.
Therefore, the gore of the Cross no longer represents death in my mind, but life. It represents the trading post of eternity, where His life was traded for mine. It stands defiantly and triumphantly between you and death, and bridges the gap between you and God. It stands as the greatest altar of sacrifice that has ever been built, an altar that bore the greatest sacrifice that heaven and earth has ever known.
The privilege is yours to run to the Cross without hesitation; welcome the ruggedness of its disposition. Embrace with gratitude the stained wood of Calvary, for therein lies our salvation.
Scripture Reference: “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished” - Romans 3:25
I See You
There is SO MUCH to celebrate at Passover! Passover was to commemorate the miracle of the Hebrew children of God being protected from the final plague that was brought to the Egyptians. God instructed the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb, put its blood on the doorposts of their homes and then death would pass by them and not kill their first born son of their families. (And this did not just mean babies, it did not matter the age of the first born son and this also included the first born of the cattle.) (SEE Exodus 11:4-7) After the Hebrew children slaughtered the lamb and placed it’s blood on the doorposts of their homes, they were also to eat the lamb and there was not to be any left over of it the next morning. The lamb and its purpose must be finished.
When time to celebrate the Feast of Passover came, Jesus told his disciples that drinking of the cup was His blood and the bread was His body forming the New Covenant and Promises of God to them and now us. (See Luke 22:19-20) He told them to eat and drink HIM! This was just like the Hebrew children as they were told by God to eat their lamb too. Thank God we no longer have to sacrifice a lamb. Jesus paid it free and clear for us! Thank You Lord! Jesus was the First Born of Father God. Just like the first born son was to be killed in Egypt, Jesus, the First Born Son was put to death also. The blood of the slaughtered lamb was to be placed on the doorpost of the house of the Hebrew family. The word “doorpost” in the Hebrew comes from the root word shaqaph (shaw-kaf'); which means (by implication) to peep or GAZE (passively, to be a SPECTACLE appear, TO LOOK (DOWN, FORTH, or OUT).
Jesus hung on the CROSS or DOORPOST with His own Blood smeared on it! He hung UP, LOOKING DOWN, seeing FORTH and OUT to the people present there that day and into us in the future, knowing we needed Him desperately. Jesus became the SPECTACLE hanging in the air with His Blood smeared all over that wooden cross or wooden doorpost that all could GAZE upon! Also, the Hebrew children were told to eat and finish the lamb they sacrificed. It had to be finished. Just like our Jesus said at the end of His slaughter, He exclaimed, “It Is Finished!” (SEE John 19:30). He told us to eat His flesh, (SEE John 6:53-58) because He, The Passover Lamb was to be eaten! Praise The Lord! As Jesus, The Lamb hung on The Cross, He was seeing those present that day and you and I now. He longs to have a close relationship with you! Give Him your life and all today, not just part of you, all! He has always seen you, now He awaits for you to say, Jesus, I SEE YOU TOO!
Scripture of the Day: “Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well.” - Exodus 11:5
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Crosses Carried, Burdens Borne
Isn’t it mind-boggling to know that part of Jesus’ cruel punishment was to lug that heavy, splintery cross with him through the streets and up the hill to his crucifixion? It’s bad enough to die on a cross, much less carry it with us and THEN be spiked to it.
It seems that as often as not, instead of instant deliverance from some struggles we encounter, we have to “carry” them a while. There are some things I’ve lugged along for years, longing to be free from; and yet, when I pray for an instant lifting, I get the same response from God as did the Apostle Paul concerning his “thorn in the flesh.” Our Father says to me, “My grace is sufficient.” I’m still trying to grasp the mindset of delighting in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, though…but the Word declares that when we are weak, we are strong! (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
God is not going to allow those weak areas of my life to utterly rob me of my right standing with Him, but He does require that I persevere. He says to me, “You can trust me not to let you go under. I will never let go of you, Daughter.” It inspires me to keep moving forward without quitting. It also makes this gal far less judgmental toward others whose splinter-in-the-eye looks so much smaller to me than my beam.
There will always be endless speculation among believers and non, about whether this one or that one made it to Heaven in spite of a certain problem which plagued that person in his or her life. While I know that God’s grace is not a license to just live a defeated, backslidden, shameful lifestyle, I don’t spend a lot of time concerning myself with who did or did not complete the course or keep the faith. I’m satisfied to know that God is a good keeper…period. If He has said to someone, instead of an instant deliverance from difficulty, “My grace is sufficient,” then who am I to come along and add a disclaimer?
Jesus carried His cross faithfully, to a dreadful place of execution, but when He gave His life, the cross was left behind right there. He has never again had to go back and redo it. And because death (and relief from pain) wasn’t instantaneous for Him, He has a compassion for you in YOUR struggle. He knows your agony. He cares.
Take comfort today if you’re still stinging from the open wounds that your cross has left on your hands and your back. There will come a day, somewhere down the road, when God will bring it all to an end. It may be tomorrow, and you may the live out the remainder of your life without that weakness. The cross, however, may instead be something that you carry with you to the place of your death…but God will be there. When at last you are delivered, the cross will be but a reference point on the timeline of your life.
At one point when Jesus--parched, weak, trembling, suffering Jesus—could continue the pace no longer, He stumbled under the weight of the cross. Simon was pulled from the crowd to help Him bear the weight of it the rest of the way. If and when you come to places where the weight of your problem grinds you into the ground, God will send always have a Simon strategically situated on your road, to pick up your cross and help you carry it. God will whisper your name into the ear of an intercessor. God will not leave you to die on the ground with the work unfinished. And don’t speculate on the finish…in your own life or in the life of someone else. If it should “end” in a way that looks less than triumphant, whether it be cancer, or addiction, or some other malady that plagues the believer right up until his or her dying breath, God’s grace and His resurrection power are the source of the REAL victory. Our job is just to keep on keepin’ on. A better eternity awaits!
Today’s Scripture: “In that day the LORD will end the bondage of his people. He will break the yoke of slavery and lift it from their shoulders.” (Isaiah 10:27 NLT)
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Cross Bearing
Sometimes, we will say, "We all have our crosses to bear. My cross is my supervisor at work," or "My cross is this health problem," or "My cross is this relative." But I think we have lost the meaning of the cross.
If you were living in first-century Jerusalem and saw someone surrounded by Roman guards and carrying a cross down the street, there would be no question in your mind where that person was going. You would know that he was about to be taken outside of the city, laid on the cross, and crucified.
Someone carrying a cross was someone who was about to die. So when Jesus said, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me," His disciples would have understood what He meant.
Taking up the cross speaks of dying to ourselves and wanting God's will more than our own. It does not mean that your life is ruined when you decide to walk with God.
What it does mean is that you now will have life and have it more abundantly as Jesus promised, because you want God's will more than your own. Jesus said, "Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:35).
Are you taking up the cross and following Jesus? Bearing the cross will affect and influence every aspect of your life. The result will be life as it was meant to be lived: in the perfect will of God.
Scripture Of The Day: "When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, 'Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.' " - Mark 8:34 (NKJV)
If you were living in first-century Jerusalem and saw someone surrounded by Roman guards and carrying a cross down the street, there would be no question in your mind where that person was going. You would know that he was about to be taken outside of the city, laid on the cross, and crucified.
Someone carrying a cross was someone who was about to die. So when Jesus said, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me," His disciples would have understood what He meant.
Taking up the cross speaks of dying to ourselves and wanting God's will more than our own. It does not mean that your life is ruined when you decide to walk with God.
What it does mean is that you now will have life and have it more abundantly as Jesus promised, because you want God's will more than your own. Jesus said, "Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:35).
Are you taking up the cross and following Jesus? Bearing the cross will affect and influence every aspect of your life. The result will be life as it was meant to be lived: in the perfect will of God.
Scripture Of The Day: "When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, 'Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.' " - Mark 8:34 (NKJV)
The Heart of the Cross
Consider how illogical Jesus' crucifixion looked to first-century observers. The Romans, who were concerned with power, probably wondered how a mighty God could allow enemies to kill Him. The Greeks valued wisdom and no doubt thought, There must surely have been a better way than the cross! And the Jews, who longed for victory over oppressors, probably felt bewildered to see Jesus humbly let Himself be brutally killed.
Yet, what seemed foolish was actually a brilliant plan. Through the cross, the Lord powerfully revealed His character. First, we see His unconditional love in dying for those who sinned against Him (John 3:16). Second, His righteousness is apparent—only the perfect sacrifice of His own blood could satisfy the penalty for sin. Third, He shows His faithfulness by redeeming us at so great a cost. And fourth, Jesus demonstrates power by conquering sin and death.
In addition to all this, the cross exposed and disarmed Satan (Col. 2:15), who no longer has authority over Christians. Though he can tempt and try followers of Christ, the Holy Spirit is there to strengthen and guide believers to victory.
One last benefit of God's remarkable plan is that we are eternally secure because of the price Jesus paid. That gives us hope and confidence about our future.
Though the cross seems absurd to those who don't understand, God's children know it is the Father's wise design. We have assurance for today and security for tomorrow only because of this amazing event that occurred over 2000 years ago. We have no need to fear, but every reason to hope.
Scripture Of The Day: "...And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." - Colossians 1:20 (ESV)
Yet, what seemed foolish was actually a brilliant plan. Through the cross, the Lord powerfully revealed His character. First, we see His unconditional love in dying for those who sinned against Him (John 3:16). Second, His righteousness is apparent—only the perfect sacrifice of His own blood could satisfy the penalty for sin. Third, He shows His faithfulness by redeeming us at so great a cost. And fourth, Jesus demonstrates power by conquering sin and death.
In addition to all this, the cross exposed and disarmed Satan (Col. 2:15), who no longer has authority over Christians. Though he can tempt and try followers of Christ, the Holy Spirit is there to strengthen and guide believers to victory.
One last benefit of God's remarkable plan is that we are eternally secure because of the price Jesus paid. That gives us hope and confidence about our future.
Though the cross seems absurd to those who don't understand, God's children know it is the Father's wise design. We have assurance for today and security for tomorrow only because of this amazing event that occurred over 2000 years ago. We have no need to fear, but every reason to hope.
Scripture Of The Day: "...And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." - Colossians 1:20 (ESV)
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Accept the Cross
When you think of the cross of Jesus, what comes to mind? Pain? Suffering? Sacrifice? Consider this word: acceptance. When Jesus died on the cross, He died so that you would take on righteousness from the covering of His shed blood; so that God could look upon you and see you as His, through Jesus; and finally, Jesus died so that ultimately you would be accepted into God’s Kingdom.
Some of us have a problem accepting ourselves. Guess who’s already accepted you completely, faults and all? Jesus. He has accepted even the worse thing about you, and He loves you deeply, too. God gives us a free will; He will not force you to love Him. But it would be His delight if you were to accept the work His son did on the cross—for you.
Jesus accepted you the day He bled on the cross. He knew you would do what you did growing up; what you did last year; and what you just did. He knew you would mess up—sometimes royally—and He still lay down His life for you. Can you imagine such devotion from anyone you know?
Consider the fact that there are about six billion people on the earth. Take a moment to look at your hands. Each of your fingertips has unique fingerprints—unlike any other person on earth. Psalm 139:13-14 tell us just how we were made: “I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Every time you look in the mirror, remember that you are the only you that will ever exist, and that you were made with great care and with wonder. Do you think the Creator of the entire universe just got bored and made you because He had nothing better to do? Not only did God plan you, but He also planned what He wanted you to do.
Jeremiah 1:5 says “before I formed you in the womb, I knew you … I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Everything that’s happened to you—all your experiences good and bad—can be used by God for good to accomplish your purpose. Some of our life experiences have been very sad, even traumatic. Romans 8:28 says that it all works together for our good. So seek out your uniqueness; pray and ask God to reveal your specific purpose. Remember that He planned you, and He can use you, regardless of what you’ve been through.
Jesus sealed this opportunity for you on the cross. No matter what you’ve done, Jesus has already paid your debt. He was “wounded for our transgressions.” Regardless of your experiences, Jesus can give you peace. Whatever sickness you have, Jesus can heal it, for by the very stripes He bore on the cross, “we are healed.” (Isa 53:5)
Just for believing in your heart that Jesus is Lord; that He died on the cross for our sins; and finally that God raised Him from the dead—and confessing all of this with your mouth—you get eternal life in heaven (Romans 10:9). You also gain many benefits as a member of the Kingdom of God. If you submit your plans to God, He will make your way successful (Psalm 37:5), and you will have the power to resist the devil (James 4:7). When you can fully submit to God, His will and His way for your life, which is found in His word, you have submitted to what Jesus did on the cross. Embrace it fully and receive all the benefits you were meant to receive. Accept the cross.
Scripture Of The Day: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." - 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)
Some of us have a problem accepting ourselves. Guess who’s already accepted you completely, faults and all? Jesus. He has accepted even the worse thing about you, and He loves you deeply, too. God gives us a free will; He will not force you to love Him. But it would be His delight if you were to accept the work His son did on the cross—for you.
Jesus accepted you the day He bled on the cross. He knew you would do what you did growing up; what you did last year; and what you just did. He knew you would mess up—sometimes royally—and He still lay down His life for you. Can you imagine such devotion from anyone you know?
Consider the fact that there are about six billion people on the earth. Take a moment to look at your hands. Each of your fingertips has unique fingerprints—unlike any other person on earth. Psalm 139:13-14 tell us just how we were made: “I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Every time you look in the mirror, remember that you are the only you that will ever exist, and that you were made with great care and with wonder. Do you think the Creator of the entire universe just got bored and made you because He had nothing better to do? Not only did God plan you, but He also planned what He wanted you to do.
Jeremiah 1:5 says “before I formed you in the womb, I knew you … I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Everything that’s happened to you—all your experiences good and bad—can be used by God for good to accomplish your purpose. Some of our life experiences have been very sad, even traumatic. Romans 8:28 says that it all works together for our good. So seek out your uniqueness; pray and ask God to reveal your specific purpose. Remember that He planned you, and He can use you, regardless of what you’ve been through.
Jesus sealed this opportunity for you on the cross. No matter what you’ve done, Jesus has already paid your debt. He was “wounded for our transgressions.” Regardless of your experiences, Jesus can give you peace. Whatever sickness you have, Jesus can heal it, for by the very stripes He bore on the cross, “we are healed.” (Isa 53:5)
Just for believing in your heart that Jesus is Lord; that He died on the cross for our sins; and finally that God raised Him from the dead—and confessing all of this with your mouth—you get eternal life in heaven (Romans 10:9). You also gain many benefits as a member of the Kingdom of God. If you submit your plans to God, He will make your way successful (Psalm 37:5), and you will have the power to resist the devil (James 4:7). When you can fully submit to God, His will and His way for your life, which is found in His word, you have submitted to what Jesus did on the cross. Embrace it fully and receive all the benefits you were meant to receive. Accept the cross.
Scripture Of The Day: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." - 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)
Monday, March 28, 2011
The Cross and Transformation
The cross means many things to many people. For Romans in Jesus’ day, it was a deterrent. Criminals would be crucified on crosses to communicate one message: Don’t mess with Rome. Over time, the cross has found itself in a dichotomous existence. The cross became both a symbol of torture and a symbol of relief. It became both a symbol of intimidation and a symbol of hope. Ultimately, it became the symbol of Christianity.
We all know and remember Jesus’ words to take up our own cross and follow him (Luke 9:23). The words intimate a radical call to discipleship that requires us to endure hardships that come our way. What about when one is required to take up Jesus’ cross? What about the man mentioned in passing in the Gospels? His name was Simon and he hailed from Cyrene. Mark’s Gospel records the following: “Then [the soldiers] compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear [Jesus’] cross” (Mark 15:21).
Here was a man who was minding his own business. We’re not too sure why he was coming into town on that fateful day. Maybe he was among the many pilgrims making the trip for the Passover. I’m quite sure he didn’t have carrying the cross of a “criminal” on the agenda. Yet, he was forced to carry Jesus’ cross. He had no choice, but let’s not trivialize his willingness to do so. Had he heard the Lord’s instruction to go two miles if forced to walk one (See Matthew 5:41)? We’re not sure? We certainly know one thing:
The day Simon encountered the cross his life was profoundly transformed.
Simon’s name means “harkening, listening.” I believe Simon lived up to his name on that day as Jesus trudged up to Calvary. In being forced to carry Jesus’ cross, he was listening. He was listening to God’s call to become a disciple of Christ. Simon’s life was never the same. The cross has that kind of affect. I recall countless stories of believers whose lives were changed the day they encountered the cross. In that moment they realize the selfless nature of the work of the cross, contrasted by the selfishness that characterized their lifestyle. They realize the transformative power of what seems to be, on first glance, merely two planks of wood.
Early Church tradition suggests that Simon’s sons, Rufus and Alexander, became missionaries. Imagine them hearing their father’s story growing up. “I went into town to grab a few turtle doves and came back having carried the cross of the Son of God.” I’m quite sure that story never grew old. One man’s encounter with the cross led to generational encounters with the message of the cross.
Never discount your ability to impact your family with the message of the cross.
The message can break generational curses. It can reconcile broken family relationships. The cross may serve as the bridge you need to close the chasm that has existed in your family for decades. The cross means many things to many people, but there is one word that sums up its message: transformation. Think about how the cross has transformed your life. I challenge you to share that story with someone you’ve never shared it with. In taking up your cross, don’t ever forget about his.
Scripture Of The Day: "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)
John C. Richards, Jr., Esq. is a husband, father, writer, and attorney. While an attorney, he is involved in local ministry in the urban Los Angeles area and remains passionate about juvenile justice. He is currently on staff at Hope Community Church in Pasadena, CA. http://www.brotherpreacher.com.
We all know and remember Jesus’ words to take up our own cross and follow him (Luke 9:23). The words intimate a radical call to discipleship that requires us to endure hardships that come our way. What about when one is required to take up Jesus’ cross? What about the man mentioned in passing in the Gospels? His name was Simon and he hailed from Cyrene. Mark’s Gospel records the following: “Then [the soldiers] compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear [Jesus’] cross” (Mark 15:21).
Here was a man who was minding his own business. We’re not too sure why he was coming into town on that fateful day. Maybe he was among the many pilgrims making the trip for the Passover. I’m quite sure he didn’t have carrying the cross of a “criminal” on the agenda. Yet, he was forced to carry Jesus’ cross. He had no choice, but let’s not trivialize his willingness to do so. Had he heard the Lord’s instruction to go two miles if forced to walk one (See Matthew 5:41)? We’re not sure? We certainly know one thing:
The day Simon encountered the cross his life was profoundly transformed.
Simon’s name means “harkening, listening.” I believe Simon lived up to his name on that day as Jesus trudged up to Calvary. In being forced to carry Jesus’ cross, he was listening. He was listening to God’s call to become a disciple of Christ. Simon’s life was never the same. The cross has that kind of affect. I recall countless stories of believers whose lives were changed the day they encountered the cross. In that moment they realize the selfless nature of the work of the cross, contrasted by the selfishness that characterized their lifestyle. They realize the transformative power of what seems to be, on first glance, merely two planks of wood.
Early Church tradition suggests that Simon’s sons, Rufus and Alexander, became missionaries. Imagine them hearing their father’s story growing up. “I went into town to grab a few turtle doves and came back having carried the cross of the Son of God.” I’m quite sure that story never grew old. One man’s encounter with the cross led to generational encounters with the message of the cross.
Never discount your ability to impact your family with the message of the cross.
The message can break generational curses. It can reconcile broken family relationships. The cross may serve as the bridge you need to close the chasm that has existed in your family for decades. The cross means many things to many people, but there is one word that sums up its message: transformation. Think about how the cross has transformed your life. I challenge you to share that story with someone you’ve never shared it with. In taking up your cross, don’t ever forget about his.
Scripture Of The Day: "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)
John C. Richards, Jr., Esq. is a husband, father, writer, and attorney. While an attorney, he is involved in local ministry in the urban Los Angeles area and remains passionate about juvenile justice. He is currently on staff at Hope Community Church in Pasadena, CA. http://www.brotherpreacher.com.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Resurrection Wounds
By Bishop Vashti McKenzie
“When he had said this he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” John 20: 20
In the movie Madea’s Family Reunion, a song sung by Rachael Ferrell and lyrics by J. Carlock goes something like this: “As time passes they begin to multiply adding up secretly like the rings of an old oak tree; there are wounds in the way; some old, some new all stifling debilitating and cruel and some are passed down from elder to youth – they don’t belong to you.
As time passes, they begin to accrue, a strange sort of value; some you don’t think that are worth holding on to; cause you don’t want to change who you are: there are wounds in the way”
There are times in our lives when we have allowed our wounding to get in the way of our living. Jesus did not allow his wounds to get in the way of the resurrection.
John’s gospel indicates that Jesus met with his disciples after the resurrection. Initially, he had sent them news of the resurrection and now he comes himself. The disciples were locked behind closed doors perhaps to encourage each other, pray or develop a new strategy to do damage control of the horrific events on that fateful Friday. Wounds tend to do two things - they will either cause you to hide or try to hurt someone. Hurt people can hurt other people.
Although the disciples were on lock down, Jesus appears to them and shows them his wounds. Some scholars in a majority opinion believe that Jesus showed his wounds to prove that he was the same Jesus that hung on the cross and rose from the grave. The wounds proved that he was who he said he was. He was the risen Christ and not an impostor. The wounds were the evidence, the tell tale signs of the resurrection. They were validation of his life and teachings. The wounds spoke of the resurrection: Jesus is not just a good guy, another prophet or teacher, but he is the Son of God who said he was going to suffer and die and said he would rise on the third day.
His wounds were the fulfillment of what Isaiah spoke as in he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquity. Jesus bore the marks of his affliction and ours in his body. Flora Slosson Wirellner writes that showing the wounds were acts of mercy- swift acts for friends who were confused, who misunderstood those struggling to understand what was happening.
The resurrection did not blot out the wounds, erase the wounds, and reverse the wounds. Jesus rose from the grave in spite of the wounding with the scars and the sores that were produced by the hurt and pain of a brutal public crucifixion. The wounds themselves are a sign of healing - scabs formed over the abrasions where his skin was scraped off as he stumbled along the apian way carrying the cross. The wounds were a sign of healing – the lacerations where his flesh had been torn open by the leather whips. Penetrating wounds from the spear in his side- the clots that had formed over the bleeding holes in his hands, and feet that indicated healing. Like stretch marks on a woman’s belly show the at one time new life stretch the skin to its breaking point but now healed the scar remains.
Jesus showed his wounds. They identify him with the human condition. God fully entered into our daily life through his son; entered into the daily injustice and pain of exclusionary idioms– he passionately carries our wounds in his body and longs for our healing. The wounds remind us that God, through his son Jesus Christ, will never ignore or negate nor minimalize the human condition. He will never be beyond our reach or cry. Jesus suffered for us then and suffers for us now.
Jesus shows his wounds – they more than validate his resurrection. He also demonstrates that in spite of all that happened to him on Calvary – he did not let his wounds get in the way.
The wounds of his descend did not prevent his assent; the wounds of his demise did not get in the way of his come back; the wounds of his downfall did not prevent his uprising. The wounds from his humiliation did not prevent his elevation; the wounds of his agitation did not get in the way of the wounds of his motivation; the wounds of his crucifixion did not get in the way of his glorification. The wounds did not get in the way.
It is an encouragement that as we celebrate another resurrection Sunday, to never let our wounds get in the way!
Scripture Of The Day: "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was brused for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." - Isaiah 53:5v
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie is the presiding bishop of the 13th Episcopal District of the AME, and serves as a guiding example for women and church leaders throughout the country. For more on Bishop McKenzie, visit http://www.13thame.com or hear her messages daily at http://www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com.…
“When he had said this he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” John 20: 20
In the movie Madea’s Family Reunion, a song sung by Rachael Ferrell and lyrics by J. Carlock goes something like this: “As time passes they begin to multiply adding up secretly like the rings of an old oak tree; there are wounds in the way; some old, some new all stifling debilitating and cruel and some are passed down from elder to youth – they don’t belong to you.
As time passes, they begin to accrue, a strange sort of value; some you don’t think that are worth holding on to; cause you don’t want to change who you are: there are wounds in the way”
There are times in our lives when we have allowed our wounding to get in the way of our living. Jesus did not allow his wounds to get in the way of the resurrection.
John’s gospel indicates that Jesus met with his disciples after the resurrection. Initially, he had sent them news of the resurrection and now he comes himself. The disciples were locked behind closed doors perhaps to encourage each other, pray or develop a new strategy to do damage control of the horrific events on that fateful Friday. Wounds tend to do two things - they will either cause you to hide or try to hurt someone. Hurt people can hurt other people.
Although the disciples were on lock down, Jesus appears to them and shows them his wounds. Some scholars in a majority opinion believe that Jesus showed his wounds to prove that he was the same Jesus that hung on the cross and rose from the grave. The wounds proved that he was who he said he was. He was the risen Christ and not an impostor. The wounds were the evidence, the tell tale signs of the resurrection. They were validation of his life and teachings. The wounds spoke of the resurrection: Jesus is not just a good guy, another prophet or teacher, but he is the Son of God who said he was going to suffer and die and said he would rise on the third day.
His wounds were the fulfillment of what Isaiah spoke as in he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquity. Jesus bore the marks of his affliction and ours in his body. Flora Slosson Wirellner writes that showing the wounds were acts of mercy- swift acts for friends who were confused, who misunderstood those struggling to understand what was happening.
The resurrection did not blot out the wounds, erase the wounds, and reverse the wounds. Jesus rose from the grave in spite of the wounding with the scars and the sores that were produced by the hurt and pain of a brutal public crucifixion. The wounds themselves are a sign of healing - scabs formed over the abrasions where his skin was scraped off as he stumbled along the apian way carrying the cross. The wounds were a sign of healing – the lacerations where his flesh had been torn open by the leather whips. Penetrating wounds from the spear in his side- the clots that had formed over the bleeding holes in his hands, and feet that indicated healing. Like stretch marks on a woman’s belly show the at one time new life stretch the skin to its breaking point but now healed the scar remains.
Jesus showed his wounds. They identify him with the human condition. God fully entered into our daily life through his son; entered into the daily injustice and pain of exclusionary idioms– he passionately carries our wounds in his body and longs for our healing. The wounds remind us that God, through his son Jesus Christ, will never ignore or negate nor minimalize the human condition. He will never be beyond our reach or cry. Jesus suffered for us then and suffers for us now.
Jesus shows his wounds – they more than validate his resurrection. He also demonstrates that in spite of all that happened to him on Calvary – he did not let his wounds get in the way.
The wounds of his descend did not prevent his assent; the wounds of his demise did not get in the way of his come back; the wounds of his downfall did not prevent his uprising. The wounds from his humiliation did not prevent his elevation; the wounds of his agitation did not get in the way of the wounds of his motivation; the wounds of his crucifixion did not get in the way of his glorification. The wounds did not get in the way.
It is an encouragement that as we celebrate another resurrection Sunday, to never let our wounds get in the way!
Scripture Of The Day: "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was brused for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." - Isaiah 53:5v
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie is the presiding bishop of the 13th Episcopal District of the AME, and serves as a guiding example for women and church leaders throughout the country. For more on Bishop McKenzie, visit http://www.13thame.com or hear her messages daily at http://www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com.…
Monday, April 5, 2010
Spiritual And Physical Phenomena
By Pastor Olu Brown
"…they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. Mark 16: 3-6 (NIV)
As we leave the Easter season, I believe most of us are able to focus more intently on the story of the Resurrection. Spiritually and physically the Resurrection is an almost unbelievable event. I personally don’t know of anyone who was physically dead and now is alive other than Jesus. It is not something you hear or see every day. The Resurrection is a moment of spiritual awakening for some and a physical phenomena for others.
What is most striking to me is, what the Resurrection of Jesus means personally. When Mary Magdalene and others approached Jesus’ tomb in Mark’s Gospel their conversation was around burial practices. They were caught up in preparing Jesus’ body according to the customs of their time. They had no idea they were in for the experience of a lifetime. When they arrived at the tomb, they saw the tombstone rolled away and what appeared to be an angel dressed in white. The angel spoke these words “Don’t be alarmed…you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
I can only imagine how this experience touched each of their lives on a personal level. How they were changed and blessed because the One they believed in and followed was no longer dead but had risen. They understood spiritually and were in awe of the physical phenomena but on a personal level, their lives would never be the same.
The Resurrection is both a spiritual and physical phenomena. The Resurrection is also a personal experience with Jesus. Personally, the Resurrection touches our lives in such a way that we can never be the same. For me, the personal blessing of the Resurrection is the affirmation that I can get up because my savior got up. Because Jesus rose again I can rise again. The Resurrection is a personal victory statement for each of us as we live this life and prepare for life beyond this world. In this life, we know that no matter what we face it is never the end and that through the power of the resurrection we can have new life, hope and possibility on this side. It also confirms that when we leave this world we can have new life as well.
The lead pastor of Impact Church, located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, Pastor Olu Brown has helped grow Impact into one of the fastest growing new church starts in America. For more information about Pastor Brown, log onto http://www.impactdcd.org or by following him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/olub.
"…they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. Mark 16: 3-6 (NIV)
As we leave the Easter season, I believe most of us are able to focus more intently on the story of the Resurrection. Spiritually and physically the Resurrection is an almost unbelievable event. I personally don’t know of anyone who was physically dead and now is alive other than Jesus. It is not something you hear or see every day. The Resurrection is a moment of spiritual awakening for some and a physical phenomena for others.
What is most striking to me is, what the Resurrection of Jesus means personally. When Mary Magdalene and others approached Jesus’ tomb in Mark’s Gospel their conversation was around burial practices. They were caught up in preparing Jesus’ body according to the customs of their time. They had no idea they were in for the experience of a lifetime. When they arrived at the tomb, they saw the tombstone rolled away and what appeared to be an angel dressed in white. The angel spoke these words “Don’t be alarmed…you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
I can only imagine how this experience touched each of their lives on a personal level. How they were changed and blessed because the One they believed in and followed was no longer dead but had risen. They understood spiritually and were in awe of the physical phenomena but on a personal level, their lives would never be the same.
The Resurrection is both a spiritual and physical phenomena. The Resurrection is also a personal experience with Jesus. Personally, the Resurrection touches our lives in such a way that we can never be the same. For me, the personal blessing of the Resurrection is the affirmation that I can get up because my savior got up. Because Jesus rose again I can rise again. The Resurrection is a personal victory statement for each of us as we live this life and prepare for life beyond this world. In this life, we know that no matter what we face it is never the end and that through the power of the resurrection we can have new life, hope and possibility on this side. It also confirms that when we leave this world we can have new life as well.
The lead pastor of Impact Church, located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, Pastor Olu Brown has helped grow Impact into one of the fastest growing new church starts in America. For more information about Pastor Brown, log onto http://www.impactdcd.org or by following him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/olub.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
The Cross: Repositioned
By Dr. Cynthia James
Have you ever heard Christianity explained to your complete satisfaction? Probably not, but that does not make one less of a believer. How many concepts and paradigms do we embrace everyday that like Christianity – seem to be a pivotal place of paradox? In Christianity, light comes from darkness, life comes from death, joy in the midst of sorrow and, an endless list of contradictory truths. The Cross, a symbol of Jesus’ crucifixion, is simple in its design but complex in its message. It looms empty, bare and isolated but it is full and overflowing with compassion for the often forgotten masses.
The Cross is said to be an offense to many. In its silent stance it screams of man’s forbidden thoughts and shines a spotlight on the horrors of humanity. It highlights the depravity of the unconverted heart and just as quickly brings hope and promise to bathe our wounds in love. The Cross is indeed the pivot place of paradox. It is the place where things turn around for the better.
The Cross of Calvary is also said to be a symbol for a meeting place. It is the meeting place where the ravages of shame and the humility of servitude confront. It is the intersection where man’s hatred and bitterness is set ablaze by bleeding flesh. A place where: heaven and earth, God and man, sinner and saint, outsider and insider, fault-finder and forgiver, greed and grace, rejection and redemption, punisher and penitent, exit and entrance all come together --- the meeting place where we reach up in order to reach out to one another.
The Cross, is simple, yet inexplicable in power. The Cross, pivot place of paradox and stereotyped as offensive – is where intimidation meets Divine intimacy. The Cross is a place where contradictions coexist and accumulate to our benefit. The Cross of Calvary satisfies every condition for our credibility. It is the “road best taken”. It was heaven’s ornament against a darkened sky and some dared to reduce it to adorning jewelry.
The eternal monologue of the Cross cannot be drowned by waves of time nor diminished by contemporary voices. It still offers a redemptive lift to all who embrace its Crucified.
The Cross is the original resting place for a victim’s cruel cadaver but now it cradles my old nature with its cares and scars. Oh, Calvary’s, criss-crossed blades , I rest content in thee.
In the midst of pain I receive your peace.
In the midst of turmoil you release your triumph.
In the dark midnight of uncertainty – you utter a dawn of direction.
In the echoes of loneliness you radiate your love.
I find rest in thee, Oh Cross of Calvary.
I find rest in your blood stained nails.
I find rest in the needles of your thorny crown.
I find rest in thee,
Thank God for the Cross.
Not only is the Cross the pivot place of paradox and the meeting place of contradictions but it a true and dependable witness. It testifies to the honor of being dishonored. It takes the stand and testifies to our indebtedness while Love relieves us from all costs. The Cross never speaks of itself but points to the worthiness of the Crucified One. It is simple but we cannot ignore its significance. We are yet learning our lessons from its testimony as it provides endless new answers about old truths in changing times. We are all students of the Cross.
It is the driving force that makes our dreams a reality. It testifies not just of Jesus who is the Christ but of our work made possible through faith in His name. It is proof of the finished work and the completed assignment. The Cross demands that we be more than merely impressed but rather that we imitate its non-violent side while resisting its shame and folly. The Cross represents more than just the voice of a minority tradition for it is a faithful and true signpost to the glory of God’s non-violent victory.
The Cross tells its own story, sings, its own song, applauds its own act and saves my soul. Could it be that the flaming swords of angels placed at Edens entrance to exclude mankind have now been repositioned as Calvary’s cross to assure our entrance? The Cross, once the weapon of angels now is our call to be reconciled to both God and man. The Cross, banned from public halls has found a place eternally in private hearts.
Dr. Cynthia James is a Christian Psychologist who pastors two local congregations in Oakland, CA and brings an intellectually sound yet fervent approach to ministry. She oversees the credentialing, counseling, and pastoral care of approximately 140 pastors and ministers serving 60 Church of God congregations in the Northern California, Northern Nevada,…
Have you ever heard Christianity explained to your complete satisfaction? Probably not, but that does not make one less of a believer. How many concepts and paradigms do we embrace everyday that like Christianity – seem to be a pivotal place of paradox? In Christianity, light comes from darkness, life comes from death, joy in the midst of sorrow and, an endless list of contradictory truths. The Cross, a symbol of Jesus’ crucifixion, is simple in its design but complex in its message. It looms empty, bare and isolated but it is full and overflowing with compassion for the often forgotten masses.
The Cross is said to be an offense to many. In its silent stance it screams of man’s forbidden thoughts and shines a spotlight on the horrors of humanity. It highlights the depravity of the unconverted heart and just as quickly brings hope and promise to bathe our wounds in love. The Cross is indeed the pivot place of paradox. It is the place where things turn around for the better.
The Cross of Calvary is also said to be a symbol for a meeting place. It is the meeting place where the ravages of shame and the humility of servitude confront. It is the intersection where man’s hatred and bitterness is set ablaze by bleeding flesh. A place where: heaven and earth, God and man, sinner and saint, outsider and insider, fault-finder and forgiver, greed and grace, rejection and redemption, punisher and penitent, exit and entrance all come together --- the meeting place where we reach up in order to reach out to one another.
The Cross, is simple, yet inexplicable in power. The Cross, pivot place of paradox and stereotyped as offensive – is where intimidation meets Divine intimacy. The Cross is a place where contradictions coexist and accumulate to our benefit. The Cross of Calvary satisfies every condition for our credibility. It is the “road best taken”. It was heaven’s ornament against a darkened sky and some dared to reduce it to adorning jewelry.
The eternal monologue of the Cross cannot be drowned by waves of time nor diminished by contemporary voices. It still offers a redemptive lift to all who embrace its Crucified.
The Cross is the original resting place for a victim’s cruel cadaver but now it cradles my old nature with its cares and scars. Oh, Calvary’s, criss-crossed blades , I rest content in thee.
In the midst of pain I receive your peace.
In the midst of turmoil you release your triumph.
In the dark midnight of uncertainty – you utter a dawn of direction.
In the echoes of loneliness you radiate your love.
I find rest in thee, Oh Cross of Calvary.
I find rest in your blood stained nails.
I find rest in the needles of your thorny crown.
I find rest in thee,
Thank God for the Cross.
Not only is the Cross the pivot place of paradox and the meeting place of contradictions but it a true and dependable witness. It testifies to the honor of being dishonored. It takes the stand and testifies to our indebtedness while Love relieves us from all costs. The Cross never speaks of itself but points to the worthiness of the Crucified One. It is simple but we cannot ignore its significance. We are yet learning our lessons from its testimony as it provides endless new answers about old truths in changing times. We are all students of the Cross.
It is the driving force that makes our dreams a reality. It testifies not just of Jesus who is the Christ but of our work made possible through faith in His name. It is proof of the finished work and the completed assignment. The Cross demands that we be more than merely impressed but rather that we imitate its non-violent side while resisting its shame and folly. The Cross represents more than just the voice of a minority tradition for it is a faithful and true signpost to the glory of God’s non-violent victory.
The Cross tells its own story, sings, its own song, applauds its own act and saves my soul. Could it be that the flaming swords of angels placed at Edens entrance to exclude mankind have now been repositioned as Calvary’s cross to assure our entrance? The Cross, once the weapon of angels now is our call to be reconciled to both God and man. The Cross, banned from public halls has found a place eternally in private hearts.
Dr. Cynthia James is a Christian Psychologist who pastors two local congregations in Oakland, CA and brings an intellectually sound yet fervent approach to ministry. She oversees the credentialing, counseling, and pastoral care of approximately 140 pastors and ministers serving 60 Church of God congregations in the Northern California, Northern Nevada,…
Friday, April 2, 2010
The Significance Of The Cross
By Brent Barnett
The cross is probably the most readily recognized of the Christian symbols, and there is significance to it. As a symbol, the cross is a reminder of the sacrifice of our Savior over two thousand years ago.
The cross itself did not effect our salvation, but it was the shedding of blood of the perfect, sinless, spotless Lamb of God on the cross that has made it so that our sins could be forgiven. Thus, the emphasis must always be on the sacrifice of Christ, the ultimate event of significance, not on the cross itself. Yet there is a reason why God chose to have His Son put to death on a tree rather than by some other means.
God is in the details, and He works all things according to a divine master plan, His Son's death by crucifixion being no accident or mere coincidence. In Genesis 3:17, the earth, the man, and the woman are cursed because they ate of the forbidden fruit of a tree.
In Deuteronomy 21:22-23, we read, "If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance."
In the Law, God ordained that a curse is brought upon a person if he is hung upon a tree, and hangings on trees were only for those who committed sins worthy of the death penalty. In the New Testament, we learn that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). Furthermore, those who sin are deserving of eternal death, for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
So, in God's eyes, because of the first sin in Genesis and our certain failing to keep the entirety of the Law of God, we have all committed sin deserving of the death penalty. We are all cursed, deserving death, but God had a remedy. Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, 'CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE.'"
The apostle Paul quotes from Deuteronomy explaining that Christ Himself bore the curse which was ours to bear. Man deserves to die because He doesn't measure up to God's holy commandments, yet Christ bore upon Himself the curse which should have been ours along with the penalty of death. He was crucified, being nailed to a tree, signifying that He was indeed cursed on our behalf. This is the significance of the cross, that our curse could be exchanged for an eternal blessing because Christ bore our curse by being hung on a tree.
We can rejoice that we can lay aside the curse of eternal condemnation in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15) because we have a Savior who shed His blood and bore the curse of our sin on the cross. The great news is that He didn't die eternally because He was God, and God raised Him from the dead.
So, too, by the power of God through a relationship with Christ, we can have eternal life forever with God in heaven. We can be forgiven of our sin and freed from the curse because of the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf if we repent of our sins and turn to Him as Savior and Lord. Where there was cursing, now there can be blessing, all thanks to Jesus Christ. May He Who bore our curse on the cross receive all glory and praise.
Brenton M. Barnett is the founder of the free Bible teaching ministry, Relevant Bible Teaching, found on the web at http://www.relevantbibleteaching.com. He is also the author of Catch Fire: A Call to Spiritual Awakening. Brent’s greatest joys in life are his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Anneke.…
The cross is probably the most readily recognized of the Christian symbols, and there is significance to it. As a symbol, the cross is a reminder of the sacrifice of our Savior over two thousand years ago.
The cross itself did not effect our salvation, but it was the shedding of blood of the perfect, sinless, spotless Lamb of God on the cross that has made it so that our sins could be forgiven. Thus, the emphasis must always be on the sacrifice of Christ, the ultimate event of significance, not on the cross itself. Yet there is a reason why God chose to have His Son put to death on a tree rather than by some other means.
God is in the details, and He works all things according to a divine master plan, His Son's death by crucifixion being no accident or mere coincidence. In Genesis 3:17, the earth, the man, and the woman are cursed because they ate of the forbidden fruit of a tree.
In Deuteronomy 21:22-23, we read, "If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance."
In the Law, God ordained that a curse is brought upon a person if he is hung upon a tree, and hangings on trees were only for those who committed sins worthy of the death penalty. In the New Testament, we learn that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). Furthermore, those who sin are deserving of eternal death, for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
So, in God's eyes, because of the first sin in Genesis and our certain failing to keep the entirety of the Law of God, we have all committed sin deserving of the death penalty. We are all cursed, deserving death, but God had a remedy. Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, 'CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE.'"
The apostle Paul quotes from Deuteronomy explaining that Christ Himself bore the curse which was ours to bear. Man deserves to die because He doesn't measure up to God's holy commandments, yet Christ bore upon Himself the curse which should have been ours along with the penalty of death. He was crucified, being nailed to a tree, signifying that He was indeed cursed on our behalf. This is the significance of the cross, that our curse could be exchanged for an eternal blessing because Christ bore our curse by being hung on a tree.
We can rejoice that we can lay aside the curse of eternal condemnation in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15) because we have a Savior who shed His blood and bore the curse of our sin on the cross. The great news is that He didn't die eternally because He was God, and God raised Him from the dead.
So, too, by the power of God through a relationship with Christ, we can have eternal life forever with God in heaven. We can be forgiven of our sin and freed from the curse because of the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf if we repent of our sins and turn to Him as Savior and Lord. Where there was cursing, now there can be blessing, all thanks to Jesus Christ. May He Who bore our curse on the cross receive all glory and praise.
Brenton M. Barnett is the founder of the free Bible teaching ministry, Relevant Bible Teaching, found on the web at http://www.relevantbibleteaching.com. He is also the author of Catch Fire: A Call to Spiritual Awakening. Brent’s greatest joys in life are his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Anneke.…
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Is Your Appreciation Of The Cross Seasonal?
By Tanya James
There was a time when I was naïve enough to believe that every time I saw someone with a cross on their neck, that they were a Christian. For me, it was a symbol that reminded me of the incredible sacrifice that God made for each and everyone of us when He gave His only begotten son to die on the cross so that we may be saved.
However it took some time for me to learn that for some, wearing a cross was just another accessory to their outfit. It had no meaning and it didn’t symbolize anything of importance to them. It was simply another object in their jewelry boxes that they occasionally pulled out.
If truth be told, many of us are the same way … the cross is something we just “occasionally” think about. For some, the ONLY time we think about it is March or April when Easter Sunday rolls around.
This year like every other year, the story of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection will be told. Many churches will display crosses at their entrances as a reminder of the season. But what happens when the “holiday” has passed? Why does the cross seem to lose its value? Why is it in most cases, we only hear about that amazing sacrifice God made once a year? Has it simply become a yearly sermon topic?
It’s my belief that God sacrificing His only begotten son is so amazing and loving that we should constantly be giving Him praise for it. Who else do you know willing to bestow such a gift of life? I know as a mother, I often hold my daughter in my arms and think to myself, “I could never have done it.” I find it hard, even impossible to consider sacrificing my child even for someone that has always been kind, and gentle and loving towards me. Yet God did it for a people that were sinful, prideful, even conniving … a people that often don’t even appreciate His sacrifice.
I encourage you to change that occasional mindset concerning the cross… instead regularly mediate on the magnitude of what it really represents. Make it your motivation to be a better person, a better Christian. Share God’s self-less act with others that may not know how awesome the God you serve really is.
Let’s go a step further, the next time God asks you to sacrifice something … your time, your money, your talents … don’t even think about complaining or saying no. Remember that no sacrifice He asks of you could come close to comparing to the ultimate sacrifice that He already made for you and for me.
And no you don’t have to run out and buy a cross to wear around your neck … if the cross is in your heart, it will show through your words and actions making you a better representation of the Christ we love and serve.
Founder and president of The Master Plan, Tanya James is the author of From Promiscuity to Proverbs 31: Getting Off the Fence of Sexual Immorality. For more information about Tanya, log onto http://www.armedanddangerous.biz or http://www.themasterplan.biz.
There was a time when I was naïve enough to believe that every time I saw someone with a cross on their neck, that they were a Christian. For me, it was a symbol that reminded me of the incredible sacrifice that God made for each and everyone of us when He gave His only begotten son to die on the cross so that we may be saved.
However it took some time for me to learn that for some, wearing a cross was just another accessory to their outfit. It had no meaning and it didn’t symbolize anything of importance to them. It was simply another object in their jewelry boxes that they occasionally pulled out.
If truth be told, many of us are the same way … the cross is something we just “occasionally” think about. For some, the ONLY time we think about it is March or April when Easter Sunday rolls around.
This year like every other year, the story of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection will be told. Many churches will display crosses at their entrances as a reminder of the season. But what happens when the “holiday” has passed? Why does the cross seem to lose its value? Why is it in most cases, we only hear about that amazing sacrifice God made once a year? Has it simply become a yearly sermon topic?
It’s my belief that God sacrificing His only begotten son is so amazing and loving that we should constantly be giving Him praise for it. Who else do you know willing to bestow such a gift of life? I know as a mother, I often hold my daughter in my arms and think to myself, “I could never have done it.” I find it hard, even impossible to consider sacrificing my child even for someone that has always been kind, and gentle and loving towards me. Yet God did it for a people that were sinful, prideful, even conniving … a people that often don’t even appreciate His sacrifice.
I encourage you to change that occasional mindset concerning the cross… instead regularly mediate on the magnitude of what it really represents. Make it your motivation to be a better person, a better Christian. Share God’s self-less act with others that may not know how awesome the God you serve really is.
Let’s go a step further, the next time God asks you to sacrifice something … your time, your money, your talents … don’t even think about complaining or saying no. Remember that no sacrifice He asks of you could come close to comparing to the ultimate sacrifice that He already made for you and for me.
And no you don’t have to run out and buy a cross to wear around your neck … if the cross is in your heart, it will show through your words and actions making you a better representation of the Christ we love and serve.
Founder and president of The Master Plan, Tanya James is the author of From Promiscuity to Proverbs 31: Getting Off the Fence of Sexual Immorality. For more information about Tanya, log onto http://www.armedanddangerous.biz or http://www.themasterplan.biz.
Monday, March 29, 2010
The Cross At Any Cost
Bishop Vashti McKenzie
All of us have had our moments on a cross - the crucifying experiences in our lives that we do not ever wish to repeat in life. A horrifying moment when our enemies prevailed, the ground beneath us shook, and the sun refused to shine. The fact that we lived to tell the story is a story in itself. It is a story we wouldn’t volunteer to repeat.
It makes it all the more amazing that Jesus volunteered for the cross experience. It was not an accident, but a part of God’s plan of salvation. Cicero called the cross, a cruel and horrifying means of death. Kausner, a Jewish scholar, called it a most terrible death, which man has ever devised for taking vengeance on humankind. Tacitus said it was simply despicable.
The cross was the fundamental point of the ministry of Jesus Christ. He was born with a cross in his future. He came to be our Savior on a cross. He came to give his life‘s blood on a cross to settle a debt that we owed for sins that we committed.
The cross was the destiny of Jesus. It was the reason for his coming, the culmination of his earthly ministry. It was also the capstone of his mission where he would reconcile Creator with the created. It was for him, the cross at any cost.
Jesus took the worst that life had to offer and dealt with it on the cross. He didn’t condone it, nor did he compromise his standard. He didn’t ignore our rebellion, nor did he dismiss his demands. He, who knew no sin, became sin for our sakes.
Jesus became the sacrificial lamb who takes away the sins of the world. He bore them boldly on the cross so that we could be redeemed. His blood covered our sins and God’s wrath was turned away.
Jesus took on death on the cross. The Bible declares that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. Jesus would rather go to hell for us than to go to heaven without us having traveling options. He put heaven, eternal life, within our reach with his death and resurrection.
What a joy that Jesus was willing to go through hell, take what hell had to offer by defeating sin, death and hell just for us! God is so touched by what God sees in us that instead of turning away, God would pay any price to save his children.
It is like the old story often told about a mother in a war torn country. The insurgents were coming close to the house that served as a sanctuary for her children and herself. She knew that all of them could not be saved so she told her children at her signal they were to run out the back door. Don’t look back, she admonished them.
When the soldiers neared her house, she gave the signal. As her children ran out the back door, she ran out the front door to distract the soldiers. The mother died a horrible death at the hands of the enemy, but her children were able to run to safety. The mother sacrificed her life so that those whom she loved would live. She gave up her life so her children could be saved.
That’s what Jesus does for us on the cross. While we were yet sinners, Jesus died on a cross for us. He took the worst our enemies offered, turning something bad into something good.
“At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, and the burdens of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith, I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day.” AMEC Hymnal
As presiding bishop of the 13th Episcopal District of the AME, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie is a guiding example for women and church leaders throughout the country. Her messages can be heard online daily at www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com. For more information about Bishop Vashti McKenzie, log onto www.13thame.com
© Bishop Vashti McKenzie all rights reserved.
All of us have had our moments on a cross - the crucifying experiences in our lives that we do not ever wish to repeat in life. A horrifying moment when our enemies prevailed, the ground beneath us shook, and the sun refused to shine. The fact that we lived to tell the story is a story in itself. It is a story we wouldn’t volunteer to repeat.
It makes it all the more amazing that Jesus volunteered for the cross experience. It was not an accident, but a part of God’s plan of salvation. Cicero called the cross, a cruel and horrifying means of death. Kausner, a Jewish scholar, called it a most terrible death, which man has ever devised for taking vengeance on humankind. Tacitus said it was simply despicable.
The cross was the fundamental point of the ministry of Jesus Christ. He was born with a cross in his future. He came to be our Savior on a cross. He came to give his life‘s blood on a cross to settle a debt that we owed for sins that we committed.
The cross was the destiny of Jesus. It was the reason for his coming, the culmination of his earthly ministry. It was also the capstone of his mission where he would reconcile Creator with the created. It was for him, the cross at any cost.
Jesus took the worst that life had to offer and dealt with it on the cross. He didn’t condone it, nor did he compromise his standard. He didn’t ignore our rebellion, nor did he dismiss his demands. He, who knew no sin, became sin for our sakes.
Jesus became the sacrificial lamb who takes away the sins of the world. He bore them boldly on the cross so that we could be redeemed. His blood covered our sins and God’s wrath was turned away.
Jesus took on death on the cross. The Bible declares that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. Jesus would rather go to hell for us than to go to heaven without us having traveling options. He put heaven, eternal life, within our reach with his death and resurrection.
What a joy that Jesus was willing to go through hell, take what hell had to offer by defeating sin, death and hell just for us! God is so touched by what God sees in us that instead of turning away, God would pay any price to save his children.
It is like the old story often told about a mother in a war torn country. The insurgents were coming close to the house that served as a sanctuary for her children and herself. She knew that all of them could not be saved so she told her children at her signal they were to run out the back door. Don’t look back, she admonished them.
When the soldiers neared her house, she gave the signal. As her children ran out the back door, she ran out the front door to distract the soldiers. The mother died a horrible death at the hands of the enemy, but her children were able to run to safety. The mother sacrificed her life so that those whom she loved would live. She gave up her life so her children could be saved.
That’s what Jesus does for us on the cross. While we were yet sinners, Jesus died on a cross for us. He took the worst our enemies offered, turning something bad into something good.
“At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, and the burdens of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith, I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day.” AMEC Hymnal
As presiding bishop of the 13th Episcopal District of the AME, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie is a guiding example for women and church leaders throughout the country. Her messages can be heard online daily at www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com. For more information about Bishop Vashti McKenzie, log onto www.13thame.com
© Bishop Vashti McKenzie all rights reserved.
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