BEHOLD…

THE CROSS

As I wrote this it was Good Friday, a cold, chilly morning. And as I awoke that morning my thoughts were on my Lord and the sacrifice He made on that Friday before His glorious Resurrection.  The Easter Season is past, and all the Easter trimmings are put away for another year, but let’s us not forget that the Cross is the Center of our very lives, every day of the year.  He calls us to look to the Cross, for there is our salvation in this troubled world, and we can say all year long, everyday:  HE IS RISEN!  HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Many are rushing to do whatever they need to do this day, but how many will stop to consider the greatest event in history!  Yes, I call it the greatest event in history, because the sinless Lamb of God went to the cross to die for you, for me and all those out there in this world rushing to and fro this day, unmindful of what happened on that dark day.

Oh,  Good Friday is not about Easter bunnies, colored eggs and the like, it is about the cross, and the new life we experience in Jesus because of that cross.  Yes, Spring is a time of new life, but let us get our focus on the cross of Calvary.

Oh, that cross was not beautiful, as we have made it down through the centuries.  We have plated it with gold and silver, encrusted it with diamonds and precious stones.  We have big crosses and little crosses we wear around our necks or even in our ears as earrings.

My heart is heavy this day, as I think of my Savior day dying the most cruel death that could be inflicted on Him.  He was tortured, beaten and mocked and forced to carry that cross up to the place of the skull, the place of execution.  Upon that cross nails were driven into his wrists and into His feet, the Precious Lamb of God, the final Lamb slain at the evening sacrifice. Oh, yes, I am sure the lambs continued to be sacrificed in that temple, before the destruction of the temple, but the “Lamb” had been slain, and the new covenant was now established!

And on that Friday, as my Lord suffered and died, the sky grew dark, the thunder rolled, the earth shook, as the very Son of God took on the sins of the world, and His Father turned His back on Him, as He could not look on Him.  Oh, the darkness of that day!  Oh, the horror of that day!

And as that “Lamb” was sacrificed the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom, showing that the way was now open to enter into the Presence of God, a new covenant in His blood had been established.  His blood was shed to take away my sins and your sins. John the Baptist, himself, proclaimed that “Lamb.”

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” John 1:29.

The lamb had to be spotless, as we look back into the Old Testament and recall the lambs that were slain on the altar.  Those innocent little lambs had to give their lives and shed their blood just to cover the people’s sins.  That suffering “Lamb” on the cross was slain from the foundation of the world, and His shed blood does not just cover our sins, they are washed away, Praise the Lord! (See Hebrews 9:23-28).

So, I am calling you to look to the cross today, stop what you are doing and look up there upon that hill and behold the suffering Savior of all mankind.  We used to have Good Friday Services where we could stop at noon on Good Friday and remember, as a body of believers, our suffering Lord. 

I know that many of you are going through great trials today, the dark clouds cover your sky, and the storm is intense. And there is Jesus taking your pain, your sorrow upon His wounded body.  Who of us can comprehend that! Because of that cross and the shedding of His blood, there is forgiveness of sins and healing for our bodies, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness –by whose stripes we are healed” 1 Peter 2:2

It was Friday when Jesus died on the cross, to his mother, His disciples and those who loved Him, it looked like all was lost as He died upon that cross.  Oh, the horror of standing beneath the cross and watch Him die, see the sky grow dark and the earth shake, but let me tell you something:  “It was Friday and Sunday was coming.”  On that Sunday morning, the tomb burst open, and our Lord Jesus Christ arose from that tomb triumphant over death, and gave us new life and a promise of Resurrection and new life with Him in heaven forever!

But my precious friends, I am happy to tell you that it might be Friday for you, but Sunday is coming  Yes, you may be going through a tough time today, you may be facing terminal illness and other events in your life that bring you great fear. But a great day is coming, when all sorrow, pain and tears will be over forever, and all because of the Cross and the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Praise the Lord!   

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your own personal Lord and Savior and asked Him to forgive you of your sins, you have a glorious future ahead, we call a “Blessed Hope.” And it all starts at the cross, “Behold the Cross” today.  Stand beneath the cross, cast your gaze upon that One dying there for you.

 Beneath the Cross of Jesus

Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand, the shadow of a mighty Rock within a weary land; a home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way, from the burning of the noontime heat, and the burden of the day.

Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see the very dying form of One who suffered there for me; and from my smitten heart with tears, two wonders I confess, the wonders of His glorious love and my own worthlessness.

I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place; I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face; content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss, my sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross! (Elizabeth C. Clephane)

Blessings, in the Name of Jesus

Pastor Sharon