Dear Explorer,
Read Matthew 27:50
And
Read Mark 15:37
And
Read Luke 23:46
And
Read John 19:28-30
Ever since I started thinking about this Bible study, I have dreaded covering this section regarding the details of Jesus' death. So much has been written, I know I have nothing new to say. But that's not the real problem. Crucifixion is such a gory, excruciating way to die – but that's not really it either. I guess I just feel totally inadequate to convey to you the incredible fact that Jesus Himself - the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Creator and Sustainer of the Universe allowed Himself to be brutally tortured for me.
A former pastor of mine stated that if we would simply focus on the crucifixion, we would be overwhelmed by the immensity of God's love for us and it would keep us rooted and grounded for the rest of our lives.
So, as you read these passages about the final minutes of Jesus' life; the words He spoke, the actions He took -- my prayer is that you would comprehend the height and depth and length of God's love for you.
God is Spirit. God's Spirit joined with Mary's physical body to conceive a fully-human, fully-God baby.
Yet, we're told in Philippians 2:5-11 that Jesus set aside all aspects of His being God while he lived on earth. So, I believe that He lived on earth as a model for us to follow. It would be cruel for Him to expect us to follow Him if He had retained His supernatural abilities! So, I believe that He totally emptied Himself and became just like one of us.
And then He lived life perfectly without sin. He worked miracles and healed through the power of the Holy Spirit within Him. I believe that Jesus obeyed the prompting of the Holy Spirit step by step. I believe that He had to pray to get wisdom and courage and insight and direction and we see throughout the Gospels that He indeed spent a lot of time in prayer.
But we must also realize that He was fully God. The beginning chapter of John looked at Jesus as Creator. In John 8:28-29 Jesus says that He does nothing apart from God. And in John 10:30 Jesus states that He and God are one.
Only Jesus' NEW WAY teaches that God would stoop so low as to pay the price of sin for us. All other religions teach that we must atone for our sins by acts of repentance and good deeds. That's why following Jesus doesn't fit the definition of religion -- it is not based on our works or good deeds. It is based on the fact that God Himself paid the price to cleanse us from sin and to allow us in His Presence for all eternity based on our simply inviting Him into our God-shaped vacuum and accepting His payment for our sins!
Jesus came to earth to be my model. But Jesus died so that my sins would be paid in full. It is finished. It is complete. I cannot add to it or subtract from it with good deeds, or bad ones, because it is not based on me. John 3:16 KJV says "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." What amazing grace!!! There's nothing I can say or do to deserve or earn my salvation. Jesus paid my way and I can only respond by worshipping and loving Him.
In His service, dale
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