|
|
The Cross My Glory
Posted On 03/06/2008 10:17:39 by bcmindia
|
The Cross My Glory Introduction:These are special seasons for Christians Universally, as all of us solemnly remember the days of Jesus’ sufferings on the cross, His vicarious death on the cross and His resurrection on the 3rd day from the grave. And in south East Asia, people voluntarily crucify themselves to demonstrate to their community of their loyalty to Christianity and Christian faith; though this is nothing to do with “salvation we receive by faith and grace”, very clearly taught in the Word of God. I read of a man who is traveling around the world with a wooden cross, born upon his shoulders and dragged on the main roads of the world, to let the world know that; almost 2008 years ago, the Son of the Most High” died on the cross to bring back the lost world back to God! In India, 40 days are set apart and people would not eat meat of any kind and drink and some even wear saffron cloth and grow beard and mustache. Apostle Paul is not the least amongst us! In lifting up the cross of Jesus! He declared:“ But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ...Gal.6:14.Yes! the Cross is the centrality of our Christian faith. Jesus Christ, voluntarily taking upon himself the wrath and the judgment of the Holy God, gave his life by shedding His blood. He was the lamb of God. In doing so He removed, the power of sin, curse, death and the hell eternally from humanity. The Cross is where the eternal enemy, Lucifer was defeated for ever!!!The cross therefore is more than a symbol or an event for celebration but it deep spiritual implications and experiences. It’s the beginning of the New Testament.He was totally broken as a person: Mt. 26.26, Mk.14:22 & Lk.22:19) Jesus faced tremendous physical, emotional, mental and spiritual pain and battle in His person, before He was crucified. The thought of dying on the cross as a sinner was too fearful for him. He cried to the father to remove this cup 3 times. Blood oozed out as sweat. But finally he said,” Father LET YOUR WILL BE DONE”. The self was defeated! - Judas sold Him to 30 pieces of Silver. Cruel Betrayal of the Treasurer!!
- The Disciples flood, leaving Him alone.
- Peter denied.
- The people who received good things from Jesus de-cried! Crucify him!!!
- The High Priest slapped Him and other priest, lied against Him.
- Pilot knew that Jesus was faultless to the punishment of death but handed him over to the will of the people.
- The Roman thugs worked on his body on their free will.
- He was slapped, mocked and was ridiculed like a buffoon.
- He was to leave the 12, the faithful ones, the mother and the family.
- He was made to bear the wooden cross through the streets, where exactly a week ago, he was hailed as a king!
- He was nailed! (Oh! I weep here! Oh! See the lover of my soul screaming out in agony!) and behold! He is now lifted up almost naked! And there He hung for few hours in pains I would not ever know!
- He cried out to the Father! “Why have you forsaken me?” And was not heard!
He finally Died! Bro. Joseph from Aremathea and Nicodemus joined hands to bury him in a new sepulcher. Cross is Turned CrownJesus, taught his disciples about the cross and about Cross bearing to be found worthy followers. IF THERE IS NO CROSS, THEN THERE IS NO CROWN! For he said,” And he that taketh his cross, and followeth after me is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall loose it: and he that looseth his life for my sake shall find it.”(Mt.1038-39)Suffering, laying our lives on the alter unconditionally as a living sacrifice are the pre-requisite for a follower of Christ! Joseph the in the old Testament had a special Call and anointing from the Lord! He never went through the scholarship of modern day Christianity to serve him full time. Rather he went through sufferings, persecutions, and he was falsely implicated with the charges of adultery with a general’s wife. His brothers sold him for 20 silver pieces! That was the reward for his faith, righteousness and spiritual virtues. How many church leaders or Mission leaders will recruit such a candidate for full time ministry? Or, what would have been his thoughts and calculations of his own life? “Why is this to me Lord? Why? This Oh Lord?Think of King David! He was a shepherd boy, very athletic and strong! He was a skillful harp player! The Holy Spirit of God had anointed him! Lion, bear and Goliath were nothing before his strength! But then followed the cross bearing! King Saul; his own father in-law hunted after his life! He was never allowed to live with his wives! He dwelt in hills, mountains and forests! Then his own children coveted the throne and drove him to the jungles! His personal life was filled with egos! He committed adultery with Urijah’s wife and then slaughtered him in the battle field! All these was part of “ THE MAN WITH MY OWN HEART.”Apostle Paul Cries out for help! O, wretched man I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?(Ro.7:24) He was baffled with his double nature. He was doing things prohibited by the law but was unable to to the right things He was expected to do! The law of evil was present in him.“…there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” (2.Cor.12:7)We have to under stand the wisdom of God! And therefore Paul edifies the church in Galatia saying,” I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and my life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God.(Gal.3:20)The Cross is the Victory: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword?For I am persuaded, that, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,Nor height, nor depth, nor any thing creature, shall bed able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus.NAY, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONCOQUERORS THROUGH JESUS THAT LOVED US”. (Ro.8:35-39- paraphrased)It’s only on the cross that ones faithfulness, obedience and committmentment is measured!“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:But made himself of no reputation , and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:And being found in the fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;And every tongue should confess that Jesus is LORD, to the glory of the Father.(Phil.2.7-11)“Self exaltation sends us to self Destruction! But divine exaltation takes us to the throne; but only by killing that person on the cross” (Rev.Dass.T)The Cross is our Mandate:For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God (1.Cor.1:18)But we preach Christ the crucified…(1.Cor1:23) The Cross is His body In 1Cor.Chapter 11 Apostle Paul, edifies the Church on the Bread of God and Church Unity. Many grain seeds, in type, size, color, and strength are crushed and they are made into white colored flour! Christian Brethren from around the world must be crushed. No distinction of color, creed, economical status, spiritual status should be seen! And this white flour mixed with water(word) salt(testimony) and no vinegar! (No worldly compromise) and then if kneaded is well mixed and makes a right shape! And this goes into a fiery Owen! The old nature and every thing poison is burnt in the fire! The Bread (THE CHURCH) IS READY TO BE SHARED AND FELLOWSIPPED! Are we ready to bear the Cross? Remember and meditate on these things, this season? Think of the Other Christian brothers and sisters from around the world, the persecuted, the less privileged and the poor new Christian Brothers and sister! Pray for them! Educate them! Help them! And plead their cause! Build them! The new converts in your churches need your moral, social, financial, material and social support! Let us sing! That we are one in the Spirit and one in the Lord!!“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Ro.12:1) The Blood of Christ is the beginning of the New Spiritual Order and authority:Jesus not only gave His body, as a person to go through the pangs of death; but He gave His life. He shed His blood! The centurion, who wanted to make sure the death of Jesus, pierced him on the side and Blood and water gushed out! (Jn.19:34). We know that in blood is life! …with out shedding of Blood there is no remission.(Heb.9;22) Let us consider the Spiritual experiences, and the Spiritual authority we have through the blood of Christ.“And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, drink all of it; For this is the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Mt.26:27-28, Mk.14.23-24 Lk.22.17&20)1. Forgiveness of our sins.The Blood of Christ is the only provision by which our sins can be forgiven and the cause and effect factor. “…and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1Jn.1:&)And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.(1Jn2:2)And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us from our sins and washed us from our sins in his own blood. (Rev.1:5)Oh! Yes! Our sins are washed away with the blood of Christ! 2. We have peace with God through His blood. “And , having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be the thins in earth or things in heaven. And And you, that were some times alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet Now hath he reconciled.(col1:20-21) 3. His blood makes us righteous. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. (Ro.3:24-25) “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from the wrath Through Him. (Ro.5:9) 4. His blood purchased us as his own:“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood(Acts.20:28)“For ye are bought with a price:..(1Cor.6:20& 7:23)“…denying the Lord that brought them…(2Pety.2:1) &nb sp; “ And they sung a new song, saying, thou art worthy to take the book, and open the &nb sp; Seals thereof : for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us unto God by thy blood of every kindred, tongue and people and nation. (Rev.%:9) 5. His blood the strongest weapon:“ And they over came him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death.(Rev.12;11) 6. The blood of Christ Purges our conscience. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God, to purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Heb.9:14) 7. His Blood give us Boldness:“ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Christ. (Heb.10:19&14) 8. His blood make us holy:“ Wherefore Jesus also, that he sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered with out the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him with out the camp, bearing his reproach.(heb.13:12-13) 9. The Blood speaks better things on our behalf:And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.(Heb.12:24)Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witness, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy of that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb.12;1-2) Brother,Dass.T
Tags: Easter
|
|
 |
[-] |
|
|
|
Favorites
Digg
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Furl
Magnolia
StumbleUpon
Google
Yahoo MyWeb
