The Seven sayings of Christ on the Cross 

Many people have preached on these.    They are wonderful….for think of the beatings He has had…yet He speaks….not for His benefit….but for others.

     And wasn’t that His whole life’s work?

He had come to manifest the Father,  to show God’s Will and Mercy….and even at the end He speaks only for that purpose.

Luke 23:33  “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary,  there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”

Christ is now brought to the place of His greatest suffering.   The beatings are past but the shame and desertion by God; death, and burial ahead.

But how does He meet them?

Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus,  Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

            And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

The first thing He says on the Cross is:  “Father, forgive them.”   

He forgave them first.   They did not ask for it;  but He, as the greatest King, forgave the greatest debt, and He did it before they asked.

The “them”,  were those chief priests who tried Him and took Him to Pilate,  

the Jews who cried “Crucify Him”,  

and those who stood and mocked Him, even in His miserable suffering, 

the people crying, 

and the Romans who nailed His hands.

As the mocking continues, the malefactors enter in.  But then one speaks up for Christ:

Luke 23:40-42 “But the other answering rebuked him, saying,   Dost not thou fear God,  seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

             And we indeed justly;…but this man hath done nothing amiss.

             And he said unto Jesus,   Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”

Here, one is saved, by belief in the Lord; and one is not.  For the second thing Jesus said on the cross was another word of forgiveness,  and also blessing:

Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him,  Verily I say unto thee,  Today shalt thou be. With me in paradise.”

Then, looking down Jesus saw His mother, and John, the beloved disciple, who was the only one who had followed Him from the Garden…to the Cross.  

He, alone of the disciples, stood at the foot of the cross, ready to be arrested, if necessary, to stay close to Jesus.

So Jesus speaks the third sayings:

John 19:26 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by,  whom he loved, he saith unto his mother,   Woman, behold thy son!”

John 19:27 “Then saith he to the disciple,   Behold thy mother!   And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

Here, Jesus sees to His mother, committing her into the hands of John, the beloved disciple.

She was to look on him as the son she lost. 

He was to look on her as his mother, and take care of her, seeing to her in her old age.

(This he did, and it is said, that she went with him on his preaching tours;  that her bones are buried in the wall of Ephesus.)

Six hours the sun had shone down upon all of this suffering.   

Luke 23:44-45 “And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

                 The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.”

The sun “was darkened”:  The awful agony of the sin bearer, fulfilling the suffering of the wrath of God on our sin,  was “darkened”.   No one but God and Christ, could enter into this propitiation. 

God darkened the sun, to show that this was not for view;  no one would understand such suffering,  and so, no one could truly view it in it’s terror.  This suffering went on until He paid the price for all that would come to Him.

In this time, Jesus spoke the fourth saying:

Matthew 27: 46 ” And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice,  saying,  Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani ?  That is to say,  My God, My God,  why hast thou forsaken me?”

God forsaking Him was because of our sin;  for God can not look upon sin, without wrath.  

And Jesus was “‘made sin for us”. (2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us,  who knew no sin;  that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.”)

The price paid, Jesus spoke the fifth saying:

John 19:28 “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith,   I thirst.”

They had offered him wine mingled with myrrh to deaden the pain, earlier;  but He refused it.   He would feel every moment of pain,  that He would be able to pay the full debt of our sin.

Mark 15:23 “And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.”

But this time, they gave him vinegar.

John 19:29 “Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.”

Then, He spoke the sixth and seventh sayings:

John 19:30 ” When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said,  It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

Luke 23:46 “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, (That is He cried for all who would hear, to hear “It is finished”) he said,  Father, into they hands I commend my spirit:  and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

Jesus, having finished the work of  atonement,  cried out;  but then he gave his spirit unto the Father, in the last solemn moment before death.

Christ was our High Priest,  who offered Himself as the Sacrifice for sin, for us.    

In every saying there was love, offered again and again, for those who would receive it.

He drained every drop of suffering for us.  And died, was buried, and rose again to give us His Eternal Life.

Have you received Him as Lord and Savior?

Do you have Him in your life?

Are you Listening?

Luke 8:18 “Take heed therefore how ye hear:  for whosoever hath, to him shall be given;  and whosoever hath not,  from him shall be taken that which he seemeth to have.”

Take heed how ye hear.  

Now this is not just good advice,  but it is a saying of Jesus.  

He warns all who will hear Him,  to take notice of what they are hearing.

They are not just nice sounding words to lull you to sleep. 

     Or assure you that everything is O.K.,  if it is not.

His Words are not just to enter our ears,  but our hearts;  and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, to Eternal Life.

Jesus had just finished the parable of the sower.   Four types of ground.  

There was the wayside ground:  hard and not tilled.  

There was the rocky ground:  which sprang up, but withered.

There was the thorny ground:  which choked the word.

And then there was the good ground:  which brought forth fruit.

What was the differences between these grounds?    The preparation of the ground, itself.

The wayside had no preparation.  The Word was “walked upon, and devoured by the Adversary.” (Luke 8:12)

The rocky ground had too many things which needed to be removed to be useful; and so the Word of Christ just died in the life.

The thorny ground had been tilled but without removing the roots of bitterness,  which spring up again and again into weeds and thorns;    to choke the Word in the life. (Hebrews 12:15)

But ,……the good ground was prepared to hear…..by getting honest before the Lord….so when he heard,…..he obeyed (took heed how they heard), and brought forth fruit to Christ’s glory, and honor.

How do we hear……take heed?

Do we listen as if our Eternal Soul’s were dependent on just how we heard!

Is your life hardened to the Gospel?  

Have you trodden down Christ’s Words to you?

The Adversary is waiting, to remove those Words that are given you; and leave you hardened, and dead.   

Christ is speaking,   still…. will you prepare your heart to hear?

The reality of these verses is told by Jesus when He says:

“From him shall be taken that which he seemeth to have”!

They looked good;   They probably said the right answers,  but their hearts separated themselves from the impact of Christ’s Words for themselves……so they would not have to obey.

Christ claims our hearts,…..and requires,   not an answer of words;….but an answer of a Life, open to, and receptive to Him.

Remember,  when Christ saves a life,   He also claims that life.

From that time on,  that saved one is bought with a price,…and no longer their own.

Jesus says,  “Take heed how ye hear”.    Prepare your ears to hear,  and your heart to receive.

And He will give into your soul the goodness of His life and the everlasting fruit of His Spirt.

The Two Thieves

Mark 15:27 “And with Him they crucify two thieves;  the one on His right hand, and the other on His left.”

Matthew 27:41,44 “Likewise also the chief priests mocking Him, with the scribes and elders…..

        The thieves also, which were crucified with Him, cast the same in HIs teeth.”

Luke 23:39-43 “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying,  If thou be Christ save thyself and us.

         But the other answering rebuked him, saying,  Dost not thou fear God,  seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

         And we indeed justly;  for we receive the due reward of our deeds:  but this man hath done nothing amiss.

         And he said unto Jesus,  Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

         And Jesus said unto him,  Verily I say unto thee,  To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.”

The two thieves are a picture of every person born.

  We are either persuaded of Christ…….as Lord and King…..

….or we are with the crowd which mocks and hates Christ.

You will notice that they were thieves…..men who had stolen something which did not belong to them.

        We, too, are thieves….for we have stolen God’s honor from Him….we have usurped HIs throne of authority.

We have chosen to be in control of our destinies…..so that  we decide what is “right” and what is “wrong”…..for us.

This is theft in the Kingdom of God…..we have taken from God the honor due HIs Name…

….stolen it for ourselves.

The thieves both mocked Jesus, at first…

….they “cast the same in His teeth”.   

Which means they were throwing insults,   just like the chief priests and scribes and elders.

        They were not good men,…..they were glad to be able to mock the Son of God, the Son of Man…..

….maybe it would make their pain less.  

(Of course, it did not….and it does not for us, as well)

        

But a change came….first innocence was recognized.   

Luke 23:39-41 “And one of the malefactors…railed on Him….If Thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

         But the other….rebuked him, saying,  Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

         And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds:…”

Here was a recognition that he was a sinner…..that God judges right!

         Though it was a simple confession…..yet anytime we get honest about ourselves…..light is given…..for Truth is Light…..

…..and God’s grace is offered.  (John 1:17)

Luke 23:41 “….but this man hath done nothing amiss.”

This, too, was a confession…..only about Christ.   He had mocked few minutes ago….

….but now he begins to recognize Christ’s purity and goodness.

(Grace does this….it brings us the ability to see Christ as He is, not as we have thought of Him.)

Luke 23:42 “And he said unto Jesus,   Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.”

I love this,…..”Lord”…..not “king” in a mocking tone…..but “Lord”…..in subjection to Christ, and HIs Will for him.

“Remember me”…..

Psalm 25:6-7 “Remember, O Lord, Thy tender mercies and Thy lovingkindness;  for they have been ever of old. 

         Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions;  according to Thy mercy remember Thou me    for Thy goodness sake, O Lord.”

For God to remember someone, is for God to fix that person in His affections.

Isaiah 49:15-16 “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?   Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

          Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands;…”

Christ’s graven palms,  speak of His remembering all for whom He died…..the penitent thief…..you,  me…..for our names are there where the nail prints are.

Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him,   Verily (Truth) I say unto thee,  To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.”

This thief died…..but lived by faith in Christ Jesus.

We all, too, are presented with Christ Jesus.

To some He is nothing more than an object to mock and insult….

     To others, they begin to see the goodness and holiness of Christ, and are drawn to Him…being honest about themselves and their sin….and receiving Him as Lord and Savior…

….and live,…everlasting life.

And He will always remember us.

The Promise of Christ to my soul 

1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

I believe the whole Bible was written to the people of God.

Not to the world who will not,  and can not (except the Holy Spirit convicts and enlightens) understand it.

I also believe that the whole Bible speaks of Christ…..from  “In the beginning, God”…..which was Christ speaking the world into being….

….to “Behold, I come quickly…”

As HIs people,  we need to find the treasures of blessing and correction,….and grow thereby.

In 1 Corinthians,  Paul has just been talking to these proud Christians (proud of their gifts, although they had cliches and arguments)….

….and spoke of their calling from the world to Christ and HIs Will.

Paul puts into perspective the reality of all of us…..no matter education, personality,  place, or ability…..we are really:

1 Corinthians 1:26-28 “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

        But God hat chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 

         And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen,  yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:”

        

Ouch!   This a list of people we do not want to be like, in this world…..

….but that is just it…

……we are not to be part of the world’s judgement any more…..we are to see as God sees.

We are to see ourselves as God sees us…..unable to understand, or lead,  or do rightly…..without Him and HIs grace.

1 Corinthians 1:29 “That no flesh should glory in HIs presence.”

(That is not just in heaven…..but now, when we come before His throne of grace to pray for ourselves or others.)

This is  to see ourselves as we are…..to get honest with God….not just about “them”….or about the situation….but about how we are….and think…..

……then,….the Lord gives us this promise:

1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus,…”

Here is the beginning of all blessings and help…..to be “in Christ Jesus”….born again by the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 1:30 “….Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

Wisdom (how much we need this!):   Wisdom is personal knowledge of God in ever expanding ways. 

James 3:13, 17 “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?…..

      But that wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be untreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

The Wisdom from Christ, never puts down anyone…as though it is superior…..

…….but raises others up with…..”The Lord showed me this, I hope it helps you too.”

           It brings peace…..not strife.

Righteousness:  Christ applies and imputes His Righteousness to us…..and then we are to be righteous…..to work those obediences and good works that He has for us…..working out what He has worked within 

Philippians 2:12-13 “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,   work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

         For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

           This is righteousness.

Sanctification:  this is to be set aside to God for sacred use….in our personal, everyday lives.   

It is to become holy, or complete….to fulfill the will of God in attitude, action, word, and thought….

……..and it is only done by yielding to and obeying the Holy Spirit within.

Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men,, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

(Notice, we can not be holy….or set aside to God, without the right attitude toward our fellow man…..to follow after the peaceful attitude that seeks the good of all men.   

This is not pacifying…..but seeking their peace with God, and being at peace with them….allowing no anger, resentment, or bitterness to linger or stay,  concerning them.)

           Christ Jesus has this for us.

Redemption:  we would think this should have been first,….but….

…..this redemption is…….to be claimed and brought to your original purpose,  in the Will of God.

Christ has redeemed us……are we fulfilling in our lives that redemption?   

       Are we living as we should….having and proclaiming liberty to the captives of the devil and this world?

       Have we known the claim of Christ Jesus on our lives…..not just at some altar…..but everyday?

This is Redemption……

…and again Christ Jesus has it for us.

The Promise of Christ Jesus to my soul is wisdom,  righteousness, sanctification, and redemption…..in my life!

…my life!   Think of it.   

Christ Jesus knew our sin and selfishness…..yet saved us by His sacrifice.

Christ Jesus knew our pride and strife…..yet gives us all we need in HIs life.

Will we have this promise?   Will we yield to the Holy Spirit within….and get the life of Christ….within us….today?

The Name of the Lord 

Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower:  the righteous runneth into it,  and is safe.”

We tried to think of all the names of God, the other night;  and there are just too many….

Jesus, Jehovah, Christ,  Adoni,  Almighty , Shield,  Banner,  the God of all grace, the God of peace,  the Branch,  the Rock,  my Shepherd, Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord will provide), the Lord of Hosts, the Way, the Light, the Truth, Counselor, Mediator, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, etc.

But the Name of God, given in scripture at a particular time,  or for a particular situation…….is a promise, of what He will do in this situation.

Jehovah means the Eternal,  Ever existing, Becoming One….the Eternal God becomes our need.

(In the Old Testament:

Jehovah is linked to many adjectives:  Jehovah-Nissi (the Lord our banner), Jehovah-Rapha (the Lord that heals),  Jehovah-Shammah (the Lord is there), etc.

And in the New Testament:

Jesus Christ says:  I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,   I am the Light of the world,  I am the bread of life, I am the door,  I am the good Shepherd, etc.

Jehovah is Christ.)

An example of God, sharing His Name…..and Abraham running into it for safety:

Genesis 15:1 “After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying,  Fear not, Abram:  I am thy Shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”

This was said to Abram (Abraham) after a great battle with four kings, to rescue Lot, his nephew. (Genesis 14:9-15)

Lot had been taken captive from Sodom, when four powerful kings attacked a confederacy of kings,  which included Sodom’s king.

The confederacy which included Sodom’s king, was beaten back,….the city had been sacked,…..and Lot had been taken.

When news came to Abraham,  he gathered three hundred and eighteen of his trained men,……and went after them.

Abraham’s troop came upon them at night, where he divided his men into two groups….each coming on the opposite side.    

They rescued Lot and the other captives, and the goods stolen….quite a large amount of it,  and brought them back to a valley outside of Sodom.

There the king of Sodom went out to meet them, and told Abraham to take the goods (gold, silver, etc);  and he, the king of Sodom, would take the people back.

But Abraham spoke out boldly here:

Genesis 14:22-24 “And Abram said unto the king of Sodom,  I have lifted up my hand unto the Lord,  the Most High God,  the possessor of heaven and earth,

                     That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet,  and that I will not take anything that is thine,  lest thou shouldest say,  I have made Abram rich:

                      Save only that which the young men have eaten,  and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre;  let them take their portion.”

“I will not take a thread or even a shoelace from you.   The young men that went with me….they may take a portion….I will not speak for them;  but as for me, I have sworn to the Lord, my God….the Most High God,  that I will not take anything from you.”

The king of Sodom was a powerful man in those parts…..but God was Abraham’s portion…..His Word was Abraham’s guide.

Psalm 16:5 “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup:  Thou maintainest  my lot.”

Then….”after these things”:

God speaks to Abraham, telling him of a new way in which he could think about His Might, for himself….

God said, “I am thy Shield” 

Abraham might be concerned about reprisals from the kings he had fought….but God would shield him.

(fourteen times the name Shield is used in Psalms)

Psalm 3:3 “But Thou,  O Lord,  art a shield for me;  my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”

Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield;  my heart trusteth in Him, and I am helped:  therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth;  and with my song will I praise Him.”

God said, “I am thy exceeding great reward”

Abraham did not need gold or silver from the wicked king of Sodom….for God was His portion.  

Paul writes about the riches of God for us:

Romans 11:33 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgements,  and His Ways past finding out!

Ephesians 1:7 “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, and forgiveness of sins,  according to the riches of His grace,”

Ephesians 3:16 “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory,  to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;”

He is all we need, and He promises to be what we need:

Proverbs 18:10 “The Name of the Lord is a strong tower:  the righteous runneth into it,  and is safe.”

His Name not only protects….but lifts us up from the situation we are in,  by faith,…..to see, what He sees…..He is a “strong tower”…..for His name show us what He is to us.

And the best thing we can do is….run into Him….and be safe.

Gethsemane 

Matthew 26:36   “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane,  and saith unto His disciples,   Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder.”

Three times it is written of battles,….when our Lord Jesus faced the Adversary alone.

The first was in the temptation in the wilderness for forty days.  (Matthew 4)

The second was in Gethsemane.   

The third was on the cross.

Here, we will speak of Gethsemane, and the terrible mental and physical battle which was brought against Jesus, by the forces of darkness.

Jesus knew He would have to face the cross alone. 

John 16:32 “Behold,  the hour cometh,  Yea, is now come,  that ye shall be scattered,  every man to his own,  and shall leave Me alone:  and yet I am not alone,  because the Father is with Me.”

But at Gethsemane, He wanted His closest disciples to be near to Him as He wrestled against the devil’s suggestions.  

But they slept for sorrow. 

He had told them He would be leaving them,  and so they were sad, and sleepy. (John 16:5-6, 17, 28)

How many times have we failed to “watch with Him”.

At Gethsemane, a garden which Jesus often visited for times of prayer,…..Jesus left eight of His disciples at a small distance,….and took the three closest disciples:  Peter, James, and John further.  

Then He went a little farther on to pray.

He asked them to wait with Him in prayer.    He wanted them to pray for the trials that would be coming up.

For their own faith to be strengthened,  and for their courage in the face of His leaving them.

Matthew 26:38 “Then saith He unto them,  My soul is exceeding sorrowful,  even unto death:  tarry ye here,  and watch with Me.”

(They had been told many times that He was going to Jerusalem, and that the chief priests and elders would kill him….and He would be raised the third day. 

But they had not really understood what He said. )

Jesus left them, and went and fell down to pray;  His greatest comfort was the Father and Holy Spirit with Him.

But now the time for the Lamb of God to be slain for the sins of the world was very near.

Everything from the Last Supper, where Judas went out to betray Him,  till He died on the cross,….was one continuous battle.  

Judas’ betrayal……the chief priests and ruling religious body,   the Roman soldiers beatings,…..

…..the rejection of the very people who had hailed Him:  “Hosanna to the Son of David:  Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:  Hosanna to the highest.” (Matthew 21:9) a few days earlier.

And the cross.  

The agony of the nails,  the thirst,  the mocking crowds,….

…….and mostly: our sin being put upon His holy person,  and the separation of the Father from Him for a time, because of this.

Sufferings He went through alone.

But here in Gethsemane the devil’s attacks….mentally and emotionally were so severe: “even unto death”,  Jesus said.

      Here we are shown that Jesus understands the mental strain of the battles we fight.   There are the stress of life’s choices…the stress of friends which hurt us…the strain of relationships which disappoint or fail….the stress of the Adversary’s whispers.

We are not permitted to hear what the devil says to Jesus,  but the thoughts of being deserted forever:

    “God will not bring You out of the death of sin.   

Sin brings death,  and if you go to the cross and become the sin bearer, You will forfeit God’s promise of life.   

It will weigh You down and You will never come out of death.”

Also…..the thought that all these sufferings He would have to go through as man.

The devil berated Him with the thought that:

…. He would not be able to go through these sufferings without breaking down.       

Then He would fail….and He would not bring salvation to the world.

The devil’s attacks were so great against the Lord, that “being in an agony he prayed more earnestly:  and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44)

      (How we need to follow His example…and when in agony….to pray more earnestly to our Heavenly Father.)

The first prayer:

Matthew 26:39 “And He went a little further, and fell on His face,  and prayed,  saying,   O My Father, if it be possible,  let this cup pass from Me:  nevertheless, not as I will,  but as Thou wilt.”

Mark 14:36 “ And He said,  Abba, Father,  all things are possible unto Thee;  take away this cup from Me:  nevertheless,  not what I will,  but what Thou wilt.”

Jesus came on the basis of relationship:  “O my Father” and asked that if it were possible, according to His Will,  that “this cup”, or……salvation through the cross,….might be changed to another way.

Jesus asked because “all things are possible unto Thee”.  God could come up with another way of Salvation.

              But Jesus would not have God’s Will changed. 

He knew the Value of The Father’s Will,  and yielded to it….and He has left us an example in everything in our walk to fulfill God’s Will for us.

His Father sent an angel unto him, “strengthening him.”(Luke 22:43)

The second and third prayers:

Matthew 26:42 “And went away again the second time,  and prayed,  saying,   O my Father,  if this cup may not pass away from me,  except I drink it,  Thy will be done.”

“Thy will be done.”   

Three times Jesus prayed.  Once, for conformation of God’s Promises:  to find out if it were possible to change the way of salvation—the cross.

When He received His answer,  God’s Will was yielded to.

The other two were prayers that the Father’s Will might be honored in His sacrifice, and resurrection.

You see, by the end of the battle at Gethsemane,  Jesus was at peace in His Father’s love, 

in His Father’s strength to help Him go through everything, 

and in His Father’s Promises, to raise Him up and save His people from their sins by this.

Even though He would be alone;  He trusted in God, and His trust was honored.

He would drink the cup to the last drop….and empty it out….

….and give a full satisfaction to His Father for our sins.   We may be saved to the uttermost!

(It is an interesting term…”cup”.   It means “what is deserved or allotted by God”.

     Psalm 16:5 “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup…”

     Psalm 11:6 “Upon the wicked He shall rain snares,….this shall be the portion of their cup.”

      Psalm 75:8 “For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup,…and He poureth out of the same:…”

It was our cup He drained….what we deserved….He took upon Himself.)

       

He went through everything,….

……He died on the cross for us, and was raised again the third day, in Victory over every enemy!   

Jesus Christ drank every drop of the cup allotted Him by His Father for the atonement for us.

Hallelujah,  what a Savior!

His Salvation is a complete Salvation.   

Do you have Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

The Fountain of Life Springing up within You

Psalm 36:9 “For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.”

John 7:37-38 “In the last day,  that great day of the feast,  Jesus stood and cried,  saying,  If any man thirst,  let him come unto Me and drink.

                 He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said,  out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

In this feast, the celebration of God’s Salvation is told under the type of  water.

The priests and Levites would gather certain vessels, and in procession, take them out  the water gate,   to the wells outside the city.

They would be filled and carried back to the sanctuary;  where they would be poured on the floor between the Brazen Altar, where the sacrifices were given; and the Holy Place where only the priests could enter.

In the temple there were steps behind the Altar, which lead to the Holy Place.

As they poured the water onto the floor they would be quoting:

Isaiah 12:2-6 “Behold, God is my salvation;  I will trust,  and not be afraid:  for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song;  He also is become my salvation. 

          Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the well of salvation.

          And in that day shall ye say,  Praise the Lord,  call upon His name,  declare His doings among the people,  make mention that His name is exalted.

          Sing unto the Lord;  for He hath done excellent things:  this is known in all the earth.

           Cry out and shout,  thou inhabitant of Zion:  for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

On the last day,  the great day of the feast,……they would pour no water;  but gather there in the sanctuary, and quote this passage:  

looking up to God to supply the Salvation in the Holy One for them.

This time,  on this last day…the great day……Jesus  stepped out of the crowd…to the stairs behind them and in fulfillment of prophesy,….

He cried:

“If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink.   He that believeth on Me,  as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

Here was exactly what they were quoting about.   Here was the Messiah, the Savior.

What would they do with Him?   

John 7:40-43 “Many of the people therefore,  when they heard this saying,  said,  Of a truth this is the Prophet.

       Others said,  This is the Christ.  Some said,  Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

Hath not the scriptures said,  that Christ cometh of the seed of David,  and out of the town of Bethlehem,  where David was?

      So there was a division among the people because of him.”

They talked about Him,  but none made the decision that He had offered.

He gave them Light to see that He was indeed the Savior, who had been promised.

He spoke plainly to them and gave them the offer of Life;  real, flowing, powerful life;  like the water.

This He would supply by His Holy Spirit,  within His believers. 

John 7:39 “But this spake He of the Spirit,  which they that believe on Him should receive:  for the Holy Ghost was not yet given;  because that Jesus was not yet glorified.”

They saw light,  and knew the power of His Word, and life;  but refused to yield to that truth.

John 7:45-46 “Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees: and they said unto them,  Why have ye not brought him?

         The officers answered,  Never man spake like this man.”

God’s Light has been shown to you;   He is indeed the Savior, Christ Jesus.  

What will you do with the Life He has offered you?

Are you continuing to receive all of His life within you?

Will you come to Him,  and receive it;…..receive Him?

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”

A gift of Memorial 

Matthew 26:6-7 “Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 

         There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.”

Mark 14:3 “And being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious:  and she brake the box, and poured it on His head.”

In two days was the feast of the passover.  

Jesus was in a friend’s house with His disciples, when a woman (she is named as Mary, Lazarus’ sister in John 12:3) came and poured very costly ointment upon Jesus’ head.

There were several reactions to this. 

(When anything happened concerning Jesus, there were always several reactions, depending on whether you were a believer or not…..and it is the same today.)

For Judas, the betrayer, the reaction was greed.  Don’t pour the ointment on Jesus head; but sell it.  The poor was the pretense, but the bag was the reality for him.

John 12:4-6 “Then saith one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot,  Simon’s son, which should betray him, 

         Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

         This he said, not that he cared for the poor;  but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”

In Mark the reaction was from “some”:

Mark 14:4-5 “And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said,  Why was this waste of the ointment made?

          For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor.  And they murmured against her.”

Indignation?  For an offering of love to Jesus?

Jesus was worth so much more.

Judas had planted a thought that they took hold of.   Shame on the “some”.

In Matthew, all the disciples, are indignant!  

Such is the power of suggestion!

Matthew 26:8-9 “But when His disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

           For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.”

Indignant means anger over something unjust or mean.

And they were “indignant” over giving to Jesus?

Yes, the poor are to be seen to;  but no comparison to Jesus.

Also, Jesus, Himself would have corrected the woman if it had been “unjust”.

How much we are influenced by the world’s attitudes,….or the attitudes of others…only the Holy Spirit can show us.   

They had been with Jesus for a while, almost three years, yet they were persuaded that this act of devotion and worship,….was “waste”.

It is plain that the idea came from Judas, voicing his anger at this woman giving Jesus this expensive gift;  but the disciples should have realized their mistake.

Yet, let us hear what Jesus said about it:

Mark 14:6-9 “And Jesus said,  Let her alone;  why trouble ye her?  She hath wrought a good work on Me.

           For ye have the poor with you always,  and whensoever ye will  ye may do them good:  but Me ye have not always.

         She hath done what she could:  she is come  aforehand  to anoint My body to the burying.

          Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.”

This was some honor, for a woman harassed by these men….

…..wherever the Gospel shall be preached,  she will be recognized for this act of devotion.

Jesus said plainly;  “She hath done what she could.”    

It is something that I would like to hear from the Lord Jesus one day.

She hath done what she could.  

This was very expensive ointment,…..and she poured it all out on Jesus.

Our attitude toward what we, and others do for the Lord Jesus, needs to be like this:

That we will do what we can for Him….all out for Jesus.

How many can say that?   I know I have failed many times, and been as the disciples here.   Going along with the attitude of the world, where Jesus is concerned.

Maybe she did not even understand what He said.

But what a joy on Resurrection Day, when she realized that she was the only one who was able to anoint Him for burying!

Love knows no boundaries, except those set by the Lord.

Love excepts all.    

How grateful we should be that the Lord excepts us, and our “ointment” of worship.

Are we  as this woman?

“She hath done what she could….she hath poured out all.”

GOD

The Bible is God’s revelation to us, and it states very plainly…
“In the beginning God…”

And all our beginnings must be traced back to God.
Our beginning of life….when we were born…to whom….and how….and from then on.
Our beginning of our new life…or when we were born again….and the influence of the Holy Spirit within.

Certainly we believe God is over all….in power and majesty. Isaiah 40:21-22, 25-26, 28-29 “Have ye not known? Have ye not heard? Hath it not been told you from the beginning? Have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: To whom then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal? Saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold Who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth. Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.”

Have we not known? Certainly, as His servants, we should become aware of how powerful and mighty He is, for us.

But every man has a knowledge of God….”…the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9)
As Romans 1:19-20 says:
“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of Him front he creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

“The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth HIs handiwork…” (Psalm 19)

All mankind is without excuse to know of God’s existence and to seek Him.
(Man is incurably religious. He will worship and exalt something….GOD, the devil, or self.
For he was made to worship and glorify GOD….and if he won’t….then he will turn his attention to himself, and the wiles of the devil will certainly offer many things to “replace” God in his life.)

But for the Christian,…the one who is born again of God….we are to serve and glorify the Lord.

Our souls are the repository of every experience we’ve ever had. All that has been pasted on to us from our ancestors….
….all that we have become through the experiences we have passed through.

This is basically who we are…..till we become born again. Then we become, becoming “new”….under the banner of the Lord of glory. (2 Cor.5:18-21)

When I say “new”….I mean we are changed into the character of the Lord Jesus. (It is not just becoming kind and charitable ….no, it is a deep dive into our self character, and “denying ourself”.)
And this is where our “cross” comes into play:

Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

If I, as His new creature, would be restored to a right and real relationship with the Creator and Lord….I must deny myself, take up my cross (those things which cut across my will)…and bear it to the place I no longer resist His Will in anything.
It is final obedience….no matter what, I will obey.

Matthew 16:25 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life
for my sake shall find it.”

We save our life, when we will not let the Holy Spirit and His Word guide us, or correct us, but like children, pull away.
We lose our life, when we….deliberately, willfully choose to obey Him and His Word….subjecting ourselves to all that comes by it….

(And here is the important part of losing our life, to find our Christ life!)…..

….For His Sake.
Not for the sake of the experience….not for the sake of the outcome….but for Christ’s sake.

We do all this for Jesus sake,….not to make us something, or for a little glory for ourselves…but for His sake…
…as Paul states so plainly:
“…so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.”(Phil. 1:20)
“…I die daily..” (1 Cor. 15:31)
“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” (2 Cor. 4:10)

When we have made “His sake” our life….then we are truly living for Christ.
Our life opens up to the wideness and depth of His love….for we have been conquered by it.

GOD is Alpha and Omega…the beginning and the ending! (Revelation 1:8)
And Praise Him that He is!

He saw us in eternity past and made full provision for us….saving us and dealing with us…and through us!
He will continue throughout eternity, in endless power,….leading us….and giving us Purpose in His everlasting love. Forever with Him!

The Potter, and the Clay

Jeremiah 18:5-6 “Then the word of the Lord came to me saying,  

O house of Israel, can not I do with you as this potter?  saith the Lord,  Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”

Paul says the same thing in:

Romans 9:20-21 “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?  Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it,  Why hast thou made me thus?

                 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?”

This is not our bodies;  yes, they are all different,  but God is speaking of molding our souls.   God has used every experience of our lives to shape our souls.

Our souls are that which makes us unique.  They are a gift from God that no other creature has.

Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;  and man became a living soul.”

The soul is the apartment of self-consciousness.   It is where our personality is.  There, our individual character is formed, and rules our thought life,  our emotions,  our will,  our conscience, and our social interactions.

When we are born again, we are given the blessed privilege of having  the Holy Spirit come and dwell with us, for Christ said He would not leave us comfortless, He would come unto us.

John 14:16-18 “I will pray the Father,  and he shall give you another Comforter,  that he may abide with you forever;

                Even the Spirit of truth;  whom the world cannot receive,  because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:  but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

                I will not leave you comfortless:  I will come to you.”

As Christians, Paul is saying that as God’s “clay”,  we need to accept what we are,  

how we are,  

and even, where we are,  

and then be reconciled to Him,  in them.

How much of our discontent lies in this.

God wants to make us a vessel unto honor, and has given us His Spirit to enable and mold us:

2 Timothy 2:20-21 “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth,  and some to honor,  and some to dishonor.

               If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor,  sanctified,  and meet for the master’s use,  and prepared unto every good work.”

To move forward with God, you must be in your place before Him.   To know that He is there with us, because He loves us.

So many people say,  “God knows best”;……yet doubt every time trouble comes.   

They are anxious,  burdened,  and worried. 

(Haven’t we all experienced this doubt?)

But we are called to “possess our souls”….our souls are our mind, heart, and will….which make up our personality. 

Luke 21:19  “In your patience, possess ye your souls.”

We are to gain, by subjection to the Holy Spirit, real power over our affections:

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.”   

Proverbs 23:26 “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”

Our thoughts: 

1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,  be sober,  and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you  at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

And wills:

John 7:17 “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whither it be of God, or whither I speak of myself.”

There is always trouble here, in this world;  but as you submit to the Holy Spirit, the influence of the trouble is less, and less.   

His power to help, strengthen, and encourage is more and more.

He is the Potter,  we are the clay.

Submitting to Him we have liberty, and begin to have the fruit of the Spirit working in us and through us.

Galatians 5:22-23  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love,  joy,  peace,  longsuffering,  gentleness,  goodness,  faith.

Meekness,  temperance:  against such there is no law.”

Let us yield;  or give in;  or submit;  or surrender;  all terms which mean that for us,…we choose Christ…..and Christ will choose for my life.