Saturday, April 23, 2011
He For You
He Was Forsaken That You Might Never Be Forsaken
Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Isaiah 25:8 and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.
HIS Way Was Closed That Your Way Might Be Opened
Matthew 26:42Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
Matthew 27:50And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
He Was Condemned For Sin That You Might Never Be Condemned For Sin
and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.
He Died That You Might Conquer Death
And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
Isaiah 25:7 And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. 8He will swallow up death forever;
He Died As A Man That You Might Recognize Him As The Son Of God
54When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
Respond To His Love
Isaiah 25:9It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
THE BATTLE IS OVER JOHN 19:31
In 1941, Japanese soldier Hiroo Onoda was sent to a small US-occupied island in the Philippines with orders to do all he could to hamper enemy attacks on the island. He linked up with a group of soldiers already stationed there, but within a month, all but four of the men had been killed in battle. Hiroo and the others took the hills.
In 1945 they began seeing pamphlets stating the war had ended, but Onoda dismissed them as propaganda. In the following few years, the others surrendered or died one by one, but Onoda held his position, even continued his guerilla activities ... until 1974.
Onoda finally met a college dropout named Suzuki backpacking in the island who explained to him the war had ended. Still, the dedicated soldier was reluctant to believe. Finally, his former commanding officer, long since retired, flew to the island and gave Onoda his orders to lay down his arms.
Many of us, just like Lt. Onoda, are fighting a war that has long since been won.
Before Jesus breathed his final breath, he cried out "It is finished." Maybe some within the sound of his voice thought he was talking about his own life, or maybe they thought he was talking about the future of his following ... but the truth is that he was talking about the power of sin and death.
Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:31) And at that moment death was swallowed in victory; the cost of our freedom was paid in full.
Like the pamphlets that arrived on that tiny Philippine island, we have heard about our liberation, but we refuse to believe it. It's too good to be true. We stubbornly stay in the fight, and we lose battle after battle -- the same battles he has already won.
It is finished, he said. Sin. Death. Guilt. Regret. Sin. Despair. Isolation. And did I mention sin? These are all swallowed up in the victory of the cross and his powerful resurrection.
His work is finished, he has rested. And he is inviting us now to rest in him. --
