Text: Isaiah 53:4-11, John 19:16b-37, John 3:16
Good morning, precious sisters. I wish I could greet each one of you with a quiet hug on this day of mourning. It is perhaps the most bittersweet day of the year, but somehow, in the darkness, the sweetness is harder to find.
Have you read through today’s passages yet? If you haven’t, I’d love if you’d do that first. Today we’ll sit quietly in John’s account of Christ’s crucifixion – chapter nineteen. Read the other gospel accounts too, if you like (Matthew 27:32-56, Mark 15:21-41, Luke 23:26-49). Allow your heart to enter into the text and ask the Holy Spirit to quiet distractions as you enter into this holy narrative.
. . .
Do you feel the weight of what you just read? It’s hard to read without deep sighs and even tears, isn’t it? The reality of a real man – my God – enduring what He did. It makes me so painfully uncomfortable and yet, picturing it all, I’ve never felt so deeply loved.
I appreciate that John is careful to write historically, but that so much of what he writes has profound underlying spiritual meaning. The way he references fulfilled Old Testament prophecies is good and practical, but there is so much more to it than that. With each prophetic reference, John shows us God’s hand at work across the ages.
In a sham of a trial with an unjust verdict, He shows us that this is how God intended for His only Son to be sentenced. What they meant for evil, God meant for good. John shows us God – working out His purposes in this poor, fallen world. In a situation where God seems to be completely absent, He has been present for ages.
And when Christ breathes His final words before His death, “It is finished,” He not only indicates that the worst ordeal – bearing the wrath of God against sin in the place of His people (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) – is literally over, He has also completed the work of salvation for His people.
It is finished. Complete.
And hear this today, Sisters – really hear it: Because it is finished, there is nothing that any one of us can contribute to His work on the cross to bring us any closer to salvation.
He did it all.
“He was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.”
(Isaiah 53:4-5, ESV)
This was a beautiful expression of how deep the Father's love is! As I was reading the story of Jesus's death last night tears started streaming down my face when I was hit with the weight of His love. He didn't have to come here and be our sacrifice, but he was willing to lay down his own life and even be separated from his Father because he knew we needed a Redeemer. Praise God, what a Saviour we have!
Humbly I come to Calvary
Where Christ died in my place
A girl whose heart was broken
And overwhelmed by grace.
You guys should check out this song called It Is Finished by Sarah Hart Pearsons within the next few days. It’s a great up beat song on His Resurrection. She has a lot of other great songs too!
"All we, like sheep, have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
rand the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities."
— Isaiah 53: 6,11
The Lord laid all of our, all of my, iniquities on Jesus, and He bore them in my place. He chose to. He bore them ALL. Past, present, and future. He bears them.
Today is the 2nd anniversary of learning about my friend's suicide (He died yesterday night, 2 years ago, and was found the next morning, when I was told). I look back… He was a Jehovah's Witness, with no hope, no love, no honesty, only being pushed into religion that He did not believe in to keep smiles on everyone's face in the church and family… He hated his family life… I can still feel his hug, hear his voice. But it's surprising to me, how healed I am of it today. There is no ache, like there was for months afterwards. I didn't realize it was the anniversary until I looked on my wall to see his letter to me. I've cried bitterly over the times I spent foolishly with him instead of wanting to truly know him and tell Him about the real love of God in the form of Christ. But today, I remembered my precious Jesus' death– such a stark contrast between the two deaths– and how, though my friend's death only brought grief, death, and pure pain with no hint at joy, Jesus' death brought eternal LIFE, and was THE ONLY death to ever bring such Salvation to others.
DEATH HAS LOST IT'S STING. SIN HAS LOST IT'S POWER. I can imagine the disciples and women grieving over Jesus… they didn't know He'd rise yet, they had no idea in those moments, and there was nothing but loss… but HE CAME BACK! Lord, I pray that all affected by death of any sort in this life would come to know that it doesn't have to sting when you are their savior. That with your mighty arm and never-failing love, You've transformed what once was grief, hopelessness, and dead law into abundant, intimate, beautiful LIFE in You. You alone do this; I can't add to it or take away from it. You alone bring salvation. You alone are the LIFE. Praise you, Jesus. Forever and ever and ever. You are HOLY and so WORTHY to be praised.
Grieving with you AnnaLee! (yet our "joy comes in the mourning/morning") . It's a bittersweet memory, I know. I discovered a dear friend of mine for 13 yrs. who took his own life also in 2009. It's a real hard place to be. I lingered in the shock and emptiness for over a year. So sorry for your loss and the loss to his family and his self. Death without hope, etc. is so devastating! My heart ached as I read this. But you turned that around through the healing you found and praise God for the contrast you shared between the two deaths. Indeed, it is a stark one.
When we look at our grief in the loss of loved ones, it's makes an incredible difference when and if we have the assurance of their salvation in Jesus Christ rather than the pain. So thankful for Jesus' power over death and His glorious resurrection!
Blessings and praise God that you know the victory and now realize that you (we) must share with everyone before it is too late. May the Holy Comforter take you as your own praise has … beyond the sting of death to the One who holds the keys and is ever so worthy to be praised! Again. I'm so sorry … wrapping you in the arms of Jesus today with my prayers, Peggy
Thank you, dear friend! I know I write a novel every time I comment, so thank you for reaching out like this and reading all of it! Praise Jesus. He is good. Be blessed.
maybe the best #shereadstruth post to date. freedom. freedom. freedom. amen.
"IT IS FINISHED!" … FINISHED … COMPLETED!
So very humbly grateful for Jesus Christ … so full of love, sacrifical love, unconditional love, love so complete …
(and His 7 last statements) to us starting here where I shared in April 2012 (1- 6) on one of my blogs: http://mazmagi.blogspot.mx/2012/04/7-last-words-o…
1) Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34
2) Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:45
3) When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:26-27
4) From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi,lama sabachthani?" — which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:45-46
5) Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." John 19:28
…ending with the one from our devotion today: http://mazmagi.blogspot.mx/2012/04/7-last-words-o…
*6) When He had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
John 19:30
7) Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit." When He had said this, He breathed His last.
Luke 23:46
Some videos that you might want to see or hear to remind you of this day and SONday:
"It's FRIDAY but SONday's coming" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YByT6wfdhJs
"DO YOU KNOW MY KING?" by Dr. S. M. Lockridge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzqTFNfeDnE
Thank you SRT and commUnity for sharing JESUS so completely! This has been a beautiful 40 days! Have a blessed and JOYful Resurrection weekend!
In Christ,
Peggy
I love the one by Dr. S. M. Lockridge "Do You Know My King?" Very powerful!
For some reason, this time around, I really noticed the portion in Jn. 19:28-30 where Jesus asks for something to drink. Though it is a small detail compared to all the pain He was in at the time, it struck me.
According to John, He said "I am thirsty" in order to fulfill the scripture. This means He may not have actually been thirsty, but He chose to drink sour wine from a sponge, regardless of need or desire, because He knew that was part of the Father's plan – what perfect obedience!
He chose to go through all manner of horrors, small and large, and did not try to shirk even one small action, so that all of the scriptures might be fulfilled for our sake – what love for us!
After today's reading and mediating on what Good Friday really is, I feel the need to spend all day in God's word. Such a love He has for us. John 3:16 really just lays it all out there, God gave up his son because HE LOVES US. Have a nice day ladies.
…"Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!"
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Philip P. Bliss, pub.1875
Love this!!