Cross Words, 9of9

~ Then & Now—“Take Up Your Cross And Follow Me!” ~

Jesus Christ made seven gripping last statements while He was dying for our sins on the Cross of Calvary.  This is the last in this Sunday series looking at the last words of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The series overview:

(1) Introduction: Then & Now—The Cross Is A Badly Misunderstood Historical Event! 

(2) Phrase 1: Words To His Father Expressing Forgiveness & Compassion 

(3) Phrase 2: Words To a Repentant Sinner of Forgiveness  & Assurance 

(4) Phrase 3: Words For His Mother & John of Compassion & Provision 

(5) Phrase 4: More Words To His Father While Suffering Spiritually 

(6) Phrase 5: Words Displaying His Humanity & Suffering Physically 

(7) Phrase 6: Words of Triumph & Completion—The True Purpose Driven Life! 

(8) Phrase 7: More Words To His Father—Submission & Trust 

(9) Recap: Then & Now—“Take Up Your Cross And Follow Me!”

Consider These Passages  ~  Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.  I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;’ and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:34-39).  “Then Peter said, ‘See, we have left all and followed You.’  So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life’” (Luke 18:28-30). 

Comments  ~  In this life the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike (Matthew 5:45).  One very good explanation of our cross is that it is the extra difficulties, burdens, and trials we experience because of our faith in God.  Christianity has changed the world more through suffering—starting with our Savior—than through any other means.  Taking up our cross involves subordinating our desires, pleasures, and dreams to the desires of God.  Christ gave us the example as He subordinated His will to the Father’s will (Luke 22:42).  Only when we die to ourselves can we really live for God.  What the world continues to need most is to see Jesus—the “Light of the world” (John 8:12, 9:5).  Today we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). 

Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own.  Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.  If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.  He who hates Me hates My Father also.  If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.  But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause’” (John 15:18-25). 

Don’t Miss This  ~  (1) Three of the seven phrases by Christ while on the Cross were directed to His Father.  Even under such difficult circumstances His priority was maintaining communication with His Father.  (2) Jesus Christ did not save the world through miracles—but through suffering.  (3) Jesus said, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master” (Matthew 10:24). 

   

the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Cross Words, 8of9

~ More Words To His Father—Submission & Trust ~

Jesus Christ made seven gripping last statements while He was dying for our sins on the Cross of Calvary.  This is part of a Sunday series looking at the last words of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Passage (phrase 7)  ~  “Now it was about the sixth hour [noon], and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour [3:00 p.m.].  Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.  And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit’.”  Having said this, He breathed His last.  So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, ‘Certainly this was a righteous Man!’” (Luke 23:44-47). 

Comments  ~  The New Testament writers agree that Jesus Christ committed his spirit into God the Father’s hand (none say simple that “He died” like they do regarding others).  We know from Scripture that from beginning to end Jesus Christ’s main concern was doing the will of the Father. 

Don’t Miss This  ~  (1) Jesus Christ knew that his time on earth was controlled by Himself and His Father.  The Messiah’s death was an act of His choice (John 10:17-18).  (2) The believer’s time on earth is also under control of the sovereign God.  Would you wish it any other way?  (3) Jesus died the same way He lived His life—as on offering placed in the Father’s hands.  (4) The believer’s life and death should be modeled after Christ.  (5) Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross was not the end but a change point in His relationship with God His Father.  He was immediately transported back from earth to be with His Father in heaven.  (6) The believer’s death is likewise not an end but a change point in the eternal life which they received at their point of salvation.  (7) Someone has put it this way, “Death for the believer is not the end of the road but rather a bend in the road.”  (8) At physical death all human beings are delivered to God either for safekeeping and endless joy or for judgment and never-ending punishment. 

the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

Cross Words, 7of9

~ Words of Triumph & Completion—The True Purpose Driven Life! ~

Jesus Christ made seven gripping last statements while He was dying for our sins on the Cross of Calvary.  This is part of a Sunday series looking at the last words of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Passage (phrase 6)  ~  “Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.  So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’  And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:29-30). 

Comments  ~  The moment we are born we have begun the dying process.  Someone put it this way, “You and I were born with an expiration date.”  Will we finish what God wants us to do?  Jesus Christ, the Savior, completed His work on earth.  When He said “It is finished!” He made the most triumphant cry in all of history.  He died knowing that He had accomplished all that He intended to do.  He had completed God’s will for His life.  Remember that God the Father and the Son acted together on your behalf.  Jesus said, “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This command I have received from My Father” (John 10:17-18). 

Don’t Miss This  ~  (1) Jesus Christ finished His work with suffering and trauma.  (2) Jesus Christ came to serve and to suffer.  He came to live a perfect life so that He might present Himself as the “lamb [of God] without spot or blemish.”  (3) He suffered the emotional pains of rejection and mocking by those He came to save!  He suffered the physical pains of the cruelties of an unjust execution.  He suffered the spiritual pain of separation from the fellowship of God His Father.  (4) Because of Christ’s suffering your sin is conditionally paid in full.  (5) Payment for your sin is on deposit but can only be withdrawn by deliberately accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.  (6) You will still have sin within you—but the penalty for all your sin will be “Paid in Full.”  God, the Father and Judge of all will see you as clothed in the righteousness of His Son.  You will have a clear record on the books in heaven.  (7) Your forgiveness for all your sin (past, present, future) is forever—otherwise God would not call it “eternal” life.  (8) You will never be worthy of forgiveness but you must be willing to accept His payment on your behalf. 

the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).