HOPE—Finished on the Cross!
“But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels,
(The Letter to the Hebrews 2: 9 NASB)
namely, Jesus,
because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor,
so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”
Each morning during the course of the past four years, I have been blessed with the opportunity to arise while the sky remains dark. The bleating of the alarm clock is not needed for my body instructs my way. Thank You, God.
Each morning, I am able to come to ‘my place’ that I have chosen to meet God, my blue rocker near the window. While there, God has been faithful to always speak, to always lead, and to always reveal His Truth. Thank You Holy Spirit.
Each morning, as I read God’s Word, I am reminded of the extravagant love of the Father for His created ones, for mankind, in that He sent His Only Begotten Son to earth—JESUS: fully human & fully divine. God sent His Son to finish the mission He was sent to do. Thank You Jesus for dying on the cross for all the people of the world and for me.
Each morning I am thankful for God’s Mercy and Grace, but today, I am especially more thankful on this morning—Good Friday. Thank You Father.
“For it was fitting for Him,
(The Letter to the Hebrews 2: 10-11 & 17-18 NASB)
for whom are all things, and through whom are all things,
in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father;
for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,”
. . .
“Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things,
so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,
to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered,
He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”
Have you ever asked yourself—
If I believe, why do I believe?
If I have confessed my sins and accepted God’s mercy and grace, why do I continually allow the sins of the flesh to consume me?
If I am a redeemed child of the King, why do I oftentimes behave as if I am not?
We who believe have entered God’s perfect rest. Dwell there. Rest within it. Stretch out; feel the comfort of abiding there within His Rest.
Jesus made the only way possible to receive His perfect rest.
JESUS, the SAVIOR & the REDEEMER—
- He willingly walked from the garden and into the hands of the Roman soldiers who came with Judas to arrest Him.
- He willingly received their blows, their torture, their contempt for Him.
- He willingly carried his cross up Golgotha’s hill.
- He willingly stretched out his arms and his feet to receive the spikes that pierced His skin.
- He willingly hung upon the cross for six grueling hours.
- He willingly spoke to the thief hanging there on His right, offering that man salvation as only Jesus can do.
- He willingly endured the cross!
- He willingly paid our sin debt—the debt we individually owe to God—in full.
- He willingly made an atonement—the Ultimate Sacrifice—with His precious blood.
Jesus Did.
Then, when everything He was sent by the Father to do was accomplished, Jesus willingly died for you and for me—
“Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!”
(The Gospel According to John 19: 30 NASB)
And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
HOPE—Finished on the Cross!
If you did not believe before now that God loves you—Believe now!
If you did not believe before today that you could approach God in His Holiness—Believe now!
If you did not believe before this moment that God’s Grace is offered to you—Believe now!
If you did not fully comprehend just how costly God’s Amazing Grace truly is, Grace that He has lavished on lowly sinners such as us—Believe now!
By the death of Jesus on Calvary’s cross—We receive salvation!
By the resurrection of Jesus from the grave, overcoming death with His new life—We Have Hope!
“Therefore, brethren,
(The Letter to the Hebrews 10: 19-25 NASB)
[brothers and sisters in Christ—who have Accepted, who now Believe,
and who have Confessed their sins]
since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
[by the tearing of the temple veil giving us direct access to communicate with the Father]
by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,
and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and
our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for He who promised is faithful;
and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another;
and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”