In Jesus, the Best is YET to Come!
Today is Wednesday, three days AFTER Resurrection Sunday, and as such, the secular work we do returns to take precedence in our minds. Easter has passed, and we begin a new week of work. It makes us question: Have we become anew AFTER our Easter Sunday celebration OR Have we heard the narrative of the cross so many times that we have become immune to its impact?
These spiritual thoughts lead us to question:
- How can our keep ourselves from becoming jaded about the narrative of the cross? &
- How may we make fresh the newness of the cross day-after-day, during the 364 remaining days of the calendar year?
With the proclamation of the prophets, we read in the Bible that Christ came to obediently drink of this ‘cup’ and to taste death for each one of us. We also read how without the shedding of the blood of Jesus, the perfect sacrifice—there is no remission of sins. Only through Calvary’s cross:
- His blood shed.
- His death.
- His burial. &
- His resurrection from the dead.
has the hold of sin been released. Thus, the iniquity that held us captive and destined us for utter separation from God’s presence was paid individually for us through Jesus’ perfect life!
The Son of God gave His life as the perfect sin sacrifice for mankind!
“Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said,
(The Gospel According to John 19: 30 NAS)
“It is finished!”
And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
May we meditate on “the finished” work of the cross.
May we consider the secure existence Christ offered us in His perfection.
- It is Jesus who wipes clear our sins.
- It is Jesus who gives us perfect peace.
- It is Jesus who sanctifies us through His Holy Spirit.
- It is Jesus who will come again—His Second Advent.
- It is Jesus who reigns on high.
- It is Jesus who provides His eternal kingdom to all who believe in Him.
In the Old Testament prophecy, the prophet Daniel wrote the historical record (a roadmap) of God’s destiny for Israel as His chosen people. We see this unfold through the historical writings of the New Testament.
God’s prophet Daniel wrote:
“Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city,
(The Book of Daniel 9: 24 NAS)
to finish the transgression,
to make an end of sin,
to make atonement for iniquity,
to bring in everlasting righteousness,
to seal up vision and prophecy and
to anoint the most holy place.”
Daniel’s prophecy was fulfilled in Christ Jesus through the cross!
- Jesus not only died to save us, but He also rose again to give us new life.
- Jesus not only died to save us, but He also rose again to live His new life through us.
We see the Old Testament prophecy unfold through the historical writings of the New Testament.
- To the Jews who are blind, the cross is a stumbling block.
- To the Gentiles who are unsaved and dead in their sin, the cross is utter foolishness.
But to those—
- Who are saved by God’s Amazing Grace through faith,
- Who are being saved daily,
- Who are being sanctified by God’s Holy Spirit,
The message of the cross is the supernatural power of God!
May you & I be used by God to teach the truth of Jesus to those who are in our path.
In Jesus, the Best is YET to Come!
God’s missionary to the Jews and Gentiles, the apostle Paul, wrote the words God would have us do, even today, on this third day AFTER Easter Sunday.
May we tell the world about our Savior Jesus Christ.
“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel,
(The 1st Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 1: 17-18 NAS)
not in cleverness of speech,
so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”