TITLE: AT THE CROSS Nov.20,2016 By Kenneth Pappas 11/20/16 |
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AT THE CROSS Nov. 20,2016
I have always been fascinated by the old hymns. They seem to so clearly bring across the Gospel message. It certainly was, “At the Cross, where I first found my Lord”. Another favorite of mine is Victory in Jesus. These old hymns always remind me of who I was and who I am.
Reading through the Gospels recently my thoughts became clear of the price that was paid at the cross of Calvary. Thinking back about how desperately I needed release from a sinful life, it was at that cross that release and freedom was found.
Have you ever really considered what happened that day when our savior took upon himself our sins and freed us forever? When thinking of that time I am always flooded with emotion. God the Father had turned His back on His only Son for those few moments when Jesus held within Him the sins of the world. The burden He carried had to be beyond any of our possible thinking. The days before the cross was a time of great humility and suffering. Being mocked and tortured by those same people He was trying to free from everything sinful about their very being. Being separated from his father had to have been the hardest feelings of the whole ordeal. Think about that moment? Once, when having a disagreement with my father, we argued and he just turned his back on me and walked away. My emotions were enormous before I could restore our relationship. The cross was horrendous!
Then, there are the thoughts and feelings of our heavenly Father. How He must have suffered. His love for the creation is that tremendous. God gave us a gift that is so fueled with grace and love it is hard to even comprehend such an act.
What are your thoughts about the cross? Yes, it is where our salvation is found but doesn’t it go far beyond just that?
Think of the time you were humiliated. Jesus, a sinless man became sin for us. Think of the time you hurt so badly, anxiety filled your being. Jesus was tortured to the point of total exhaustion and pain; and that was before he was nailed to that cross.
My opinion is that it is good for us to feel the meaning of how great our God is. As humans, we have no idea of how an infinite, all knowing God thinks and feels but we can feel, sense and be grateful for what He has given us. How many of us would give a child for others?
The cross of Calvary gave life and freedom for all who would believe. The life given was not only eternal life, it was a life that could be filled with joy, peace, comfort and a knowledge that we now have access to the God of creation, the one and only true God.
There was so much accomplished at Calvary it is hard to understand and believe everything that happened. Recognizing that we are only human we can only ask God for some understanding of what He truly gave.
For me, the best of the cross is freedom from sin and death. This freedom has caused a great need to share what God has given all these years. When Jesus said, “You shall be free, indeed”, I think of the peace that He gives, and this peace brings joy.
How can we not be grateful? How can we not worship our God? How can we not respect what has been given? When I look at the cross now I see a God who truly loves me and is willing to give more as I embrace Him more. To be a child of God is the most important thing a person can do. Jesus died and shed His blood at that cross and herein freedom is found.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.