Good Friday

 

"But 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 53:5

 

Looking up at Jesus and seeing Him hanging on the cross for us, bearing our burdens, shame and chains, there is the crushing weight of sin we would have been bound too if not for His life. The cross is not just a symbol or a story, it is the way to life.

If we could all look up at the cross now, see His body suffering for us and feel His love for us it would change he way we live every day. 

"Jesus came to give us life. We don't have to hang on a cross like He did. For Him it was a sacrifice. For us it is a gift." Dillon Burroughs

Because of Jesus we are free from chains. The chains of toxic thought patterns, fears, addictions and diseases no longer bind us forever. It is uncomfortable to be free after so many years of being bound--- so many stay in the false comfort of chains. Trust Jesus to break them off one by one, and true freedom as God intended it is learned. Layers of false teaching and beliefs are peeled off and truth is known and seen.

Jesus death and resurrection are known; but how many times do we really stop to think about the weight of what it means for us? Does this change how we live our daily lives?

He went to the cross with a passion for us, so our chains are torn off with a fervor so great we can no longer stand to live in them one more day. 

"They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,”
    let Israel say; “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
    but they have not gained the victory over me. Plowmen have plowed my back
    and made their furrows long.  But the Lord is righteous;
    he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.”  Psalm 129: 1-4

He went to the cross so that our shame is removed. There is no shame in Christ. The ones who have been shamed, who carry "you are not good enough" inside--- are loved enough that someone laid down His life so that you know no shame.

"Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more." Isaiah 54:4

He went to the cross so we can boldly come to Him and ask for His healing. Jesus heals---we must believe and trust. Healing was a main part of Jesus' ministry. How often it is forgotten. 

"Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--  who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,  who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion..." Psalm 103:2-4

He went to the cross so that we may have joy, life and light. So that that light can radiate from ourselves to others.

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit..." Romans 14:17

He went to the cross so that in our lifetimes we know that we have a source of comfort and peace. Our eternal life is secure, we no longer have to fear a short life on earth. We know that no matter what earthly events occur, Jesus sits on His throne.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

He went to the cross because we are loved and valued by God. So much so that He sent His only son to show us. God wanted to reconcile us to Himself so much that He sent His son as our sacrificial lamb.

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." 1 John 4:9

"A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, must empty ourselves." -Mother Teresa 

May we truly live through Him. And may we look each day up at the cross and say, "today I live in the victory of what you have accomplished for me Lord." Amen.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."  John 5:24

"The abundance Jesus offers is a spiritual abundance that transcends circumstances, like income, health, living conditions and even death. The abundant life is eternal." -Charles Swindoll

"Love Jesus. love Him very much. But to do this, be prepared to love sacrifice more." -Saint Padre Pio