Friday, April 10, 2009

Cruciftion Friday

Friday, April 10, 2009

CurrentlyThe Joy of Believing Prayer: Deepen Your Friendship with GodBy Joyce Meyersee related
Crucifction Friday
Luke 23
The Crucifixion
26As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' 30Then " 'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!" '[d] 31For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."[e] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."
38There was a written notice above him, which read:sc THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[f]"
43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Jesus' Death
44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." 48When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Jesus' Burial
50Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
What a sacrifice Christ made for us. The pain the agony of Crucifiction is beyond words, I doubt most people could describe it today, and who would give up what Christ gave up, who would die in the shear agony of nails built by human hands, pierced to a tree, cut down and rebuilt in the shape of the Cross. It was once a sign of degregation, but when Jesus accepted to take the Sacrifice it became something more.
Jesus faced agony and horror, as he was crucified and then spent three days in Hell! Can you imagine the king of kings in the fiery pit, a perfect man, a perfect Christ, sacrificing three days of horror beyond words, so we may have a chance at forgiveness.
I think in this day and age we to often find ourselves wrapped in the Commericialism, Easter Eggs, Chocolate Bunnies, Dresses, now I do not think anything is wrong with giving those things, but when you give them I think you should also remember to tell them about what Easter is really about. Today was the day Christ was Crucified, but his Crucifction was not the end of the story, but only the begining.
Jesus rose again, as Mary Magdalene rolled the stone away from the tomb, she found the tomb empty, Christ had risen, and it was Mary who he revelaed himself too, our Savior risen!
Can you imagine what must have went through the minds of the disciples, not only that but to all who defied Jesus, what must have they felt?
I wonder how many fell to their knees in repentance?
We are free now because Christ died and rose again, all he asks is that we accept the gift of his blood!
Yet sometimes for some that seems to much to ask.
Hmm I wonder how they figure, I would not want to face the alternative!
Copyright Michelle R Kidwell
April.10.09

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