Did Jesus Die?

Ah yes! Easter/Resurrection Sunday 2017. The “Super Bowl” of Sunday church services. This is the day that pastors look forward to the most, I suppose. The pews are more full than usual with visitors, both unsaved first timers and folks who satisfy the wrath of God by attending church on this one day out of the year. Preachers are sweating the message as this one needs to count. This message needs to hit them in their heart. The Holy Spirit needs to convict them so that they choose salvation this day and follow Christ. Messages of second chances and redemption roll from pulpits across the globe. But… I am not a preacher, nor am I pastor, so I am going to break the rules and speak on something completely off the wall. This week for my special Resurrection Sunday message I am going to address two questions that are raised by the skeptics: Did Jesus actually rise from the dead and walk out of the tomb, and if so, then did He actually die to begin with?

Did Jesus Rise From The Dead?

To many of our atheist friends the notion that Jesus had risen from the dead three days later is as absurd as Jesus being born of a virgin. However, many times during His earthly ministry Jesus had predicted His death and resurrection. Even the story of the bronze serpent on a pole in Numbers 21 is a type of Jesus’ crucifixion. But the question that remains is whether Jesus walked out of His own grave. Jesus said “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10:17-18). Jesus did just that as He gave up his Spirit when He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Scripture says “But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” (Matthew 28:5-6). Later “...as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.” (v.9). Now any skeptic would say that these women were delusional and hallucinating. This leads us to the next event: “Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, ‘Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.’  So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” (Vv. 11-15). These guards were the same ones that fell out when the angel appeared to them (Vv. 3-4). There are many theories that the skeptics rely on to disprove Jesus’ resurrection. But one does not need to stray far from this story from the guards and the priests to see the evidence. Their unraveling reveals the resurrection.

Traditionally, if a Roman soldier fell asleep and allowed the prisoner to escape, then he would be put to death. “But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death.” (Acts 12:19), this occurring after an angel freed Peter from prison. Also, “And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.” (Acts 16:27). Could it be that the guard, thinking that he allowed the prisoners to go free because he was sleeping, thought it would be best to take his own life than to be put to death for his shameful failure? It appears that you would certainly be put to death if you were a Roman soldier who failed to keep guard. But we do not see that with the case of the “disciples stealing Jesus’ body while the guards slept”. Why? First, if we read the context, we see that this story is in response to his resurrection, not of the disciples actually stealing the body. Second, the guards were not asleep, but became “as dead men” when they witnessed the angel rolling back the stone (Matt. 28:4). So, biblically speaking, the guards were the only eyewitness to the resurrection. Third, we can assume that the guards and leaders acknowledged that Jesus did indeed rise because they were expecting it, which is why they sent guards to keep watch and why they fabricated this story instead of assuming that the guards actually fell asleep and were lying about the resurrection. They knew that what the guards were telling them was the truth. Some of the refutations to the Jewish leader’s story are: “1) If the guards were sleeping, how did they know that the disciples stole the body? 2) There is no way that the disciples could possibly have overcome the guard. 3) It is preposterous to believe that the disciples died for a lie that they created.”^[1] That last point is the most important. Who on earth would choose to be tortured and killed for a fabricated story? The apostles preached Jesus crucified and resurrected and not a single one of them cracked under pressure and confessed that they had taken Jesus away and buried Him elsewhere. Also in the Scriptures, we see Jesus appear to His disciples in a physical form and not one of an apparition. He was able to have Thomas stick his hand into His side (I wonder what that felt like. Awkward?), and even eat fish- two simple things that only a physical form of a person can accomplish. So that leads us to the next question…

Did Jesus Die?

As a skeptic, it makes sense: If someone can prove to you that Jesus walked out of the tomb, and you are convinced, then He must’ve not died to begin with. There are many theories that abound with this one. One of them is that Jesus simply passed out from exhaustion and was revived by the burial spices. However, something happened after Jesus died that would crush all of the skeptic’s arguments. “Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.  But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.” (John 19:32-34). The water and blood here is significant. “This gathering of fluid in the membrane around the heart is called pericardial effusion, and the fluid gathering around the lungs is called pleural effusion. This explains why, after Jesus died and a Roman soldier thrust a spear through Jesus’ side (probably His right side, piercing both the lungs and the heart), blood and water came from His side just as John recorded in his Gospel.”^[2] According to Scriptures Jesus had suffered this flooding in his heart and lungs. So, even if the scourging, beating, crucifixion, and piercing did not kill him, this alone would have if it had not already signified his death. Who on earth could survive such fluid building up and suffocating such vital organs? Who on earth could survive having a spear go through their heart and their lungs and then three days later move around as though it was a flesh wound? The piercing and flow just solidified the fact that he was dead.

As Christians, we know that Jesus died as it was necessary for Him to be our final sacrificial lamb. If He had not died then our sins would not be atoned for and we would still be dead in them. If He had not risen then there would be no hope for you and me to be renewed in redemption, justification, and sanctification. Jesus would have been just another martyr who died for a cause. To the skeptics that is exactly who He is- a good man who died for what He believed in. However, as those who are redeemed, we know what they don’t…

He is risen and He lives!

In Christ Alone!

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[1] House and Holden. Charts of Apologetics and Christian Evidences. Grand Rapids,MI.: Zondervan, 2006..

[2] Michael S. Houdmann. "Why did blood and water come out of Jesus' side when He was pierced?” http://www.gotquestions.org/blood-water-Jesus.html.

 

Should Christians Lend Themselves To Lent?

As the season of Lent 2017 winds down I thought that I would lend a thought to Lent. If that is past tense would I have lent a thought to Lent? Anyway, as I have been driving various routes this past month I have seen many church signs about observing this “time of reflection”. The question that comes up often is whether Christians should observe Lent. Many do, and many don’t. But before we begin to answer that question we need to first discuss what is Lent. It should not be confused with “lint”, which is that stuff that I carry around in my pockets that seem to always be empty. Nor should it be confused with that nasty stuff that piles up in your belly button. It should also not be confused with Lindt, which are those oh so delicious chocolate truffles that are covered in hazelnuts. I got you craving one of those, don’t I? It’s OK, you don’t have to deny it. Go on and go getcha one. I’ll wait for you…

Now that you’re back… what is Lent? Lent is basically a 40-day period that begins on Ash Wednesday and leads right up to Easter/Resurrection Sunday. It can be viewed as a time of fasting, self-denial, repentance, and reflection. In regard to “fasting”, many believers who observe this give up various luxuries (such as watching TV), vices (such as smoking and drinking, which should be given up altogether), and foods that one would deem unhealthy (like Lindt truffles). Some even observe devotionals, and some even take the time to read their Bible for the 40 days when otherwise they would not. The period of 40-days is thought to have originated in observance to the 40-days that Christ had spent in the wilderness fasting. Its purpose, other than an overall denial of the self, is to prepare oneself for Easter Sunday. It is believed that it began during the council of Nicaea in 325. There is so much more to discuss about Lent in regard to various histories and theories and what not, but for the sake of our attention spans we will avoid that. Besides, a full-on history report is not why I am here. The question is whether a Christian should observe it.

My take on it is not a simple “yes” or “no”. In theory, there is nothing wrong with a Christian observing Lent. However, its observance and the reasoning for it is actually pointless if you think about it. If one so chooses to spend 40-days in self-denial, great. But what does the scriptures tell us? Jesus said in Luke 9 “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” (vv. 23-24). As Christians we are indeed expected to deny ourselves. This involves turning away from sin (repentance) and turning from our carnal and worldly passions. James 4:4 says “Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” And Colossians 3:5 states “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (KJV). We are new creatures in Christ once we are made righteous by accepting Him as Lord and following Him. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). So for a Christian to take the time to repent and to fast from worldly pleasures is a great thing for our spirit indeed. But is 40 days good enough?

Jesus said in Luke 9 for us to deny ourselves and take up our cross “daily”. As Christians we should be examining ourselves on a daily basis. In regard to communion, 1 Corinthians 11:27-28 says “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” 2 Corinthians 13:5 also says “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.”. We should constantly be examining ourselves and seeking the help of the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24). There is nothing wrong with self-examination. But it needs to lead to a self-denial of our sinful ways and worldly lusts. In James 4 it goes on to say “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (vv. 7-10). We should be willing to dig deep and crucify whatever wickedness that we find. We should weep over our own destructive ways. We should confess our wickedness to God and seek Him in both Word and prayer so that we may be renewed and strengthened. And if we believe that 40-days is good enough to accomplish this then we are fooling ourselves. How do we expect to draw near to God if we spend the other 325 days of the year proudly bathing in the worldliness that is an enemy to God? It is like eating nothing but Doritos, Fudge Rounds, Hot Pockets, and Mountain Dew for 325 days, then eating a healthy whole foods diet for the other 40 and expecting not to get diabetes or cancer. Oh yeah, and you can throw those Lindt truffles into that junk food regiment too.

So should Christians observe Lent? It is entirely up to them. However, giving up TV, drinking, smoking, red meats, or whatever you may choose to set aside to get closer to God is not what He desires because it is all works based. For example, let’s say you give up TV for 40-days and maybe replace it with prayer and more Bible reading. That’s great, but what do you plan to accomplish after your 40-days are over? If you are sweating during those 40-days because you are missing your favorite episodes of The Walking Dead (I will never understand Christians who watch such unholy filth), or if you are counting down the days until you can once again grab the remote, then you’re doing it for the flesh and not the Spirit. Your desire isn’t truly to be more holy and to enter into a more powerful relationship with The Lord, but instead is to appease Him. What we should yearn for is a lifetime of seeking God’s face as did King David. We should constantly be examining ourselves and repenting of our sins that separate us from the fellowship that God desires for us. We should also set aside anything that stands between us and God or that we feel is a hindrance to our spiritual growth. You think TV is a hindrance and should be set aside for Lent? Why only 40-days if it is a hindrance? Is seeking God more than a 40-day setting aside of those things that weaken us and cause us to stumble? Growing to be more like Christ is a lifelong process for the believer. It takes constantly putting away those things that are a hindrance as the Holy Spirit reveals them to us. Only doing this once every year is doing away with them, only to place them back in between you and God. If you are a Christian who does this everyday then observing Lent will have no purpose for you other than being a meaningless tradition as you run with the crowd. However, if you only take 40 days out of each year to repent, fast, pray, and seek to remember Jesus’ sacrifice and grow closer to God, then it is time to make those 40-days into a lifetime. Christ sacrificed himself so that you would be made holy by each passing day. Can you not give Him more than 40-days?

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:11-14).

In Christ Alone

Who Is Jesus Christ (Part 1)? The Son of God.

It isn’t a coincidence that I have followed up a series about the decay of morality in our modern society, as well as a decay within the walls of our modern church, with a series about Jesus Christ. After all, I did say that the hope for both to turn around was to set their eyes upon The Christ. But, in order to effectively set our eyes upon Jesus, we need to understand who Jesus is. Notice that I didn’t say who “was” Jesus. To use the term “was” would imply that the person in question had existed and ceased to exist. This would apply to many historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Elvis, but it does not apply to Jesus, who sits at God’s mighty right hand and lives through the Holy Spirit. As the old hymn says, “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.” But to grasp Jesus, we need to focus on His various attributes. He called Himself the “Son of Man”, but He also was the “Son of God” and He also possessed the “name above all names”. This week I would like to focus on His divinity as the Son of God.

It seems almost as an idea to scoff at. A mere mortal man who walked the earth was also the Son of God. But not just the “Son” of God, but also God incarnate, or the second person of the Trinity, God the Son. Jesus Himself proclaimed to be God. In John 10:30 He said “I and My Father are one.” He also said “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” (John 5:17), this after healing on the Sabbath. The response from the Jews? “Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.” (v. 18). Not just did Jesus (here and in other various places) claim to be God, but even His disciples understood it. “But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” (John 6:68-69). “[Jesus] said to [the disciples], ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” (Matthew 16:15-16). The demons understood that He was the Son of God. “And suddenly [the demons] cried out, saying, ‘What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?’” (Matthew 8:29). Even Satan knew that Jesus was the Son of God when he tempted him in the wilderness in Matthew 4 when he constantly tried to trick Jesus into sinning by saying “If You are the Son of God…” To claim that Jesus was indeed God is a bold proclamation and a hard pill to swallow for many who do not understand Christianity and God’s Word. In John 6 many of the people who were following Jesus turned away because they found His teaching on His divinity as being hard to take. Is Jesus truly God?

In Hebrews 1 the author writes “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” (Vv. 1-4). The author not just states that Jesus is heir of all things, that He created everything and upholds that creation, and that He is above the angels, but that Jesus is the “express image” of God. The Greek word that is being used here is charaktēr, which denotes that something is the exact reproduction in every aspect to something else. Jesus isn’t like God or possesses some of God’s characteristics, but He is God in every aspect. He even said “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?” (John 14:9-10). He also said in John 17 “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (V. 21). It should be noted that Jesus confirmed that He and God are one by simply using one word…”us”.

Jesus and various New Testament writers may have proclaimed that Jesus is the “Son of God”, or in actuality “God”, but is there truth to that statement or is it just lunacy? Jesus had mentioned in John 14 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.” (Vv. 10-11). One of the things that verified Christ’s divinity and backed up His claims are the various works that He performed. He did what no one had done before Him and no one after Him has been able to do (although heretic Kenneth Copeland once claimed to have stopped a tornado by simply telling it to go away). Jesus had the power over the elements when He turned water into wine, the power over nature when He calmed the sea and walked on water, the power over infirmities when He made the blind, deaf, dumb, and lame whole again, and the power over death when He called Lazarus out of the grave. However, there is no clearer evidence to Jesus’ divine claim as to His power over His own life and death. In John 10 He says “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”(Vv. 17-18). That is a bold proclamation! That one can actually decide when to die and when to come back to life is a ridiculous notion. How many people do we know had actually made the choice as to which breath was going to be their last? We see later in John’s gospel, as Jesus was hanging on the cross, it says “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” (John 19:30). The Greek term for the phrase “gave up” is paradidōmi. This term denotes giving, delivering, and permitting or allowing. It means that the one who had something (in this case Jesus’ spirit) had given it over or allowed it to be taken. Can any mortal man give his life away or even give death permission to come and take his life away? Who do we know that walks as flesh and blood actually has the power over death to allow it to stop our hearts from beating? Who do we know that walks as flesh and blood that has to give permission to death in order for it to stop us from breathing? As far as I know no one has that kind of power over life and death. But Jesus…. Jesus had that power. He always had as He created, and He always will as He sustains as the heir to all things. Jesus is the “Son of God”, which is more than just being begotten offspring. As the Jews had determined, it makes Him equal with God.

I could go on and on about this. Just ask my former professors. My 5-8 page assignments turned into a 15 page assignment. I just can’t stop talking about how great is our God. But that leaves an important question. If I have succeeded in briefly describing Jesus’ evidence of divinity and convincing you of such, then why on earth would God the Son leave His throne and the glories of Heaven to come to this filthy and wretched place in order to suffer like the rest of us? Even to the point of being mocked, beaten, tortured, and suffering a criminal’s death upon a cross? We will see next time when we explore the “Son of Man” and the Lamb who was slain.

             

When The Flesh Speaks

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30).

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7).

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:12-13).

There was once a man who stood before a storm. He knew the outcome as His eyes were fixed upon the blackened sky. Lightning flashed and He heard the thunder say “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?", and “Crucify Him!” as the spray of human saliva splashes against the face of The Rock. Lightning strikes the flesh again. Spitting, taunting, cursing, and beating. The storm was beginning to take shape.

He was led before the crowd as the jeering thunder continued to roar. Then a new sound was introduced. The sound of whips creating a division in the air around Him. His skin began to split like the air around Him. Again. Over and over. Again. Slice, split, crack. Blood splattered all over the earth beneath Him. All over the guards who enjoyed the punishing mockery. Some in the crowd even felt the crimson droplets. “No!” cried His flesh. “Not again!” it cried out. His flesh competed with the screams of His mother Mary. “No!” They would shout. Louder and louder, as if competing to see who could shout the loudest. “Please make them stop!” His flesh would shout. His back recognized no pure, untouched, unstained skin. His flesh cried “Enough already”. Then he fell on his back. It was over. Or was it?

“No! Father please make them stop!” The flesh would scream as they began tearing apart his chest. The air around would cower and make room for the whips as they cracked upon the ribs and the breast bone. The flesh begged for mercy, but they did not hear. Or maybe they did hear, and just wanted to hear the flesh scream for mercy. The sight of the crimson excited them. “Finally, He is ours. His pain is ours!” Both sides of His body were unrecognizable. No flesh should ever appear this way. Covered in His blood, and the tears of His damaged body. “No more! No more please!” His flesh cried.

“No more! I cannot take this anymore!” His flesh screamed as numerous thorns dug into the skin of his brow. More beating. The precious blood flowed. Exhaustion. The flesh was weakened. “I cannot go on!” His flesh said. “I’m done.”

Arise! Arise my Lord! The time has come to carry your cross. The flesh rolls its eyes into the back of it’s head, trying to muster the strength to go on. “I can’t do this. God, I just cannot do this.” But He knew the will of His Father. He, The Spirit, persuaded the flesh that this prophesy needed to be fulfilled. The world needed this. “Let us be going.” The Son thought to the flesh.

A blood curdling scream can be heard from the flesh. “How can this be?” it thought. “How can I go through this? I cannot possibly have the strength to survive this.” The flesh may have felt deceived by The One who loved Him. “My Father has forsaken me!” the flesh shouted. Shouted so loudly, that it permeated The Savior’s spirit and came from His lips as the nails were driven in. “How much more can I take? How much more will you put me through God? I cannot take this weight anymore! I cannot go on!” His flesh would say. Exit the spirit. It is finished. “I am dead. I am done.” the flesh spoke.

Christian, what is the state of your flesh? Is the weight of fear causing your flesh to crush your spirit? Are you crying out “I cannot take this anymore! Please God make this stop.”?
What is it that is whipping you?

Is it divorce? Is the preceding your judgment? Is the judge your Pontius Pilate? Every accusation another lashing with the whip? Every demand another beating with a reed? Is your head hurting from the thorns? Is the custody battle of the children the nails that hang you up on your cross? “Please God make this stop! I cannot take this anymore!” your flesh cries.

Is it illness? As you stand before the doctor, what judgment will he give your flesh? What will the fate be? Medications, visits, injections, bills…are all your whips. The mental anguish of your illness and the financial blows surrounds your head like a crown of thorns. Has the progress been your nails? Getting worse are you? Have you been condemned to death? “Please God make this stop! I cannot take this anymore!” your flesh cries.

Is it finances? Bills upon bills are coming in. You don’t even want to check your mail anymore. The phone is ringing off the hook. It is them. The accusers. The bill collectors. They hound and insult you. You can almost hear them shouting “Crucify him”. Your flesh cries “Please stop! No more, please!”. But all you hear is the cracks of the whips as your flesh fights a losing battle. Bills come in, but there is no money to match. Then things start disappearing. You feel the pressure of the thorns as they tow away your car. You feel the nails being driven in as your lights go out. Then it is finished…you no longer have a home. “Please God make this stop! I cannot take this anymore!” your flesh cries.

Is it your past mistakes? Or current sins? When you sleep at night, do you sleep lightly? Do you sleep at all? Do you toss and turn, only to look down and see the monsters peering up at you from under your bed? Do the skeletons come out of your closet to play? These beasts, or demons, are they tormenting your every thought and shortening your every breath? Are they whipping you? Alcohol? Drugs? Abortion? Fornication? Adultery? Abuse? Can you not move past regrets and forgive yourself? “Crucify him” they shout. The pressure is mounting as the crown is beat down over your head. As your life shatters, you may feel like you are being crucified. Like the weight of your body is being suspended by only three nails. “Please God make this stop! I cannot take this anymore!” your flesh cries.

I am not even going to inquire about the condition of your spirit. If you feel this way and your flesh is begging for mercy, then your spirit has been grieved. It has been overrun by the pressures of the world, and therefore welcoming the power of the flesh. Christ Himself even said "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). I am sure this cry has left your lips during the time of trial and suffering. But what can you do to turn this around? Your situation? No. Because this trial is not guaranteed to get any better. And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39). This is not according to your will, but The Father’s will. It is up to Him whether or not your trial shall pass. I am talking about turning around your outlook. Getting your spirit to silence the flesh. So what are you to do? As the song says:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
(“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”, Helen H. Lemmel)

If your whips belong to finances, illness, and trial, understand that some cases may be by God’s hand, some are by our own. But the fire is by His will. To refine and strengthen us in our relationship with Him, as we will learn to rely on Him. If you are saved, but cannot escape your past trespasses, you need to forgive yourself as you have been forgiven. If you are being punished by current sins, then you need to repent and nail them to the cross.

Compare yourself to what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ endured during the last moments of His life. He knew the storm. He knew the outcome. He faced it with the diligence that pushed Him to carry His cross upon His back up the mountain to Calvary, even in the state of weakened flesh. Punishing whipping crashed upon His flesh amidst insults and jeers. To the extent that He inquired as to why God had forsaken Him. But He knew that this was God’s will, and that His Father knew what He was doing. God’s glory was the purpose for this, along with saving the world from sin. You may ask, “What I am going through won’t save anyone from their sins.” My friend, if you hold to God’s promises, you will praise His name when you make it through. This will be a testimony before fallen men and sinners. Your story could very well cause a non-believer who is going through a storm to repent and accept Christ as his savior. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Even though He endured this storm, and His flesh cried out against the lashings of the whips, He managed to utter “It is finished.” (John 19:30). But not as an end all death. Remember my friends, Christ has risen. He came back to life for the glory of God. So it is not over until God gets the glory. There is a reason why you must drink from this cup. He knows the reason, and all you can do is rely on Him and lean on Him. It will soon be finished. Look upon Jesus Christ to strengthen your spirit when the flesh speaks.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7).


Love In Christ!

If your flesh is crying out, and you do not have a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, and would like to know Him, then you are ready for salvation. You must deny yourself and confess your sins, repent of your sins, and ask for forgiveness.

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23).…because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:9-13). For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).

Please pray the following prayer:

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”

“3 nails + 1 cross= 4given“ Makes A good T-shirt slogan.

"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15).

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." (Mark 11:25).

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13).

One of the hardest things to do in this world is to forgive. We simply want to get back at the other guy. Punch his lights out for that remark. “Flip the bird” to the driver that just cut you off. An eye for an eye. It’s human nature.

I am sure that there is no one on the face of this planet who has never been hurt by someone else. Maybe it was a girl friend who stole a boyfriend. Maybe the boy next door who broke your favorite toy. The co-worker who got the raise instead. The neighbor who damaged your property. The wife who lied. The husband who cheated. The uncle who abused you…etc.
I am sure that in most cases the offending party was forgiven. But what if that wasn’t the case? What if we hold grudges? What if we just cannot forgive him or her? What if we cannot forgive ourselves?

What I would like to put into context here is the ultimate act of forgiveness- the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Let’s go back about 2000 years to the Middle East. There was a man who was born to a virgin by the Holy Spirit. He was not born in a palace, but in a farm animal’s feed box. The smell of hay, feed, and animals filled the air. There was probably a chill in the air. This baby grew into a young man who worked hard and helped out his father Joseph. In his adult life he went out into the wilderness for forty days and fought temptation by Satan. He went to go “find himself” so to speak. When he returned, it was “on“. This was God’s “throw down” time.
For three years this man walked, shocked, and amazed. His teachings changed lives. He showed love to people who otherwise would have been shunned. He healed people who otherwise could not be healed. He even brought a few back to life. He befriended tax collectors and wandering fishermen, who would follow him and who’s writings would forever change mankind…done through the Holy Sprit that this man delivered unto them. He revealed to us how to live in a way that was pleasing to God. He gave us hope. He gave us love. He gave us eternal life.
Faith has killed cancers. Murderers have confessed. Prostitutes have confessed. Abusers have confessed. Drunks have confessed. Pornographers have confessed. They have confessed their sins and now confess He is Lord. Greed has died. Lust has died. Hate has died. Depression has died. All because of the blood that this man has shed. His ministry turned the world on it’s head and forever changed the world. He knew what to do and what to say at all times. He owned wisdom. He knew men more than they knew themselves. Even before they knew themselves. He was God incarnate. His name was Jesus Christ. The name above all names.

One Sunday He was welcomed with open arms and shouts of joy in Jerusalem. After all, look at what He did in three years. Wouldn’t you be shouting too? In less than a week He was betrayed, tried, and crucified. A stab in the back by the same people who welcomed Him. They despised Him so much they wanted a vile criminal to be set free amongst them instead. They spat on Him, beat Him, and shouted insults at Him. For this moment they forget all that He did…and wanted Him dead. Kind of like when we forget all He has done for us and chose to sin against Him. Ironic, huh?

He was whipped. His olive flesh split wide open to reveal the saving crimson. Flesh torn from bone. Pain surging through His whole body. Beaten again. How many thorns do you think was on the crown of thorns? How many do you think cut into His skull? One would have been enough. Then the ultimate insult-”Carry your own cross, boy!.” It’s like having the man getting ready for the electric chair cleaning the chair first. The man getting hanged tying the knot in the rope. The man facing the firing squad handing the guns to the shooters. I am sure as He is walking to Calvary, He looks over to see Mary Magdalene shouting “Someone stop them!”, and His mother Mary screaming “Why?”
Then the fun begins. Two nails separating the bones in the center of His hands. No bones were broken in His body, so they could have only shifted and embraced each nail that passed through. In one side and out the other. Then one strategically placed through His feet. Just so much that He has to hold himself up or suffocate. Then the cross becomes erect for all to see.

As grotesque as Jesus’ crucifixion was, it was actually the most beautiful sacrifice ever made. The epitome of God’s love for us. So much that He would allow this to happen to his only begotten Son so that we would be saved from our sins. So that we may be forgiven. But how much love and how much forgiveness?

Jesus performed many miracles through the power of God. He could have come off the cross. He could have had lightening come down and burn the cross up and not consume Him. The nails could have popped out “on their own”. But God would not allow this. He would have nothing to do with it. Jesus’ death was sin and God washed his hands of that sin on that day. God wants nothing to do with sin. Jesus had to die. It was necessary. It was the only way. Christ’s resurrection three days later was symbolic to our being saved and starting over with Him. Death to sin. New life to us in Christ Jesus. That is how much God loves us.

Now back to the crucifixion. Jesus could have sent fire to kill all of His accusers. He could have spat the vinegar back into the face of the soldier who fed it to Him. He could have yelled obscenities at everyone who spat on Him. I’m sure He could have managed to “flip the bird” with His hands held back by nails. Pay back!
But NO. Through all that these people put Him through, all He could do is say “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34). He only concerned Himself with forgiving them. He even had time to forgive another criminal who was crucified with Him. That is how much God forgives. That is how important forgiveness is to Him. No matter how much pain they put you through…forgive them.

God will forgive us for our trespasses if we confess our sins to Him and ask for forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. Whether it is to be saved/born again, or to be brought back to Him. All we have to do is ask. He is waiting.
The ministry of Jesus that I talked about earlier can be ours too if we let Him into our hearts and come to know and walk with Him.
But Christians may experience trouble with peace and God’s blessings if they fail to forgive (Matthew 6:14-15). May we forgive others as He has forgiven us?

So who is your “them” that needs to be forgiven? Is what they did to you worse than nailing Our Lord and Savior to a cross after hours or torture?

Love in Christ!

P.S. If you would like to know more about the life and times and teachings of Jesus Christ, I suggest reading the four gospels in the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) if you haven’t already.