Followers of Christ, our Savior is risen and alive in heaven! Hallelujah! AMEN!
Followers of Christ, do we take time to understand what it took for God to save us through his Son?
Matthew 27:38-44 (NIV) “Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!’ In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.”
Contemplate: What if Jesus would have given them another miracle and “proven” He was the Son of God? What if Jesus “came down from the cross” before His work was finished?
Matthew 27:46 (NIV) “About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’).”
Contemplate: Have you ever considered that God could not look on sin? That for Jesus to complete the work of our salvation that He was separated from God? Consider the anguish of being separated from His Father. I am not sure I can fully grasp the anguish of that cry.
Matthew 27:54 (NIV) “When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’”
Contemplate: Imagine what it was to be an eyewitness as these people were.
John 19:30b (NIV) “Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
Contemplate: The selfless love of God to go through all of this and to see it to the end. This was completed for YOU.
~ Take it to heart ~
“It is finished” was just the beginning of our salvation.
Jesus conquered death and lives! Hallelujah and AMEN!