Why The Cross?

 Can you imagine having long iron spikes driven through your hands and feet and hanging on a cross for six hours after being beaten and whipped? We can't begin to comprehend the pain that Jesus endured on Calvary’s cross to atone for the sins of the world.

Romans 5:8-9  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Why did Jesus endure such agony? Why did He die? To show the love of God to lost sinners. To save those who believe on Him.

I just can’t leave Jesus hanging on the cross. The good news is that three days later He arose from the dead. He is risen. He is risen indeed.

The Cross And Salvation

Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

Three days before the resurrection our Lord bled and died for the sins of the world, yours and mine included. Here The Word simply states the place called Calvary is where they crucified him. The cross was an awful instrument of death.

At the cross Jesus fully satisfied the righteous demands of God when He cried, “It is Finished.”

All who have received salvation have come by the way of the cross, believing on the shed blood of Jesus to forgive their sins.

There’s no reason for anyone to die lost and suffer the judgment of God.  You must decide in this life.

He Lives Within My Heart

1 Corinthians 15: 13,14 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

The Apostle Paul is assuring some believers who don't believe in the resurrection. He lives! He lives!

Before the first ray of sunshine broke the darkness on that Sunday morning 2,000 years ago, God had already stretched forth His hand and called His Son to come forth from the grave.

Then He sent the angels to roll away the stone, not to let Jesus out, for He was already gone, but that you and I might look into the most sublime and powerful event the world has ever known!

1 Corinthians 15:20  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

You ask me how I know He lives----He lives within my heart.

Hallelujah! Christ Arose

Luke 24:5-6  And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

When Jesus arose, He defeated death, hell, and the grave. Because Jesus lives I can face anything, because He's my Lord and Savior.

At Easter Sunday services I always look forward to accompanying the congregation on the piano as they sing  “Up from the grave He arose” .  I get excited because He is risen. He is risen indeed.

Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;

he tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave he arose;

with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;

he arose a victor from the dark domain,

and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Robert Lowry

He is Risen

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb, expecting to anoint a dead body. Try to imagine the hurt and grief they had suffered, confident Jesus was the Son of God, Savior of the world yet their hopes were shattered at Calvary. An angel met them at the tomb.

Matthew 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Then it “clicked”. Doubt and fear met hope and assurance. They couldn’t wait to share the good news with the disciples. Jesus had risen; He was alive! They would see Him again.

As we worship the Lord on this Resurrection Sunday, many are burdened even today. Our troubles may not melt away, but we have the assurance that Jesus lives and guarantees his believers eternal life in Him.

He is risen. He is risen indeed!

Feed Your Hope

Psalm 130:5  I wait for the Lord , my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

As we wait on the Lord's timing in our lives, read God's Word. That’s where we  find strength and power. God created us to be spiritual beings on a human journey.

2 Timothy 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

The Bible is packed full of hope and rich with promises that always come true. If we are not reading our Bibles, we are not feeding our hope. If we are not feeding our hope, we are in danger of losing hope and slipping into despair.

Believe that God works all things together for your good and His glory. Believe that there is a way up and out of your hard times.

Keep on. Be strong. Have faith. Pray hard.

Heaven's Best

The fact is, these bodies we wear are wearing out. Someone has said that you know you are aging when it takes you longer to rest up than it did to get tired. The hymn Never Grow Old means more to me every time we sing it at church. I’m looking forward to my Heavenly home.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Heaven is a place where the trials, burdens, sins and faults of this world can’t enter. There will be no death, no tears, no burdens, no trials, no devil, no evil, no sadness, no sorrow, no grief---nothing to defile, discourage or defeat.

We can speak of golden streets, jasper walls, angelic hosts, pearl gates and foundations of precious stones; but the presence of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is what will make Heaven Heavenly!  His glory will light that city. Awesome!