It has been some time since I last blogged. Greetings to you all and thank you for signing in to read the next installment of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified!
Early this morning as I was having my quite time with the Father, just thanking Him for who He is, the Holy Spirit said to me, "God did not want to spend His Eternity without me." Selah (stop and think about it)
Then pictures flooded my mind and spirit of everything God did to redeem mankind through Jesus' death, burial and resurrection.
One word picture was in Genesis chapters 1 and 2, and of how God created everything that man would need, and then he created man and woman to enjoy. God then came down to fellowship with them, thereby He received His pleasure as Adam and Eve enjoyed what He made. In Revelation it tells us how God created everything for His pleasure. So, all the word pictures began to form a collage leading to God's redemption plan through Jesus.
Once man allowed sin in, God could no longer take pleasure in his creation. God could not longer fellowship with man, so that caused him to be separated from his plan, his original intent to fellowship with mankind. God cannot look upon sin, nor fellowship with sin or he would cease to be a Holy God! His eternal plan to be with man had come to an abrupt halt. Or had it?
As the portrait continued in my spirit, the Holy Spirit led me on the path of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified so that God could once again fellowship with his creation. Jesus was slain before the foundation of the world. How? God knows the end from the beginning, so God had a remedy to redeem mankind so that he could continue His eternity with us in it!
Of course, mankind has a freewill, and can chose to reject Jesus and God's plan to redeem them, but his heart is for all to come to Him through Jesus so that He can enjoy and have His pleasure in His creation of man.
As I meditated on that one statement, "God did not want to spend His eternity without me"; chills ran ran through me as I received more understand about why God sent His Son. God wanted you and I with Him throughout eternity; His original intent for creating the universe, the heavens, this planet, the vegetation, all living creatures and then mankind to enjoy it all. God wanted to get enjoyment out of us getting enjoyment.
The only way was to have a pure Blood sacrifice to cover sin. It could not be accomplished through animal sacrifices or the Israelites would not have had to perform continuous sacrifices. It would take pure blood of one who knew no sin - Jesus!
Isn't this a wonderful revelation that God wants us to enjoy life? Most of us may have never heard that we should be enjoying life. Growing up I heard that "you needed to work hard just to make it, and you don't need all that extra stuff; it is just waste; there are hungry children all over the world." (By the way, I never really understood how I could help the hungry children all over the world just by not wasting food!)
We must understand what God wants, and not what people have told us in religious messages. The truth will make you free once you hear it, receive it, and act on it. From now on, find out what pleases God and then please Him.
God did not want to spend his Eternity without you and I. This changes everything for me. This revelation will be foremost on my mind. Jesus Christ and Him Crucified is our way to please God, because He takes pleasure when He fellowships with us. Through Jesus there is now no more separation between God and man.
If you have never accepted God's plan of redemption, if you have never asked Jesus to be Lord of your life please do it now. Ask Jesus to come into your life and spend your eternity with the Creator, Jehovah, the I AM that I AM, Father God.
Give God His pleasure!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Jesus' Blood Never Fails!
Ever wonder why there is so much emphasis on the Blood of Jesus in Christianity? Ever wonder why many Christians overlook the Blood of Jesus? Ever wonder why God chose blood as the way to redeem from sin? Well, let's try and answer these questions, or let's open up enough wonderment about all this to cause us all to search for the answers.
I want to begin with the last question, "why did God chose blood as the answer for sin?" I am sure that there are many scientific evidences that shows that the blood contains life in the physical body. The brain can be injured and medical science can keep one alive via machine. The lungs can give out and again there is a machine that can help them to breathe. Kidney's can shut down and there is another machine that can do what the kidneys do in the body. Must I go on? We all can agree that these are only temporary solutions, but yet still a solution.
But as far as I know, there is not machine that medical science has that can keep someone alive if the blood is gone from the body. Yes, they can try and pump blood into the body, but if the body continues to lose blood (LIFE) those efforts will end and that person will lose the life fight. I have been hospitalized twice for internal bleeding, and the doctors had very worried looks on their faces and in their eyes when talking to me about what was going on in my body. I was in ICU(intensive care unit) the first time it happened, just steps away from CCU(critical care unit) which after that is death! My doctors had to do something quick to stop the blood from leaving my body and fast as they were pumping it into me. They finally got the matter resolved and a sigh of relief was in their voice. The second time it happened I recognized the symptoms before it got ICU serious, but I still had to have blood pumped into me daily until my body could take over.
Even when blood flow is cut off from a limb, that part of the body is amputated. Why? Because medical science knows that the blood is the source of life to everything in our body. Without the blood...there is no life! Lack of blood brings weakness, an inability for the body to live, and other deterioration's of the body.
Who created the body, soul and spirit? God, our Father and Creator. God knows that the blood contains life, so in the physical body blood is vital, as well as blood is vital to our spiritual life in Him. Just as the lack of blood is to our physical body, so is the lack of "THE BLOOD" to our spirit man, our eternal existence.
So we know that sin takes life away(reference Genesis when Adam & Eve sinned), because God clearly said, "You will surely die if you eat of this tree." Satan came along and tricked Adam and Eve into believing that they would not die. They listened to his lies and we all know the result of that decision they made to eat.
God always works from and deals with our spirit before the physical happens, so when he told Adam that he would surely die, God was referring to Adam's spiritual life, not that his physical body would fall down dead! Although, Adam did ultimately physically die, God never wanted us to die, but to live. Remember, God did not create life to die! Ever wonder why the human body can take so much punishment before it just gives out? People have done so much to their bodies and you think how in the world are they still alive?
God knew then that the only way to have a relationship with his creation, that he had to get blood (LIFE) to get rid of sin (DEATH) because He is Holy and cannot have anything to do with sin. God our Father loved us, his creation so much that he had a plan to keep us spiritually connected...The Blood!
Aren't you glad that you did not live during the times of the animal sacrifices? If you have ever smelled a slaughter house of any type of animal you know that it is not a pleasant smell at all. I for one am glad that God planned for our Lord Jesus Christ to be the final sacrifice once and for all.
The Blood of Jesus doesn't cover our sin, it wipes it out forever! The blood of the animal sacrifices just covered sin and that's why they had to sacrifice ritually. Once Jesus' Blood is applied to our sin God never remembers them ever again it cannot be found. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour your past does not exist in God's eye's. Now other people will try to remind you of it, but God will never do that or he would cease to be God. For God said that he would cast our sin as far as the east is from the west. Psalm 103:11-13 God is not a liar!
Also, after we become Christians and if you sin, do you realize that God made provision for that also in
1 John 1:9? But we are not to try God and continue in sin. Confess, stop and go on. The more we learn and know about God, the more we should want to do what is right and stay away from sin. Let me tell you, it is a process, but you can live free from sinning.
Fall in love with the Father and you will see that you, just like Him want to have nothing to do with sin. The Blood of Jesus is LIFE for the Christian. The Blood of Jesus is LIFE for the unredeemed. Accept Jesus today.
Next time we will tackle the other two questions stated at the beginning of this blog today.
Remember we are ambassadors for Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:20
I want to begin with the last question, "why did God chose blood as the answer for sin?" I am sure that there are many scientific evidences that shows that the blood contains life in the physical body. The brain can be injured and medical science can keep one alive via machine. The lungs can give out and again there is a machine that can help them to breathe. Kidney's can shut down and there is another machine that can do what the kidneys do in the body. Must I go on? We all can agree that these are only temporary solutions, but yet still a solution.
But as far as I know, there is not machine that medical science has that can keep someone alive if the blood is gone from the body. Yes, they can try and pump blood into the body, but if the body continues to lose blood (LIFE) those efforts will end and that person will lose the life fight. I have been hospitalized twice for internal bleeding, and the doctors had very worried looks on their faces and in their eyes when talking to me about what was going on in my body. I was in ICU(intensive care unit) the first time it happened, just steps away from CCU(critical care unit) which after that is death! My doctors had to do something quick to stop the blood from leaving my body and fast as they were pumping it into me. They finally got the matter resolved and a sigh of relief was in their voice. The second time it happened I recognized the symptoms before it got ICU serious, but I still had to have blood pumped into me daily until my body could take over.
Even when blood flow is cut off from a limb, that part of the body is amputated. Why? Because medical science knows that the blood is the source of life to everything in our body. Without the blood...there is no life! Lack of blood brings weakness, an inability for the body to live, and other deterioration's of the body.
Who created the body, soul and spirit? God, our Father and Creator. God knows that the blood contains life, so in the physical body blood is vital, as well as blood is vital to our spiritual life in Him. Just as the lack of blood is to our physical body, so is the lack of "THE BLOOD" to our spirit man, our eternal existence.
So we know that sin takes life away(reference Genesis when Adam & Eve sinned), because God clearly said, "You will surely die if you eat of this tree." Satan came along and tricked Adam and Eve into believing that they would not die. They listened to his lies and we all know the result of that decision they made to eat.
God always works from and deals with our spirit before the physical happens, so when he told Adam that he would surely die, God was referring to Adam's spiritual life, not that his physical body would fall down dead! Although, Adam did ultimately physically die, God never wanted us to die, but to live. Remember, God did not create life to die! Ever wonder why the human body can take so much punishment before it just gives out? People have done so much to their bodies and you think how in the world are they still alive?
God knew then that the only way to have a relationship with his creation, that he had to get blood (LIFE) to get rid of sin (DEATH) because He is Holy and cannot have anything to do with sin. God our Father loved us, his creation so much that he had a plan to keep us spiritually connected...The Blood!
Aren't you glad that you did not live during the times of the animal sacrifices? If you have ever smelled a slaughter house of any type of animal you know that it is not a pleasant smell at all. I for one am glad that God planned for our Lord Jesus Christ to be the final sacrifice once and for all.
The Blood of Jesus doesn't cover our sin, it wipes it out forever! The blood of the animal sacrifices just covered sin and that's why they had to sacrifice ritually. Once Jesus' Blood is applied to our sin God never remembers them ever again it cannot be found. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour your past does not exist in God's eye's. Now other people will try to remind you of it, but God will never do that or he would cease to be God. For God said that he would cast our sin as far as the east is from the west. Psalm 103:11-13 God is not a liar!
Also, after we become Christians and if you sin, do you realize that God made provision for that also in
1 John 1:9? But we are not to try God and continue in sin. Confess, stop and go on. The more we learn and know about God, the more we should want to do what is right and stay away from sin. Let me tell you, it is a process, but you can live free from sinning.
Fall in love with the Father and you will see that you, just like Him want to have nothing to do with sin. The Blood of Jesus is LIFE for the Christian. The Blood of Jesus is LIFE for the unredeemed. Accept Jesus today.
Next time we will tackle the other two questions stated at the beginning of this blog today.
Remember we are ambassadors for Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:20
Saturday, April 28, 2012
How Is Your Growth Going This Year?
It's Time!
We are closing out the end of the first third of year 2012. It's time to take a spiritual. Or maybe you did yours after the first quarter of this year. What is a spiritual?
Just like you go to your doctor to get a physical at certain times, we Christians need to get a "spiritual" at various times throughout the year. Have a meeting with Father and ask the hard questions about yourself. After all, we are to compare ourselves to Jesus and how he instructed us to live and not to other Christians.
Why a spiritual?
You may need to:
- Correct a path in which you have been following that has not been productive
- See why you have tapered off of your bible study and prayer time
- Recognize that things are going great, but for some reason you feel like you do not need the help you use to need from the Father in your walk with the Lord
- Just reinforce what you are doing and continue to encourage yourself to stay the course
- _____________________________________________ (put in your own reason)
Remember, Jesus Christ our Lord, Saviour, Deliverer, Friend, Help, Peace, Teacher, Strength, Comfort and everything we need is always ready to meet with us and fellowship with us. We also need to remember that the Lord is not ready to jump all over us with negative comments. The Love of the Lord is so sweet, and even if he has to correct us it will be in a loving and gentle way to encourage to keep the faith.
There have been times when I knew that I did something wrong, and as I went to Him he met me with his loving chastening and correction. Once I received his correction, it was so sweet to just be in his presence and to see how he always wants the best for my life.
I recently read in the scriptures where King David took a census of the people and the Lord was angry with him. In God's love, he gave David three choices of chastisement. David responded that he would rather be in the hands of the Lord, than in the hands of my enemies.
Don't wait to get caught up in the hands of the enemy before you come to the Father for his help, instruction, guidance and encouragement. God will never leave us, nor forsake us, and praise God for his forgiveness through the Blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness. I John 1:9 We have a wonderful Father.
So, in conclusion be sure to take some time this weekend and ask the Lord, "Tell me how I am doing as your ambassador." Sit back and listen to his voice and really hear him this time, and then get up and give God praise!
We are ambassadors for Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:20
Friday, April 6, 2012
Good Friday
Let's call today "Great Friday!" Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ who causes us to triumph.
As I reflect today on why we celebrate Great Friday, I can't help but to be humbled at the fact that God loved us so much that he gave Jesus for the purpose of redeeming our lives from destruction.
In order to redeem our lives from destruction, Jesus was subjected to destruction. In my past posts I added a link to how the Romans would crucify people in Jesus' day, and the reality of what Jesus did for us.
I use to simply be glad for "Good Friday" because at most of the Christian Preschools where I worked we would have this day off work. I would never even think about what this day truly meant for me as a child of the Most High God.
I am ashamed to even admit this to you, but none-the-less it is true. I would spend my day doing what "I" wanted to do because this was my day and I deserved if off. If someone asked me if I were going to attend the "Good Friday" service at church, can you believe that I would pause and try to come up with some kind of excuse?
I am ashamed! Is there anyone else out there who can relate to my story? I rarely attended a Good Friday service, and would think, "well I'm going to church on Easter Sunday, so that's good." As I became more enlightened, I stopped calling it Easter (which is a pagan holiday) and began calling it Resurrection Sunday. (see the history of Easter)
But now, since the Father has revealed to me the completeness and everything that was involved in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified, my attitude has changed. I woke up this morning thanking God for this day. If Jesus had not gone to the cross, where would we be? How wonderful is God and Jesus for this day, and I should give them honor and praise.
God saw us way in the future and prepared Jesus for each one of us for the present. Do you sometimes think about all the bad, crazy, illegal, insane and ignorant things you did in your life before Christ? I do, and it's amazing that first of all that I am still alive, and secondly that I am not in some mental institution. God's Grace is so wonderful, his love is so great towards us.
So, as we enjoy the day off (if you have this day off) or as you are working, take time today and thank God our Father and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for the plan of salvation by Jesus giving his life for all mankind.
I hope that you have not lost your desire and love for God. If so, just read about and think about Jesus' crucifixion and what he went through for us. Let this year be different on Good Friday and on Sunday when you attend church to celebrate Resurrection Day.
Then, let's celebrate Resurrection day every day by giving honor to God through Jesus for our salvation.
For we are Ambassadors for Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:20
As I reflect today on why we celebrate Great Friday, I can't help but to be humbled at the fact that God loved us so much that he gave Jesus for the purpose of redeeming our lives from destruction.
In order to redeem our lives from destruction, Jesus was subjected to destruction. In my past posts I added a link to how the Romans would crucify people in Jesus' day, and the reality of what Jesus did for us.
I use to simply be glad for "Good Friday" because at most of the Christian Preschools where I worked we would have this day off work. I would never even think about what this day truly meant for me as a child of the Most High God.
I am ashamed to even admit this to you, but none-the-less it is true. I would spend my day doing what "I" wanted to do because this was my day and I deserved if off. If someone asked me if I were going to attend the "Good Friday" service at church, can you believe that I would pause and try to come up with some kind of excuse?
I am ashamed! Is there anyone else out there who can relate to my story? I rarely attended a Good Friday service, and would think, "well I'm going to church on Easter Sunday, so that's good." As I became more enlightened, I stopped calling it Easter (which is a pagan holiday) and began calling it Resurrection Sunday. (see the history of Easter)
But now, since the Father has revealed to me the completeness and everything that was involved in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified, my attitude has changed. I woke up this morning thanking God for this day. If Jesus had not gone to the cross, where would we be? How wonderful is God and Jesus for this day, and I should give them honor and praise.
God saw us way in the future and prepared Jesus for each one of us for the present. Do you sometimes think about all the bad, crazy, illegal, insane and ignorant things you did in your life before Christ? I do, and it's amazing that first of all that I am still alive, and secondly that I am not in some mental institution. God's Grace is so wonderful, his love is so great towards us.
So, as we enjoy the day off (if you have this day off) or as you are working, take time today and thank God our Father and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for the plan of salvation by Jesus giving his life for all mankind.
I hope that you have not lost your desire and love for God. If so, just read about and think about Jesus' crucifixion and what he went through for us. Let this year be different on Good Friday and on Sunday when you attend church to celebrate Resurrection Day.
Then, let's celebrate Resurrection day every day by giving honor to God through Jesus for our salvation.
For we are Ambassadors for Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:20
Friday, March 30, 2012
The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I enjoy listening to and reading Matthew, Mark, Luke and John's accounts of Jesus' life. Jesus is the way the truth and the life and we all must come to the Father through Him. I have the King James version of the bible on CD, narrated by Alexander Scourby, and sometimes I find when I listen to the scriptures being read, I get a visual account of events.
I have been listening to these four gospels as of late, and I have heard things in the scriptures that I had not grasped in the past when I read the same chapters and verses.
Things like when Jesus healed the lame or blind on the Sabbath. Instead of the critics praising God for the miracles and taking into consideration that the people were made whole by the power of God (who incidentally instituted the Sabbath), they chose rather to get infuriated and angry that Jesus healed on the Sabbath. They considered healing someone as work, and of course in their religious minds God would not want anyone healed on the Sabbath day for they said, "there are six days in which you can heal." How crazy is that? They could not accept that Jesus was the the way God chose for salvation, and they missed out on many, many blessings God had for them.
As many times as I read this or listen to this, it still amazes me that not one time did any of them take a step back to see why they were so angry, or to even evaluate what was happening, or to call a prayer meeting to seek God about what was going on. Not one time did any of the religious leaders question their beliefs and if they were according to God's Wisdom and not man's wisdom.
So, I got the thinking about myself and whether or not I had that "Pharisee spirit" operating in my life. Sometimes when you have been saved for a long time and have gotten into religious habits, I could see in those gospels that you can truly miss what God is doing in the earth if you are not willing to take another look.
Not all change is from God, nor is all change good; but at least inquire of the Father if this is His will or not. No one holds the sum knowledge of God, so let's not deceive ourselves into thinking that when we see or hear a "new thing" in the Body of Christ that it is not of God.
I relate it to computers. I got so use to the operating system before XP, that I had no desire to accept XP. As computer operating systems advancement came, I told myself that I was just fine; not even considering that there might be something in XP that I could benefit from in that new version.
Well, I loved XP! That's why I take thought to all areas of my life to determine if I am applying the pharisee way to things.
As you take into account your life in Christ Jesus, be sure that you use this as a measuring stick. Am I missing God because of what and how I believe it should be, or how I was taught, or what I think.
To be a follower of Christ we need to crucify the "I" factor in our beliefs and deny ourselves as Jesus said, take up our cross and follow him. That means following Him in the direction that He is going!
For we are Ambassadors of Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:20
I have been listening to these four gospels as of late, and I have heard things in the scriptures that I had not grasped in the past when I read the same chapters and verses.
Things like when Jesus healed the lame or blind on the Sabbath. Instead of the critics praising God for the miracles and taking into consideration that the people were made whole by the power of God (who incidentally instituted the Sabbath), they chose rather to get infuriated and angry that Jesus healed on the Sabbath. They considered healing someone as work, and of course in their religious minds God would not want anyone healed on the Sabbath day for they said, "there are six days in which you can heal." How crazy is that? They could not accept that Jesus was the the way God chose for salvation, and they missed out on many, many blessings God had for them.
As many times as I read this or listen to this, it still amazes me that not one time did any of them take a step back to see why they were so angry, or to even evaluate what was happening, or to call a prayer meeting to seek God about what was going on. Not one time did any of the religious leaders question their beliefs and if they were according to God's Wisdom and not man's wisdom.
So, I got the thinking about myself and whether or not I had that "Pharisee spirit" operating in my life. Sometimes when you have been saved for a long time and have gotten into religious habits, I could see in those gospels that you can truly miss what God is doing in the earth if you are not willing to take another look.
Not all change is from God, nor is all change good; but at least inquire of the Father if this is His will or not. No one holds the sum knowledge of God, so let's not deceive ourselves into thinking that when we see or hear a "new thing" in the Body of Christ that it is not of God.
I relate it to computers. I got so use to the operating system before XP, that I had no desire to accept XP. As computer operating systems advancement came, I told myself that I was just fine; not even considering that there might be something in XP that I could benefit from in that new version.
Well, I loved XP! That's why I take thought to all areas of my life to determine if I am applying the pharisee way to things.
As you take into account your life in Christ Jesus, be sure that you use this as a measuring stick. Am I missing God because of what and how I believe it should be, or how I was taught, or what I think.
To be a follower of Christ we need to crucify the "I" factor in our beliefs and deny ourselves as Jesus said, take up our cross and follow him. That means following Him in the direction that He is going!
For we are Ambassadors of Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:20
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Jesus Loves Me This I Know
As a child attending Sunday School, this song was one I learned and one that has stuck with me unto this day!
The words are:
JESUS LOVES ME
THIS I KNOW
FOR THE BIBLE
TELLS ME SO
LITTLE ONES TO HIM BELONG
THEY ARE WEAK BUT HE IS STRONG
YES, JESUS LOVES ME
YES, JESUS LOVES ME
YES, JESUS LOVES ME
FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO!
When did the Church of God, the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ stop believing God's Word, the bible?
THE TRUTH WILL NEVER BE QUIET, THE TRUTH WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN,
AND THE TRUTH WILL NEVER END!
As we embark upon Resurrection Sunday to celebrate what God did through Jesus Christ our Lord, let's remember that everything that he did was done for us was because of the LOVE of God and our Lord Jesus.
No matter how old we get, we will always be God's "Little One's" if you have received Jesus as Lord of your life. So remember that song and sing it often to yourself.
Come to Him. Return to Him. Stay with Him!
1 Corinthians 1:18 - Jesus Christ and Him Crucified
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
For we are Ambassadors for Christ 2 Corinthians 5:20
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The Shed Blood of Jesus
Have you found any discrepancies in what you have "heard" or been "taught" about Jesus Christ and his Crucifixion?
Hopefully you have been studying the scriptures and reading them in a different light since you have been reading my blog posts.
Are you ready for the next topic in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified? Today we will discuss Jesus' Blood and its' Power.
I have traveled to Israel and once you have traveled where Jesus walked, the scriptures open up in ways you cannot explain. You really begin to imagine yourself being there as you remember the various scripture references to Israel when you are standing there. I saw the garden (Gethsemene) where Jesus prayed. I walked the path where he rode into Jerusalem and the people cried out "Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord!" I walked the path that led to the hill where Jesus was crucified after he was beaten. I saw the tomb where he was laid.
Of course as a tourist, it is hard to get the tour guides to all agree where the exact spots are of all of these facts. But what I know is that Jesus experienced everything the scriptures say he did. I believe! Does it matter if "people" agree on the exact spot it all happened? No! What matters is that our faith in Jesus, where he lived, and what he did for us not waver. Jesus Christ and Him Crucified is the power of God!
Besides, we do not have to travel to Israel to get that experience. All we need do is to travel by God's Spirit. So let's take a trip back to the night before and the day of Jesus' assignment being fulfilled.
They (the religious leaders who denied who Jesus was) came to arrest Jesus at night, Luke 22:53.(please refer to the above references.) That's how Satan operates in people's lives, in darkness. Whether it be the dark of night or the darkness of one's heart and mind!
Jesus' Blood being shed for us when he was nailed to the cross. Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:33, & John 19:18 The scriptures do not explain the process of how Jesus was crucified, but there are many articles you can research on Roman Crucifixions and I have included a link below. Once you truly understand that it was more than being nailed to wood, you have to appreciate Jesus precious blood, shed for you and I. Why would he submit himself to this is the BLOOD wasn't important? And to know that He did it for everyone not matter who you are, the Blood cleansing is available today!
http://www.roman-colosseum.info/roman-life/roman-crucifixion.htm
Jesus said, that no one takes his life, but that he laid down his life. His purpose was to give LIFE back to mankind which is what his shed Blood represents. Genesis 4:10 and Deuteronomy 12:23
Then the Water represents the CLEANSING of the world stained by sin. Ephesians 5:26
Why is there all these references to Jesus' Blood in scripture? I never thought about it before, but as I have been studying Jesus Christ and Him Crucified, it has to mean something important, or the scriptures could have simply said Jesus died, was buried, was resurrected on the third day and ascending on high to the Father. But we read the details of Jesus' last night and his last day on earth as a man and what he endured for us.
Let's visit other scriptures to get some answers as to why so many references was made to Jesus' Blood being shed. Jesus himself makes His Blood the focus of "The Last Supper" topic with the bread and wine.
Jesus said in Luke 22:19-20: And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
His body and his blood was an important element in our eternity and in our life here before death. God didn't just send Jesus into the world to die. God's plan was far reading than death.
God had to redeem us once and for all, so that his creation of mankind could get back into fellowship with him, and that takes a blood sacrifice. (read the old testament blood sacrifices).
Once and for all, God needed a sacrifice that would take care of mankind's redemption without having to be repeated. The answer, JESUS! He came not born of sin, but born in a body. No animal can represent mankind, so God gave us his precious gift of Jesus. John 3:16
What did we receive from Jesus as the Lamb of God?
For we are Ambassadors for Christ - 2 Corinthian 5:20
Hopefully you have been studying the scriptures and reading them in a different light since you have been reading my blog posts.
Are you ready for the next topic in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified? Today we will discuss Jesus' Blood and its' Power.
I have traveled to Israel and once you have traveled where Jesus walked, the scriptures open up in ways you cannot explain. You really begin to imagine yourself being there as you remember the various scripture references to Israel when you are standing there. I saw the garden (Gethsemene) where Jesus prayed. I walked the path where he rode into Jerusalem and the people cried out "Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord!" I walked the path that led to the hill where Jesus was crucified after he was beaten. I saw the tomb where he was laid.
Of course as a tourist, it is hard to get the tour guides to all agree where the exact spots are of all of these facts. But what I know is that Jesus experienced everything the scriptures say he did. I believe! Does it matter if "people" agree on the exact spot it all happened? No! What matters is that our faith in Jesus, where he lived, and what he did for us not waver. Jesus Christ and Him Crucified is the power of God!
Besides, we do not have to travel to Israel to get that experience. All we need do is to travel by God's Spirit. So let's take a trip back to the night before and the day of Jesus' assignment being fulfilled.
Today's Scripture Reference Chapters:
St. Matthew 26 & 27
St. Mark 14 & 15
St. Luke 22 & 23
St. John 18 & 19
They (the religious leaders who denied who Jesus was) came to arrest Jesus at night, Luke 22:53.(please refer to the above references.) That's how Satan operates in people's lives, in darkness. Whether it be the dark of night or the darkness of one's heart and mind!
SWEAT DROPS
The first Blood reference appears as Jesus prayed to the Father in the garden, his place of solitude. Sweat which appeared as drops of blood, Luke 22:44. I have never prayed to that extent, but Jesus still knows our heart as we are seeking God's perfect will, just as he wanted to be sure this was what Father God had for him. Let us say as Jesus said, "Not my will but "Your" will be done."
WHIPPED
So now we see Jesus' Blood shed is when he received the scourging (whipping/lashing/flogging typically used by the Romans before crucifixion to torture). Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1 In reading accounts of how the Romans whipped people, it is simply unimaginable what Jesus went through and the massive amount of blood that was shed as he was beat.
CROWN OF THORNS
Yes, there was more of Jesus' Blood shed. From his head as they plaited a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and mocked him. Matthew 27:29, John 19:2, Mark 15:17 I have been pricked by a thorn and it really hurts. Now imagine a crown of thorns being pushed down on your head and blood streaming down your face and head.
CRUCIFIED
Jesus' Blood being shed for us when he was nailed to the cross. Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:33, & John 19:18 The scriptures do not explain the process of how Jesus was crucified, but there are many articles you can research on Roman Crucifixions and I have included a link below. Once you truly understand that it was more than being nailed to wood, you have to appreciate Jesus precious blood, shed for you and I. Why would he submit himself to this is the BLOOD wasn't important? And to know that He did it for everyone not matter who you are, the Blood cleansing is available today!
http://www.roman-colosseum.info/roman-life/roman-crucifixion.htm
PIERCED
Lastly, we see Jesus' Blood shed from his side, when he was pierced as recorded in John 19:24. But not only blood this time, it was blood and water. Why water? It was more than just the body releasing fluids. Let's look past our knowledge of the body and let's look at the meaning of each element that flowed from his body.Jesus said, that no one takes his life, but that he laid down his life. His purpose was to give LIFE back to mankind which is what his shed Blood represents. Genesis 4:10 and Deuteronomy 12:23
Then the Water represents the CLEANSING of the world stained by sin. Ephesians 5:26
The Conclusion of the Matter
Why is there all these references to Jesus' Blood in scripture? I never thought about it before, but as I have been studying Jesus Christ and Him Crucified, it has to mean something important, or the scriptures could have simply said Jesus died, was buried, was resurrected on the third day and ascending on high to the Father. But we read the details of Jesus' last night and his last day on earth as a man and what he endured for us.
Let's visit other scriptures to get some answers as to why so many references was made to Jesus' Blood being shed. Jesus himself makes His Blood the focus of "The Last Supper" topic with the bread and wine.
Jesus said in Luke 22:19-20: And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
His body and his blood was an important element in our eternity and in our life here before death. God didn't just send Jesus into the world to die. God's plan was far reading than death.
God had to redeem us once and for all, so that his creation of mankind could get back into fellowship with him, and that takes a blood sacrifice. (read the old testament blood sacrifices).
Once and for all, God needed a sacrifice that would take care of mankind's redemption without having to be repeated. The answer, JESUS! He came not born of sin, but born in a body. No animal can represent mankind, so God gave us his precious gift of Jesus. John 3:16
What did we receive from Jesus as the Lamb of God?
- Eternal & Daily Salvation with God - John 3:16
- Abundant Life - John 10:10
- Health and Healing - Matthew 8:17
- Prosperity - 3 John 2
- Redemption from the curse of sin - 1 Peter 1: 18-21
- Dominion, Victory & Authority - 1 John 5:4
For we are Ambassadors for Christ - 2 Corinthian 5:20
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