The "Why?" Behind the "What?"

HOW IT ALL BEGAN…

This journey back to the cross began when the leadership of the church I was attending decided to skip Good Friday. What? Seriously? Cut out the one day on the Christian calendar that makes sense of all the others?

No explanation was given. We were simply told to do something “good” on the day. Nothing wrong with “good” — hopefully it is something we do every day rather than something we save up for a special occasion. But the question sprang to mind: Why ignore Calvary? Are we so afraid of what a journey to the cross says about us that we look for a way to erase it from our calendars in a vain effort to erase it from our hearts and minds? Or is it simply no longer “politically correct” to use the “S” word, which is the reason why there needed to be a sinless sacrifice on that cross in the first place? Or is it the suffering that turns us off? Escaping suffering seems to be the heart cry of the Western world just as much as it is a daily experience for many people in so many places of the world. Or is all this simply a product of our “selfie” society. I’ve never heard of a church cancelling the celebration of Mothers’ Day or Fathers’ Day. Many congregations have, at the very least, a moment of silence to commemorate those of their number who died in the name of freedom during the world wars. But what about the One who fought and won, for our eternal liberty and at the cost of His own life, the greatest battle of all?

Paul’s prayer was that his only boast be in the cross (Galatians 6:14) even though it was a shameful death reserved for the worst of criminals. Should not we also boast in it, shameful though it is, since our souls depend upon it?

Even the Resurrection, glorious as it was, would not have happened without Calvary. His resurrection is proof of His power. The death is proof of His love. Both are essential.

So began the journey, as much my version of a protest as anything else. But as I journeyed I moved beyond my need to defend the keeping of the day to appreciating more than ever the meaning of the cross.

Like Paul, I can boast in nothing else except “Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2, KJV) because everything, without exception, is mine only because of what He did at Calvary.

Monday, August 7, 2017

The Innocent For The Guilty — Part 1



Pixabay
“…when I see the blood…” —Exodus 23:13

Hidden in the horrendous events of Exodus 11 and 12 are some of the most precious Gospel promises that God could ever give.
            As the Hebrews come to the end of their sojourn in Egypt, and as God came to the end of His patience in dealing with Pharaoh, Moses received instructions on how the people were to prepare for the Passover. They needed to be ready for that moment when the angel of God would pass over Egypt and take the first-born from every family, every flock, every herd. The lamb was to be sacrificed and its blood sprinkled on the doorposts of every Hebrew home. 
            “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt” (Exodus 12:13).
So Moses passed on the message and the people prepared for an event that has remained a sacred celebration for Jews since that time. Moses said: “When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your homes and strike you down” (Exodus 12:23).
“…when I see the blood…”
When, at last, we stand before God, those of us who know Jesus as Lord and Saviour will worship Him without fear. When He looks at us He will see, not our sins, but the blood of His Son—and will pass over. This theme becomes a constant in Scripture.
1 Peter 1:2, “…who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood.”
Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Jesus Christ you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”
Revelation 1:5, “…To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”
We rail at being passed over for a promotion, or for not being recognized for work well done, or being overlooked when invitations are extended to some special event. But this one time, when it comes to the judgment for sin, being passed over is a really, really good thing.
What a promise, what a privilege.

What a relief!
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