cross

by

A Father’s Dreams

As I sat in my prayer chair this morning I looked over at one of my Christmas decorations. It is a velvet Christmas stocking with a large cross stitched on it. The stark contrast suddenly struck me. As we celebrate His birth, there before me was a reminder of His death.

I think of new parents as they look upon their newborn child, the hopes, the dreams, the plans they have for their child. God looked upon His newborn Son and knew the plan for His life included His death on a cross.

Jesus, God’s Son, would die for our sins by being tortured, abused, and finally nailed to a cross. And God knew this as He looked upon a baby in a manger… His Son, Jesus.

And the angel answered and said unto her , The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35, KJV)

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7, KJV)

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6, KJV)

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5, KJV)

“…it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” (John 11:50, NIV)

…after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified. (Matthew 27:26, NASB)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son… (John 3:16, KJV)

by

For You

I heard a testimony today where a father was speaking about a time when he found out his daughter was diagnosed with cancer. The Lord said to him, “If you as… [her] earthly father could take her place you would.” The father responded, “Absolutely.” God then said to this earthly father, “You can’t. I can. And I did.” *

I was reminded of this scripture.

But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us. (Romans 5:8, Amplified)

He died for us. That one little three letter word seems so powerful today. He died for us.

When’s the last time you looked that word up in the dictionary. It’s a little word we might be tempted to read over. We’ve heard it. We’ve seen it. We know what it means. But have you thought about it lately.

Here are some definitions from my American Dictionary of the English Language by Noah Webster 1828.

For: in the place of; as a substitute; instead of.

He died for us. He died in our place. He died as our substitute. As a well-known Christian song says, “I should have been crucified. I should have suffered and died.” But He died instead of you and me.

…it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people… (Johm 11:50, KJV)

…it is expedient and better for your own welfare that one man should die on behalf of the people… (John 11:50, Amplified)

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18, KJV)

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5, KJV)

He took it all upon Himself for us. On our behalf. So we wouldn’t have to. Our sins, our sicknesses. (1 Peter 2:24, Psalm 103:3)

That three letter word has other meanings too.

For: in favor of; on the part or side of; towards or inclined to. (Webster’s 1828)

What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] (Romans 8:31, Amplified)

You need no further proof that God is for you than the fact that He sent His Son to die for you. Selah.

One last definition for this amazing little word.

For: because. (Webster’s 1828)

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross… (Hebrews 11:2, KJV)

He is for you. He did what He did for you. He died for you. Selah.

(* The testimony quoted above is an actual testimony of healing taken from the healing resource “Healing & Wellness: Your 10-Day Spiritual Action Plan” by Kenneth & Gloria Copeland)

by

A Love Story to Be Remembered

Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (1 Corinthians 11:24, KJV)

…when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. (Matthew 27:26, KJV)

Scourged as described in the Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words:

The “scourge” was made of leather thongs, weighted with sharp pieces of bone or lead, which tore the flesh of both the back and the breast.

…with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5, KJV)

By His wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24, Amplified)

…this is my body, which is broken for you… (1 Corinthians 11:24, KJV)

Selah.

This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. (1 Corinthians 11:25, KJV)

…one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (John 19:34, KJV)

…it is  not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (Hebrews 10:4, KJV)

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12, KJV)

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. (Ephesians 1:7, KJV)

His blood that was shed for you.

So many things to think about today – meetings, lunch plans, paying bills, carpools, but our Savior made a request that we remember one thing, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”

With all the things we have to think about, one thing that we cannot allow to be pushed to the back of our minds, only to be remembered once a week, once a month or even less, is the fact that He died for us. And in His death and resurrection He bore “the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for” us (Isaiah 53:5, Amplified).

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases… (Psalm 103:2-3, KJV)

…God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us. (Romans 5:8, KJV)

His death and resurrection is a love story to be remembered.