crucifixion

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Willing

And behold, a leper came up to Him and, prostrating himself, worshiped Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You are able to cleanse me by curing me. And He reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed by being cured. And instantly his leprosy was cured and cleansed. (Matthew 8:2-3, Amplified)

Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, I have pity and sympathy and am deeply moved for the crowd, because they have been with Me now three days and they have nothing [at all left] to eat; and I am not willing to send them away hungry, lest they faint or become exhausted on the way. (Matthew 15:32, Amplified)

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. (Luke 22:41-43, KJV)

Willing = wishing, longing, desiring (from Rick Renner’s Sparkling Gems from the Greek)

Jesus was willing and able to heal. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

He had compassion and was not willing to send the people away hungry. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

God was not willing that you or I should perish. He was not willing for that cup to pass from Jesus’ hand, because of you and me.

Jesus struggled under the pressure of what lay before Him… torture, crucifixion, death on that cross, separation from God. Not My will but Your’s be done. He was willing to do it for the Father and for the joy that was set before Him, you and me set free and born again. He’s the same yesterday, today and forever.

He is a willing God. Willing to love you. Willing to bless you. Willing to heal you. Willing to save you. Not willing that you should perish or come to destruction, but have everlasting life. He is willing.

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and said unto him, I am willing… (Mark 1:41, KJV & Amplified)

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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)

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My Hero

Lyrics from Third Day’s Love Song:

I’ve heard it said that a man would climb a mountain
Just to be with the one he loves.
How many times has he broken that promise
It has never been done.
I’ve never climbed the highest mountain,
But I walked the hill of Calvary.

I know that you don’t understand
the fullness of My love.
How I died upon the cross for your sins.

Just to be with you, I’ve done everything
There’s no price I did not pay
Just to be with you, I gave everything
Yes, I gave my life away.

My Hero, the One Who died for me:

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13, KJV)

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. (Isaiah 53:5, Amplified)

…He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, so opened he not his mouth… (Acts 8:32, KJV)

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11, KJV)

…I lay down My [own] life… (John 10:17, Amplified)

And they took Jesus and led [Him] away; so He went out, bearing His own cross, to the spot called The Place of the Skull… There they crucified Him… (John 19:17-18, Amplified)

…And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. (John 19:30, Amplified)

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. (1 Peter 2:24-25,KJV & Amplified)

The world is full of people who have earned the right to be called heroes. Others are called heroes who have never done anything heroic. There is only One Man Who laid down His life for not just one, not just a few, not just a nation, but for every person that has ever and will ever walk this earth. But today, think about the fact that He did if for you. He’s not just a Hero. He’s not just the world’s Hero. He is your Hero. Selah.

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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.