Sacrafice at its Best

It was early Friday morning that Jesus started being tried by the High Priests. This in Roman law was illegal to try someone in the early, early morning. Jesus was also illegally persecuted with being questioned illegally, having false witnesses, false accusations, and physical abuse.

From there, he was brought to Pilate to be investigated because under Roman law governors were to try and investigate capital cases themselves, but instead of being released, a robber, Barabbas, was released. This is when Pilate declares Jesus and innocent but the crowds pressed him telling him to crucify Jesus. So Pilate washed his hands and had Jesus to be scourged.
I put in this picture from the the Passion of Christ by Mel Gibson to give a glimpse of what it might have been like to see Jesus scourged. Remember, Jesus is the Son of God, during this time was beaten worse then any of us will ever experience.

The text says that a crown of thorns were twisted together as a crown and was put on his head.

Along with a purple robe being placed on the King of kings, the Roman soldiers mocked Jesus, tormented Him, physically abused Him and when brought out to the crowed again by Pilate they kept yelling to crucify Him and so Jesus, the son of God, was handed over to be crucified.

Then, "They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skill, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between" (John 19:17-18).

As Jesus was hanging on the cross, the men gambled over who would keep the clothes of Jesus. Jesus, hanging on the cross, cried out, "I am thirsty," and so they dipped a sponge into the sour wine and brought it to His mouth, "Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.




Today, Jesus died for us. He died for sinners. He died for me, He died for you. But this death, was not easy, and it shows the ultimate sacrifice...and it was for us. Today my prayer for me, my hope for us, is that we do not forget what the meaning of today is. We don't forget the gruesomeness of what Jesus had to endure...FOR US. These pictures were added, because I know for me, I can read about what happened to Jesus, and I can listen to someone talking about this, but when I see pictures of His crucifixion, I understand more.

Take this time, and remember what Christ did for us today. Remembering that his death was not for just the good people, or the nice people, but it was for EVERYONE, because no matter who you are, how bad or how good you are, we ALL need Him. We ALL need his sacrifice on the cross. A very joyous day is around the corner, but let's not forget the pain Jesus had to endure for us.


Father God, I pray for those reading this right now, that this will be a reminder to stop what we are doing, forget about the day and the events it brings, and we focus on You. I pray that we can remember what You did, and what You had to sacrifice for us. I pray that those who do not have a relationship with You that they come to have one. They come to find peace and rest in what You have done, and in the fact that You are our Savior.


Remember, the importance of today, the pain that Jesus endured through today and in the same time rejoice in the fact that Jesus paid it all!

"But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

Church

Attend, say prayers, sing catchy songs in worship, listen to the pastor. Leave.
Yet, what if this church did not have that great of worship of songs? Songs were bleak or maybe the singer cannot really sing. What is the next step?

Maybe go to another church.
Attend, say prayers, sing catchy songs in worship, listen to the pastor. Leave.
The worship at this church rocked! But the preaching was so-so... Next step, find another church.

I have been in this situation before, I look for my needs, what suits me and what I think is the biblical solid church. But is the church?

In Ephesians 1:22-23, Paul states, "And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in." Christ, is the head of the body of believers, which is the universal Church!

There is also the local church described in Galatians 1:1-2, "Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead), and all the brethren that are with me, unto the churches of Galatia" Here Paul is writing to multiple churches in Galatia, thus we see the the local church is made up of believers in Christ Jesus (who are part of the universal church) all in a certain location.

Believers in the universal Church should be seeking out fellowship and edification in the local church but what is the central purpose? In Philippians 1:18 Paul states, "What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice." Paul finishes his thoughts by saying that no matter the way, he is rejoicing in the fact that the Gospel is preached!

So our goal, as Paul states, is preaching and fighting for the Gospel! But unfortunately the
church, over the many years, has become more of a broker of spiritual gifts and service and less of a spiritual family fighting together for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We look more for what we can get out of a church. We feel as if our personal needs of getting fed spiritually from the church is greater than the family of believers fighting for the Gospel!
Remember, something I still forget, our spiritual food doesn't come from the preacher but from the Word of God.

But change starts on an individual level. We need to be creating stronger and more focused disciples of Jesus Christ. Maybe we can think of lessening the bar for how church is run and heightening the bar of discipleship making, this would create a phenomenal family of believers fighting for the Gospel (church).

It starts with me, it starts with you. One by one. Fighting for the Gospel, like marriage, through sickness and health, through bad singing and boring preaching. One by one, in battle with the unseen world we will fight for the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Praise be to God.