the man on the cross

Hi everyone. Do you ever find God speaking to you through a song? Giving you a revelation that fills you with his outstanding joy. Aren't those moments precious? Recently I had one of those precious moments. While listening to the song 'Lost in wonder' type it in the YouTube and soak in the words. I recommend it. That song is a precious reminder of the beauty that is the cross.

What are your thoughts when you think of the cross? Honestly I would love to hear your perspective. This is what came to me. 

Two angles

1: Gods work

2: Overwhelming pain of the cross

Gods work

 When I was younger I never really dug deep into the work God did. I mean truly ponder on it. What exactly does God do?. I knew in my heart that he knows all and sees all. But how many of us can truly grasp what that entails. I can honestly say I didn't give it a moments thought until my eyes were open to the biblical detail of what God does. You see I was reading my way through the book Job (which to those unsure is found in the bible), each day I would read a chapter. In Job 38, God challenges Job in his self pitty party. God questioned Job to his where about when ..

1. He laid the foundations of the earth 'Job  38: 4-7

2.  When God orchestrated the sea 'Job 38: 8-11'

3. Given orders to the morning dawn 'Job 38: 12-15'

4.  Have you walked the recesses of the deep

5. Seen the gates of death

6. The journey of light and darkness 'Job 38: 19-21

7. The storehouses of the weathers, snow, hail, lightening, rain, and who guides them to their course 'Job 38: 22-30'

8. Direction of the stars in the right seasons 'Job 38: 31 + 32'

9. Wisdom to the animals Job 38: 36

10. Do you provide food for the beasts of the earth? 'Job 38: 39-41'

This list is just the tip of the mountain of the vast work that God does on behalf of this world and everything in it. I don't think Job could of handled any thing else. This much in itself would have blown his mind. Because we do not see the bigger picture, we often put God in this small box. Having an understanding that he is a big mighty God, but not living like he is. Often our problems become a priority instead of us telling our problems how big our God is.  All that a side, let's bring it back to the man on the cross, as the title of this blog reads. God in all his busy schedule, set a time, place and purpose, to redirect the path of sin, sending it directly back to him should we choose to accept. What do I mean? Well God needed to get rid of the barrier of sin once and for all. But no one on this planet was pure enough to be pay the price for sin. And God longs to be in relationship with us. So action must be made. The spirit of God overshadowed Mary, she conceived the son of God. Who grew up and became our saviour, King, Our family and friend.  

Overwhelming pain of the cross

The cross is an extraordinary journey many find hard to understand. Think about it, why would one die for a world that hates you, or only wants you, to get something out of. Then the rest of the time puts you back on the shelf as though none essential. It is mind blowing in my opinion. Yet Jesus, though he had every opportunity to back track, persevered and fulfilled the brutal task a head of him. I remember the moment I realised to excessive pain Jesus took on himself out of love and how it brought me to my knees in tears, crying out why? Why would he do that? It was the first time I watched the passion of christ. It was hard to follow the subtitles and watch what was going on, but you did not necessarily need words to know exactly what was happening even if it weren't in English. I find reading what happened in the bible to be one amazing adventure but to watch it play out infront of you is a whole different ball game. The sheer brutality of what he went through for our sake is breathtaking. You can understand to a degree why people must have thought he was a mad man. But he was a man madly in love with creation. 

The journey to the cross 

Let's start with the time where pilate is giving the Jews the option of who to free, Jesus christ or Jesus barbrabas. For those unfamiliar with this story, it was custom at the time of passover that the Roman government would set free one prisoner. (John 18:39 (niv)... but it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?") Now a criminal deserving of any punishment would be brought to the fore front where Jesus stood and it would be the preferred choice the Jews make to set free. Jesus christ who in their opinion a raving mad and blasphemous man (not guilty) and barabas (also known as Jesus barabas) was a known criminal who shows no remorse (guilty). I never studied law but that doesn't even balance out right. Yet this barbrabas was the chosen one to be set free. I don't know your thoughts, but this is just the beginning of the brutal journey Jesus would take on behalf of the world and already a beautiful masterpiece is painted by God. The way I see this moment in history, is God's perfect painted picture. A glimpse into his plan unfolding. You see, Jesus took all our sin, all our sorrow, all our pain upon himself, as well as the physical and mental abuse to the cross. Meanwhile on the other hand someone deserving of a criminal punishment which in those days may have been death. Walks away a free man. I wonder if he even realised the gift God bestowed on him. It is through christ dying on the cross we too can be free. He offers us the gift of salvation. It is down to us to accept and receive. Hallelujah.  

Moving on to the day of Jesus's arrest and the journey to the cross. When reading from the different perspectives of the apostles to get a jigsaw image of the exact details on what christ endured. The agonising reality of what took place, the shame, the scorn that was leashed on him is uncomprehendable. Instead of seeking revenge, he spoke out 'father forgiven them, they do not know what they are doing"  (Luke 23: 34 (niv).. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.") How many of us can truly say we instantly came out with these words in love when we were hurt.

Next we reach a victorious moment. The moment when the devil realised how wrong he was, how far he had lost track on reality. Thinking because there was a dead body and that body being placed and barricaded in a tomb. He has won! But unfortunately for him the burial of Jesus christ was the beginning of forever. The beginning of the greatest gift for mankind. Salvation. Jesus going underground was a significant act which blossomed salvation that the world could receive when they accept him and walk into a relationship with almighty God. Just like when a seed is planted in the ground, we don't see what happens as it enters the darkness. When you think of darkness, very rarely would you link darkness to something beautiful, unless it was fashion related. Yet in this instance Jesus going into the depths of a grave meant life, restoration, redemption, forgiveness and love. A true and beautiful gift to you and I. Believe it, Receive it and live it. You are loved by almighty God and you are his masterpiece.

Let's pray

Father God, your greatest gift to us all is the sacrificial death of Jesus christ. Thank you for this most precious moment in history. Without it we couldn't possibly have a relationship with you. The 10 commandments show us such a reality. Without christ we would be lost to despair. Thank you for loving us so much that you would go to all lengths to repair the brokenness that came when the forbidden fruit was eaten. Father help us to walk in your truth, to know your love and to show your love to the world around us. Help us see others through your eyes and support and bless those in need. Help us to be the shining light in someones world, when all they see is darkness. Father how can we be a blessing in a world of mental health issues, shows us the opportunities and Give us the ideas that will reach the heart of others and show them they are loved by others but mostly by you. In Jesus name Amen