SPIRITUALITY AND FAITH
each of us must claim what Good Friday provided when Jesus cried out in v. 34 “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”. This requires responsibility for our past, confession of sin and a determination to gain His peace to replace your pain! Jesus allowed Himself to be stripped so you could be dressed in a robe of righteousness. Jesus hung bloody on a cross for you, so you could be clothed in beauty in this life and eternity. Jesus rose again to breathe life into your “dead” situation. Its what makes the Person of the Cross and Power of the Cross so valuable! While Good Friday it appeared that there was no hope for man’s situation, Easter Sunday our problem was solved forever! On Friday the disciples were hiding as Jesus was whipped with a cat of nine tails with pieces of metal and stone in the leather, spit on, mocked and had a crown of thorns pressed into his head. Friday was black with fear and embarrassment, but they like you needed to know…Sunday’ is coming guaranteeing your faith, freedom and future! He who took our sin cried out “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing…It is finished” as the Temple curtain (separated us from God) ripped from top to bottom in light of the fact our Sunday is coming. Yes Friday was a horrible day, but Sunday’s awesome victory shows us JESUS CAN RESCUE US AND RESTORE US! So 2ndly…
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This true story reminds us of why Jesus came at Easter. He knew the terrible plight of our being trapped on the tracks of sin. He took two crossbeams of a cross thrust into our hardhearted pleasure-focused life and allowed himself to be bloodied so we could go free! Like Jennifer, we need to realize the consequence of what we do as a result of this MAN’s rescue attempt…"What would have happened if I successfully fought off the man attempting to drag me to safety?" Its what we need to ask as we read Luke 23:39-47, 24:1-8 and respond to the One who came to save us on Good Friday and rose for us at Easter! First…
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