Easter
E ~ Is For ENTER The King
A ~ Is For AFFLICTION
S ~ Is For SUFFICIENT SACRIFICE
John 19: 17-37
The Scripture says, “the He (Jesus) bearing His cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha. Where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.”
Why Did Jesus Have To Die?
I looked up the ‘Greek word for ‘cross’ in my ’Hebrew-Greek’ study Bible. I found some very interesting thoughts to ponder. The word in the ‘Greek for ‘cross’ is “Stauros’ (stao-to stand). A stake for execution, an instrument of torture for punishment, most dreadful and agonizing. The ‘cross refers to the whole passion of Christ and the merit of His sufferings and death (Galatians 6:14); and also to the doctrine concerning these (1 Corinthians 1:17). The expressions of taking up or carrying the cross allude to the Roman custom of making the criminal carry the cross on which he was to suffer (John 19:17)…..In the cross it is not the idea of sacrifice as such which is emphasized, but the blood of Christ (Colossians 1:20) and what Christ experienced from the world as the full measure of His rejection which, however, has become the means of redemption. The cross shows this peculiarity of His death which also was a sacrifice. It makes the manner of His death prominent. Therefore, the blood refers to the sacrifice but the cross refers also to the shame.”
Okay, so that was a mouthful! I think (I think, after thinking about it) the way to put it is this: The cross is the means by which Christ’s blood was shed. The shameful cross was the way in which Christ died. The blood of Christ is our redemption. Up until the ‘cross and Christ’, men would sacrifice innocent lambs as a substitute for their punishment. This sacrifice was the acknowledgement that sin required death and the shedding of blood. If you will remember, God promised a sinless SUFFICIENT SACRIFICE way back in Genesis 3:15. And God reaffirmed this promise throughout Scripture.
(see Colossians 1:12-23) Colossians 1:14 tells us that “in Jesus we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” And, Colossians 1:20 tells us that “peace was made through the blood of the cross by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself.”
I Think, A More Appropriate Question For Me To Ask Would Have Been……
Why Did Jesus Have To Shed His Blood For Us By Dying On The Cross?
Jesus had to shed His blood and die on the cross, to provide our ONLY way to be with Him in Paradise!
Thought to Ponder: The depth of Jesus’ love for us is “The Cross” and His “SUFFICIENT SACRIFICE”! Wow! The Love of The Savior!!!!!!
Scripture to Ponder: John 19:30 “…….he (Jesus) said, It is finished; and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.”
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