A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (November 6, 2017)
For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who perish; but unto us who are saved, it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)
I woke up this morning thinking about the Cross and how we sometimes don’t realize the significance of what was accomplished by Jesus on the Cross. Oh, we who are saved know that all our sins were paid for on the Cross. We know that our eternal salvation was paid for on the Cross. But do we know what the Cross says to us about our present-day life? Do we really know the earthly benefits of the Cross?
We have done a lot of counseling and praying for people over the years. That counseling has included people that have been abused and hurt in every type of situation imaginable. The most common theme through most of these type sessions is one of bitterness and unforgiveness. The abused person usually has a very hard time getting their eyes off themselves and the abuser. The enemy is always there ready to re-run that video in their head over and over again. Here is where the Cross is so significant!!!
No person has suffered more than Jesus! Regardless of what you have been through in this life you have not been through what Jesus went through. All our excuses on why we should not, and cannot, forgive someone fades away when we compare our video with His video. Jesus had the authority to call down legions of angels to wipe out all His accusers but what did he do? He said forgive them Lord for they know not what they do. You and I have not been scourged and beaten so bad that we are unrecognizable, made to carry a Cross, crucified on a hill, and our side split open with a spear. Our situation does not compare! We have not yet suffered to the shedding of blood fighting against sin like Jesus did (Hebrews 12:4).
We are very creative when it comes to justifying our reactions and responses to hurt. We can come up with excuses on top of excuses. It was my parents’ fault; it was God’s fault; it was that woman God gave me; you just don’t understand God what they did; and the excuses go on and on as to why we should not be expected to do what God tells us to do, like forgive. The only problem with that is His video. If you look at His video, then the Cross voids all our excuses.
The Cross is not just for eternal purposes. The Cross is for us now (today) so we can daily overcome the world and everything that the world and our enemy throws at us. It is God’s instrument of freedom!!! If we will get our eyes on Jesus and the Cross, and understand we have to pick up that Cross daily and follow Him, there is nothing that we cannot overcome in this life.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. (Matthew 27:28-30) And he 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 other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews. (John 19:17-19) Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34) And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. (Matthew 27:35) And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. (Matthew 39:43) Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:29-30) Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. (John 19:32-37) 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)
