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Cross Verbs – Calling to Action :: 3rd saying from the Cross

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On April 14, 2014

In Christian, Seven Sayings

This is the 3rd post of the series, Cross Verbs >> Calling to Action, which is a look at the 7 sayings of Jesus Christ from the Cross, with an “action” perspective, for faith without action is dead (James 2:17). What is of note is that each saying has a verb in it, implying an action of Jesus Christ, the Lord, and what’s more, is that his action calls for our action.

Saying Three: When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
The Cross verbs today is “behold”.

To behold is to look or to see.  What is interesting to note, is that Jesus first beheld (saw) his mother and the disciple, whom he loved and then asked his mother to behold her son (the disciple) and the disciple to behold his mother.

Points to ponder:
Jesus looks at us first and then he wants us to look around and see familial relationships that need to be established.
The Cross verb “behold” calls us to action – to behold Christ Jesus first and to behold relationships around us that we need to embrace – relationships of a family. Are we beholding or turning a blind eye, when we ought to look?

Prayer: Lord, let us fix our eyes on you as you have fixed yours on us and let us behold and see the relationship of a family that needs to be established as you have adopted us into yours. Let us behold!

John 19:26-27 (KJV)
26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Cross Verbs – Calling to Action :: 2nd saying from the Cross

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On April 11, 2014

In Christian, Seven Sayings

This is the 2nd post of the series, Cross Verbs >> Calling to Action, which is a look at the 7 sayings of Jesus Christ from the Cross, with an “action” perspective, for faith without action is dead (James 2:17). What is of note is that each saying has a verb in it, implying an action of Jesus Christ, the Lord, and what’s more, is that his action calls for our action.

Saying Two: Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
The Cross verbs today is “say” and “be with”.

He “said” words of assurance to a sinner who recognized him as Lord and King, so that we can say “true words of assurance” pointing others to where Jesus is, which is paradise.
He assured the sinner who recognized him as Lord and King of “being with” him in his presence, so that we as sinner who recognize Jesus as Lord and King, can also be assured access into God’s presence, so that we can “be with” him, as well.

Points to ponder:
Jesus has the words of eternal life (John 6:68) and he has commanded us to go and teach (say to) all nations, of his blessed assurance. Are you with him, and are his words of eternal life, in you (John 15:7)? Are you abiding in him for without him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).
The Cross verbs “said” and “be with” calls us to action – to say of his sacrifice (Saviorship) and Sovereignty, so that all who believe in him, as Savior and Lord, can be with him, as he most assuredly promised.

Prayer:Let your words remain in me, I pray; and these words of eternal life, let me say – say to all who are not with you, so that they may be with you!

Luke 23:43 (KJV)
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Cross Verbs – Calling to Action :: 1st saying from the Cross

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On April 10, 2014

In Christian, Seven Sayings

This is the 1st post of the series, Cross Verbs >> Calling to Action, which is a look at the 7 sayings of Jesus Christ from the Cross, with an “action” perspective, for faith without action is dead (James 2:17). What is of note is that each saying has a verb in it, implying an action of Jesus Christ, the Lord, and what’s more, is that his action calls for our action.

Saying One: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).

The Cross verb is “forgive”.
He forgave us, calling to action, our forgiving of others as well.

Points to ponder:
Who do you have to forgive? Make a list of those who have hurt you. This may be a friend, foe or possibly even a family member, and remember, while while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, forgiving us of our sins (Romans 5:8). Thankfully God is not selective in his forgiveness, forgiving some and not others, like some of us are. Imagine, for a moment, what your state would be, if God chooses not to forgive you. He forgave us so we can forgive.

The Cross verb “forgive” call us to action – to forgive.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us (Matthew 6:12).

Luke 23:34 (KJV)
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

The Ark rested upon a mountain top

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On February 12, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Jesus Christ - The Ark, Noah's Ark (and Jesus), Through the Bible

Genesis 8:4 reads that after it had stopped raining for a hundred and fifty days, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat. We do not know for sure if it was on mount Ararat or upon one of the mountains in that region, where the ark rested. However, that detail is not as significant as recognizing that the ark did rest upon a mountain top and from within it, came out life to worship God first (Genesis 8:20) and be entered into a new covenant relationship with God (Genesis 8:21-22).

Jesus was crucified upon a hill (mountain top) called Calvary, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha (Luke 23:33; John 19:17) and on the Cross, he commended his spirit into the hands of God the Father (Luke 23:46) and rested in the Father’s hands. From him came out life for all who believe in him, shall not die but have passed over from death to life (John 5:24), a life that is not only abundant (John 10:10) but eternal as well, to worship God (Matthew 4:10) and be restored into a new covenant relationship with God. Jesus is The Ark who rested upon a mountain top!

Points to ponder:
Has Jesus Christ, The Ark of God, rested upon your life and soul? In other words, have you believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, to find rest, upon the mountain top of your heart/life?

Genesis 8:4, 20-22 (KJV)
4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
…
20 And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Total Surrender :: Father, into thy hands, I commend my spirit

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On March 31, 2013

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ seventh saying from the Cross is recorded in the gospel according to apostle Luke in chapter 23 verse 46. It reads, “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

Jesus’ body and blood was given for mankind (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). Jesus’ Holy Spirit was presented to God for approval (which is what commend means) and upon God’s acceptance and approval of Jesus’ sacrifice, of which the Holy Spirit who was surrendered is a witness (Hebrews 10:14-15), God could now send the Holy Spirit of Jesus to dwell within men for we are now the temple of the living God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Points to ponder:
Jesus totally surrendered his life and spirit for you and me. He totally surrendered his living Spirit to God so that the living Spirit of God could be sent to dwell within our lives, when we totally surrender ourselves to God. Have you told God, “Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit” as I totally surrender? Have you totally surrendered?

Luke 23:46 (KJV)
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV)
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of [received from] God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

No more, Nothing more :: It is finished

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On March 30, 2013

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ sixth saying from the Cross is recorded in the gospel according to apostle John in chapter 19 verse 30. It reads, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

Jesus said, “It is finished” to not only imply but also affirm that, that which was needed was indeed completed. The price that was necessary to redeem mankind from the power of sin and its wages, which is death, was paid in full. There is no more debt remaining. This also meant that there is nothing more necessary to save one’s soul because Jesus’ willing sacrifice was pleasing to God and was accepted by God, once and for all (Hebrews 10:12).

Points to ponder:
It is finished means there is no more debt; it means there is nothing more needed. In other words, it means it is all grace and no works that is necessary to save mankind (Ephesians 2:8-9). All works and no grace will keep the state of man’s soul unredeemed. All grace and no works will redeem the soul of man. We can confidently sing “Jesus paid it all” because he victoriously declared “It is finished.”

John 19:30 (KJV)
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Quenched :: I thirst

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On March 29, 2013

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ fifth saying from the Cross is recorded in the gospel according to apostle John in chapter 19 verse 28. It reads, “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.”

While some have exposited on this saying of Christ, “I thirst” as a literal expression of Jesus’ physical human thirst, others have expressed this as a symbolic expression of his spiritual thirst longing for the many souls he came to redeem; both of which are certainly plausible. Furthermore, some have pressed on to state that this is an expression of his longing for his reunion with God his Father, from whom he had felt forsaken which he expressed in his question to God in his fourth saying from the Cross.

Yet as I pondered over this saying, I felt led by the Holy Spirit, that another revelation of his living Word convicts me to believe that the God who thirsted on the Cross, thirsted so that you and I would not have to thirst anymore. Jesus told the Samaritan woman that whoever drinks of the water that he shall give shall never thirst; but the water that he shall give, shall be in that person a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14).

Points to ponder:
Jesus thirsted so that you and I need not thirst anymore. Are you thirsty or are you quenched? If you are thirsty, come to Jesus who thirsted for you and me. Come and receive the living water that he gives – so that we may never thirst again. If you have already come and are quenched, then let the refreshing and rejuvenating water of the Holy Spirit within renew your heart and become in you a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 19:28 (KJV)
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

John 4:19 (KJV)
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Behold :: Woman, Behold thy Son! … Behold thy Mother!

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On March 27, 2013

In Christian, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ third saying from the Cross was addressed to Mary his mother and to the disciple whom he loved and it is recorded in the gospel according to the apostle John in chapter 19 verses 26 and 27. In this saying, Jesus tells Mary and the disciple standing beside the Cross,  to look (behold) at each other, and from that hour, the disciple takes her to be part of his own home (family).

Jesus addresses his mother as ‘Woman’. The very first time the word ‘Woman’ is used in the Bible, it is used in the context of establishing a family, when Adam (the first man) calls Eve (his wife) ‘woman’ as he recite the first love poem of her being the bone of his bones and the flesh of his flesh (Genesis 2:23). From the Cross again, Jesus is using the same word ‘Woman’, to address his mother, here in the context of establishing a family for her.

Also, did you notice that Jesus tells his mother and his disciple to look at each other. Just as it was in the garden of Eden, God is interested in establishing familial relationships from the Cross.

Points to ponder:
The world is attempting to redefine what constitutes a family, many a times, violating the plan that God has planned since the first family between a man and a woman, in the garden of Eden. God wants us to look (behold) at the family and accept the widows, orphans, and others who have no one for them, as our own family. After all the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross beckons us to look at (behold) God as he takes us, the Church which is the bride (woman) of Jesus Christ, to be adopted into his family. Church, Behold the Family! Behold!

John 19:26-27 (KJV)
26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Today, You (with) Me :: Today shalt thou be with me in paradise

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On March 26, 2013

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ second saying from the Cross is recorded in the gospel according to apostle Luke in chapter 23 verse 43. It reads “Verily, I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” This was said to a penitent sinner who was condemned by man to die alongside Jesus on his cross, when the malefactor recognized Jesus as Lord and King and asked to be remembered (Luke 23:42).

While on one hand, these words are words of assurance that grant access to the very throne of God, for anyone who repents and recognizes the Lordship and Kingship of Jesus, these words also have much truth hidden in it which close scrutiny reveals with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus was born, he was to be called “Emmanuel” which being interpreted is God with us (men/women) (Matthew 1:23). Now in his second saying from the Cross, Jesus was living up to his name, ironically by his death, whereby he made it possible for man to be with God.

In Jesus’ birth, it is God with man.
In Jesus’ death, it is man with God (in paradise).

Points to ponder:
Jesus said, “Verily, I say unto you. Today, shalt thou be with me in paradise.” to a repentant sinner. Now, can he say that of you? In other words, have you believed in him, repented and accepted him to your Lord and King? “Today, You (with) Me” says God. What is your response?

Luke 23:39-43 (KJV)
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Let’s talk business :: From the Cross – 7th Saying

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On April 5, 2012

In Christian, Seven Sayings

When Jesus was twelve years old, he questioned, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49) and on his crucifixion, he spoke seven sayings that are often expanded upon on Good Friday services, all over the world. This series, ‘Let’s talk business’ is a look at the seven sayings of Jesus Christ from the Cross, from a business perspective. Today we shall look at the seventh saying from the Cross, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” as recorded in  Luke 23:46.

According to BusinessDictionary.com, the term “closure” is used to describe the termination of an project or activity. This happens after handover and closeout. The Association for Project Management defines handover as the final phase in which the deliverables are handed over to the sponsor and closeout as the process of finalizing all project matters.

When Jesus said “Father, into thy hands, I commend my spirit” before giving up his ghost, he was essentially handing over his spirit to God the Father, finalizing his act of being The Savior of the world and putting to closure the need for any more sacrifice for the remission of sins. God’s project of making a means to reconcile mankind to himself (2 Corinthians 5:19), was now put to an end, because Jesus’ willing and unblemished sacrifice was accepted by God (Hebrews 10:10). Jesus came to save sinners and give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45) and now he had finished the work that God had given him to do (John 17:4). With this last saying, he was declaring to the world and to God the Father, that his work of redeeming mankind was now complete. He was ready to be restored to the former glory that he had with God the Father, even before the world existed (John 17:5), putting a closure to his earthly mission.

Points to ponder:
Jesus handed over his spirit to God the Father and put a closure to his mission, while on earth. Can you/I emulate this model of Jesus Christ and hand overselves over, in totality (our body as a living sacrifice, our mind reflecting the humility as that of Christ, and our spirit), to God, and put a closure to the worldly things of this world, while on earth?

Luke 23:46 (KJV)
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. 

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