THE COST OF OUR REDEMPTION

April 22, 2011 – Good Friday

Matthew 27:26 - 31 (NKJV) ²⁶Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. ²⁷Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. ²⁸And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. ²⁹When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on 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!” ³⁰Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. ³¹And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

This was no common thief or murderer that the soldiers were mocking – this was God incarnate, and as I read these words this morning the realization came again, that with just one glance He could have struck every one of those men dead, had He done that He could have walked free – for surely no one would have dared move against Him after that. But you see had the Lord Jesus not gone to the cross, then every man and woman that had been born or ever would be born would have been destined to spend eternity separated from God – and that is something too terrible to contemplate.

The crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ was not an accident – it was not some plan gone terribly wrong – He was not a victim – He was fulfilling His Father’s plan to redeem fallen man – and that plan was made way back in eternity.

The Lord Himself had spoken of this to His disciples

John 10:17 - 18 (NKJV) ¹⁷“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. ¹⁸No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

The Lord Jesus came to pay the price for our sin – no one else could pay it because no one else has ever lived a sinless life. Our sin has separated us from a Holy God – through His death and resurrection the Lord Jesus Christ has opened the way for us to be reconciled to God – The Lord Jesus loves every one of us and He longs for that moment when we turn to Him in repentance for our sin and ask Him to forgive us and come into our lives as Lord and Saviour. Will you think seriously about these things?

Put on the NEW SELF

O, the irksome feeling after having my suspicions confirmed! – 7lbs! The dreaded half a stone! I seldom stand on my scales, as my clothes tell the tale of excess. Buttons becoming tight, then not fastening at all!

Last time I braved the scales was the first week of October. This was after a break in Llangrannog, followed by two nights B & B in Conway.

How does this half stone creep on so quickly? For me there are two reasons for the gain. Firstly”eating out”. I give permission for someone else to be my nutrition provider. The second is obvious, I’m on holiday! Chocolates, scones, wine and the occasional

Ice cream doesn’t help either.

So decision made, I choose to put more thought in again to meals and snacks. All the above are still allowed, it is just the quantity and frequency that is slashed. I instantly feel good.

As a believer and servant of Jesus Christ, I see all this as a reflection of what the Lord would have us do more regularly than just at the beginning of a new year - self examination. The communion table is one such time. If all else fails, here we can take stock, and if necessary repent and clear out the outer courts of our temple, which is our flesh life.

My school motto, back in the 1970’s was a passage from Philippians Chapter 4: 4-8, the King James Version.

The “Whatsoever things” have stayed with me to this day.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true

Whatsoever things are honest (noble NIV)

Whatsoever things are just (right NIV)

Whatsoever things are pure

Whatsoever things are lovely

Whatsoever things are of good report (admirable NIV)

If there be any virtue (excellence NIV)

And if there be any praise, think on these things.

There are other lists, but these are of things that can make us stumble or just become sluggish. “Whatsoever” is personal and it is usually attached to a particular appetite or other. Yours could be work, music, TV, Facebook, magazines, socializing. The lists are endless.

I began with sharing one of my irks! Thankfully we have the Lord. Invite Him regularly to sweep clean your outer courts, that is why He came. His blood is available to cleanse and restore, any time of day or night.

A happy and Christ centred New Year to all.

Ephesians 4: 7-23

Romans 14: 17-21