DAY 306 Read Luke 23:13-56; John 18:39 through 19:42; Matthew 27:15-66.
Today's reading: These chapters are about the "old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame," and about the One who hung on that cross for you and for me.
Memory gem: "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).
Thought for today:
Jesus died for the salvation of all men. He sacrificed Himself to save His enemies. The Bible says in Romans 5:8, "that, while we were yet sinners [enemies], Christ died for us."
So, if He died for us, our sins really killed Him. When Jesus died, His Father was not receiving a gift from Him; He was making a gift to us. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself" (2 Corinthians 5:19). Jesus' death provided the atonement. As our High Priest He ministers that atonement to us.
The intelligent follower of Jesus Christ will never shift the blame to the shoulders of the Jewish people or to the Roman government, but will assume equal responsibility with every other man in this world for the tragedy that took place there on old Golgotha's hill. Dr. Loraine Boettner quotes a Christian litany which runs: "Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon Thee? Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone Thee. 'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied Thee: I crucified Thee."
Should we not all say this? The Jewish people, the Gentile world, all the nations of yesterday and today, the generals, the politicians, the diplomats, the scientists in their laboratories, the Protestants, and the Catholics, people of no religion--all of us should beat our breasts and cry for the forgiveness of God.
Not until we realize that we crucified Jesus can we really understand God's love and saving mercy. When we hear that moving spiritual, "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" we must answer, "Yes, Lord, I was there." You and I were there. We were all there. Our sins put Him on the cross. His love, not Roman nails, held Him there. So let us live for Him and show by our lives of humble obedience that we do love Him who first loved us. (See note under DAY 307...tomorrow.)
Today's reading: These chapters are about the "old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame," and about the One who hung on that cross for you and for me.
Memory gem: "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).
Thought for today:
Jesus died for the salvation of all men. He sacrificed Himself to save His enemies. The Bible says in Romans 5:8, "that, while we were yet sinners [enemies], Christ died for us."
So, if He died for us, our sins really killed Him. When Jesus died, His Father was not receiving a gift from Him; He was making a gift to us. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself" (2 Corinthians 5:19). Jesus' death provided the atonement. As our High Priest He ministers that atonement to us.
The intelligent follower of Jesus Christ will never shift the blame to the shoulders of the Jewish people or to the Roman government, but will assume equal responsibility with every other man in this world for the tragedy that took place there on old Golgotha's hill. Dr. Loraine Boettner quotes a Christian litany which runs: "Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon Thee? Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone Thee. 'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied Thee: I crucified Thee."
Should we not all say this? The Jewish people, the Gentile world, all the nations of yesterday and today, the generals, the politicians, the diplomats, the scientists in their laboratories, the Protestants, and the Catholics, people of no religion--all of us should beat our breasts and cry for the forgiveness of God.
Not until we realize that we crucified Jesus can we really understand God's love and saving mercy. When we hear that moving spiritual, "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" we must answer, "Yes, Lord, I was there." You and I were there. We were all there. Our sins put Him on the cross. His love, not Roman nails, held Him there. So let us live for Him and show by our lives of humble obedience that we do love Him who first loved us. (See note under DAY 307...tomorrow.)
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