Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "cross-of-christ"
Counting When It Counts – Part 1
If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple [Luke 14:26-27].
Often in life we face excessive and overwhelming burdens or trials, requiring us to trudge through the thick marsh to reach deliverance on the other side. It is not uncommon when facing such dire straits to utter the phrase, “This is my cross to bear.” Have you ever heard it?
Seldom is the distress identified by those words truly the person’s cross…at least not in the Biblical sense. The idea of bearing or carrying or taking up the cross has become a meaningless platitude. It would be well worth the effort for us to delve into this issue a bit.
Scripturally speaking there is only one cross, just as there is only one Savior who died on the cross and one salvation resulting from His death on the cross. We are of course referencing the cross of Christ. Though countless people were subjected to crucifixion under Roman rule, still none of their crosses deserves mention from God’s standpoint. Each one died for his own sins. Only Jesus did not.
The cross of Christ is the symbol of the God-man, as He died to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind past, present, and future. The cross in and of itself holds no value. It was only some rough lumber, unfinished and unsightly. It was the Lord’s death which created eternal value. The cross was merely the instrument employed in putting Jesus to death. Hence the cross is the symbol of His death, but in and of itself the wood cross on which He died holds no value.
From this understanding we can deduce that a cross in and of itself has no merit or value. I mean, since the cross of Christ in and of itself merits no value, certainly any other “cross” you or I supposedly bear cannot have merit or value. Am I not right?
So then what good is it, to identify troubles we face by the phrase “my cross to bear”? Such rhetoric can only muddy the waters of spiritual truth by devaluing the Lord’s death. Each of us would be well served to refrain from rhetoric about crosses, and instead focus on only the cross of Christ with regard to its true meaning.
Someone will object, “Oh, but Jesus commanded us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. Are you saying Jesus was wrong about us having our own personal crosses?”
You are indeed correct, dear friend, to recall Jesus’ words. It warms my heart that you know them. In fact we quoted one example of this in the verses which kicked off this study. You err, however, in your understanding of what Jesus meant. Let’s consider this issue and see what we can learn.
What did Jesus mean in Luke 14:27, when he stated, Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple? To answer this we need to recall Rule #1 for Bible study: a text without a context is a pretext.
Oh, dear. Out of time again! Let’s spend some time alone with the Lord now and meet back here tomorrow, same time, same station.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Often in life we face excessive and overwhelming burdens or trials, requiring us to trudge through the thick marsh to reach deliverance on the other side. It is not uncommon when facing such dire straits to utter the phrase, “This is my cross to bear.” Have you ever heard it?
Seldom is the distress identified by those words truly the person’s cross…at least not in the Biblical sense. The idea of bearing or carrying or taking up the cross has become a meaningless platitude. It would be well worth the effort for us to delve into this issue a bit.
Scripturally speaking there is only one cross, just as there is only one Savior who died on the cross and one salvation resulting from His death on the cross. We are of course referencing the cross of Christ. Though countless people were subjected to crucifixion under Roman rule, still none of their crosses deserves mention from God’s standpoint. Each one died for his own sins. Only Jesus did not.
The cross of Christ is the symbol of the God-man, as He died to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind past, present, and future. The cross in and of itself holds no value. It was only some rough lumber, unfinished and unsightly. It was the Lord’s death which created eternal value. The cross was merely the instrument employed in putting Jesus to death. Hence the cross is the symbol of His death, but in and of itself the wood cross on which He died holds no value.
From this understanding we can deduce that a cross in and of itself has no merit or value. I mean, since the cross of Christ in and of itself merits no value, certainly any other “cross” you or I supposedly bear cannot have merit or value. Am I not right?
So then what good is it, to identify troubles we face by the phrase “my cross to bear”? Such rhetoric can only muddy the waters of spiritual truth by devaluing the Lord’s death. Each of us would be well served to refrain from rhetoric about crosses, and instead focus on only the cross of Christ with regard to its true meaning.
Someone will object, “Oh, but Jesus commanded us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. Are you saying Jesus was wrong about us having our own personal crosses?”
You are indeed correct, dear friend, to recall Jesus’ words. It warms my heart that you know them. In fact we quoted one example of this in the verses which kicked off this study. You err, however, in your understanding of what Jesus meant. Let’s consider this issue and see what we can learn.
What did Jesus mean in Luke 14:27, when he stated, Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple? To answer this we need to recall Rule #1 for Bible study: a text without a context is a pretext.
Oh, dear. Out of time again! Let’s spend some time alone with the Lord now and meet back here tomorrow, same time, same station.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Counting When It Counts – Part 2
If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple [Luke 14:26-27].
We concluded yesterday’s study by noting the need to put Luke 14:27 into context, in order to understand it aright.So what is the context for Luke 14:27? Answer: verse 26. In fact Jesus provided two illustrations of what He meant in verses 28-33. First we will note the context from verse 26, and then we will briefly taste the proof in the pudding of verses 28-33.
In v.26 Jesus presented the one condition everyone must meet, if he would be Jesus’ disciple. Note the context, viz., discipleship. This in and of itself refutes 99.99% of the references to the phrase “my cross to bear”.
Seldom are those words used in the context of discipleship. They are almost always spoken during times of personal issues, not issues resulting from persecution and martyrdom because we are serving Jesus. Ergo, the phrase isn’t used vis-à-vis discipleship.
Consequently it is used out of context.
What was Jesus’ one condition everyone is required to meet, in order to be His disciple? Answer: we must die to our old life in every aspect, in order to live His new life in us. Read v.26 and see if this isn’t true. Even our most prized relationships must be put on the back burner, in order to give Jesus first place. Nothing, absolutely nothing, must be allowed to come between Jesus and His disciple.
In that context reread verse 27 now. Verses 26 and 27 are given in the style of Hebrew poetry. They are spoken as synonymous parallelism. Today we rhyme words at the end of lines and call it poetry. In the Bible the Hebrews rhymed ideas between lines to create their poetry. Jesus did this in verses 26-27.
Verse 26 is synonymous with verse 27. How do we carry our own cross? Read v.26 and see. We renounce our own life, in order to replace it with the life of Jesus in us. We stop living to please self, and we start living to please Jesus. We don’t allow our family relationships to dictate our lifestyle or our actions. Instead we allow the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to do so.
The Son of God took upon true humanity and lived in this very way. He willingly laid aside His prerogatives as Deity, and lived in the body by obeying the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. When He died on the cross, it wasn’t for His own sins. He didn’t have any sins. He died for our sins.
When I renounce my own life in favor of the life of Jesus in me, I am identifying myself on the cross of Christ with Him. I am dying to myself and all my family relationships, in order to rise out of death with Jesus to newness of life. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The old life is dead in Christ on His cross. The new life inside me rules me, so I live for Him as His disciple.
This is what it the phrase “cross of Christ” means to His disciples. And without first being born again no one can be His disciple. So when Jesus commands His disciple to take up his cross, He means for His disciple to renounce living for self by identifying how he died “in Christ” on the cross of Christ. The words “his own cross” in verse 27, when taken in context, mean the cross of Christ as it is recognized by the disciple to be his own cross because he was on that cross “in Christ”.
We will present further proof of this interpretation in tomorrow’s study. For now enjoy some quiet time alone with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We concluded yesterday’s study by noting the need to put Luke 14:27 into context, in order to understand it aright.So what is the context for Luke 14:27? Answer: verse 26. In fact Jesus provided two illustrations of what He meant in verses 28-33. First we will note the context from verse 26, and then we will briefly taste the proof in the pudding of verses 28-33.
In v.26 Jesus presented the one condition everyone must meet, if he would be Jesus’ disciple. Note the context, viz., discipleship. This in and of itself refutes 99.99% of the references to the phrase “my cross to bear”.
Seldom are those words used in the context of discipleship. They are almost always spoken during times of personal issues, not issues resulting from persecution and martyrdom because we are serving Jesus. Ergo, the phrase isn’t used vis-à-vis discipleship.
Consequently it is used out of context.
What was Jesus’ one condition everyone is required to meet, in order to be His disciple? Answer: we must die to our old life in every aspect, in order to live His new life in us. Read v.26 and see if this isn’t true. Even our most prized relationships must be put on the back burner, in order to give Jesus first place. Nothing, absolutely nothing, must be allowed to come between Jesus and His disciple.
In that context reread verse 27 now. Verses 26 and 27 are given in the style of Hebrew poetry. They are spoken as synonymous parallelism. Today we rhyme words at the end of lines and call it poetry. In the Bible the Hebrews rhymed ideas between lines to create their poetry. Jesus did this in verses 26-27.
Verse 26 is synonymous with verse 27. How do we carry our own cross? Read v.26 and see. We renounce our own life, in order to replace it with the life of Jesus in us. We stop living to please self, and we start living to please Jesus. We don’t allow our family relationships to dictate our lifestyle or our actions. Instead we allow the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to do so.
The Son of God took upon true humanity and lived in this very way. He willingly laid aside His prerogatives as Deity, and lived in the body by obeying the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. When He died on the cross, it wasn’t for His own sins. He didn’t have any sins. He died for our sins.
When I renounce my own life in favor of the life of Jesus in me, I am identifying myself on the cross of Christ with Him. I am dying to myself and all my family relationships, in order to rise out of death with Jesus to newness of life. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The old life is dead in Christ on His cross. The new life inside me rules me, so I live for Him as His disciple.
This is what it the phrase “cross of Christ” means to His disciples. And without first being born again no one can be His disciple. So when Jesus commands His disciple to take up his cross, He means for His disciple to renounce living for self by identifying how he died “in Christ” on the cross of Christ. The words “his own cross” in verse 27, when taken in context, mean the cross of Christ as it is recognized by the disciple to be his own cross because he was on that cross “in Christ”.
We will present further proof of this interpretation in tomorrow’s study. For now enjoy some quiet time alone with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Counting When It Counts – Part 3
If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple [Luke 14:26-27].
Let’s present the additional proof of our interpretation now, as we promised at the close of yesterday’s study. The proof is in the pudding, dear friends. As we noted earlier, Jesus provided two examples for interpreting verses 26-27. These two examples are recorded in Luke 14:28-33. Let me summarize the two for you.
No one starts constructing a building, without first counting his money to see if he can afford to build it. He needs to do the counting when it counts. Otherwise he might get the foundation laid and the framework built atop the foundation, but haven’t the money to add the roof and walls and floors and windows. He’d be the laughingstock of the entire town!
Again, no one decides to rush over to his neighbor’s house and kick his rear end, unless he first knows whether the neighbor is a wuss or a warrior. Otherwise he might kick the door down and rush inside, only to find himself staring down barrel of a shotgun! His family won’t find it funny at his funeral, though the rest of the town might!
Jesus concluded those two illustrations with the words, So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions (v.33). In the example of constructing a building, the person had to count his money to see if he had enough to finish building. He couldn’t start off building unless he was willing, if necessary, to spend all he had to finish.
In the example of going to a fight, the person first had to be totally committed, even at the cost of paying with his very life. In both cases total sacrifice to the job he undertook had to be recognized and agreed to beforehand.
No one can be a disciple of Jesus, so long as he expects affluent living in country club church settings. To be a disciple of Jesus each of us is required to want the job so badly, that we no longer receive pleasure from the things of the world. The only pleasure we can receive from the things of the old life must come from serving Jesus and placing Him first and foremost.
We can and should use the things of the world to serve Jesus. This is what Jesus meant by His parable of the unjust steward (cf., Luke 16:1-9). But we cannot desire anything the world offers, including family, except in the context of serving Jesus first and foremost.
That, dear friends, is the definition of Jesus’ words “his own cross”. Our cross is Jesus, His death on the cross and His resurrection life. We take up our own cross by dying to our life of self-living, substituting in its place the new life of the resurrection Christ who lives in us.
I have a fantastic idea. Let’s take up our own cross. I’ll bet you it’s the cross of Christ.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Let’s present the additional proof of our interpretation now, as we promised at the close of yesterday’s study. The proof is in the pudding, dear friends. As we noted earlier, Jesus provided two examples for interpreting verses 26-27. These two examples are recorded in Luke 14:28-33. Let me summarize the two for you.
No one starts constructing a building, without first counting his money to see if he can afford to build it. He needs to do the counting when it counts. Otherwise he might get the foundation laid and the framework built atop the foundation, but haven’t the money to add the roof and walls and floors and windows. He’d be the laughingstock of the entire town!
Again, no one decides to rush over to his neighbor’s house and kick his rear end, unless he first knows whether the neighbor is a wuss or a warrior. Otherwise he might kick the door down and rush inside, only to find himself staring down barrel of a shotgun! His family won’t find it funny at his funeral, though the rest of the town might!
Jesus concluded those two illustrations with the words, So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions (v.33). In the example of constructing a building, the person had to count his money to see if he had enough to finish building. He couldn’t start off building unless he was willing, if necessary, to spend all he had to finish.
In the example of going to a fight, the person first had to be totally committed, even at the cost of paying with his very life. In both cases total sacrifice to the job he undertook had to be recognized and agreed to beforehand.
No one can be a disciple of Jesus, so long as he expects affluent living in country club church settings. To be a disciple of Jesus each of us is required to want the job so badly, that we no longer receive pleasure from the things of the world. The only pleasure we can receive from the things of the old life must come from serving Jesus and placing Him first and foremost.
We can and should use the things of the world to serve Jesus. This is what Jesus meant by His parable of the unjust steward (cf., Luke 16:1-9). But we cannot desire anything the world offers, including family, except in the context of serving Jesus first and foremost.
That, dear friends, is the definition of Jesus’ words “his own cross”. Our cross is Jesus, His death on the cross and His resurrection life. We take up our own cross by dying to our life of self-living, substituting in its place the new life of the resurrection Christ who lives in us.
I have a fantastic idea. Let’s take up our own cross. I’ll bet you it’s the cross of Christ.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Bible Trilogy I – Part 1
My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? [Psalm 22:1]
Three crucial events of the Gospel are the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In defining the essence of the Gospel to the Corinthian Christians, the Apostle Paul noted those same three items (cf., 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). In this context we will embark on a Bible trilogy comprised of these three events.
Psalm 22 is a prophetic depiction of the crucifixion, of Jesus’ death on the cross for the sins of mankind. Anyone who reads the Bible, especially the Old Testament, knows that David ben Jesse suffered grievously during the course of his life.
David was hounded by King Saul without letup because the Lord through Samuel proclaimed David to be Saul’s replacement as king—and Saul didn’t want to relinquish the kingship to David. Saul was determined to keep it for himself and for his son Jonathan after him. “Down with David! Up with Saul & Family!” That was Saul’s logo.
And then there were David’s own sins which got him into hot water. He had no one to blame but himself for those ordeals. And did he pay the piper! A pound of flesh was demanded of him on more than one occasion. Yep, David suffered interminably during the course of his life.
Notwithstanding this, when David wrote Psalm 22 it was prophetic, not personal. Certainly the Holy Spirit inspired David to write it as prophecy. Yes, David suffered much in life. But no, Psalm 22 is not so much about David’s life of suffering, as it is about the suffering of the Messiah. Psalm 22 is prophetic.
From the cross Jesus the Son of God cried out to Father God, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” [Matthew 27:46] Jesus quoted verse 1 of Psalm 22, when He uttered those words. He recognized their prophetic import as applicable to His crucifixion.
Someone might choose to query, “What do those words have to do with Jesus’ crucifixion?”
It’s like this. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind, past, present, and future. It is a mystery of eternity how Jesus as God could take upon Himself the sins of mankind. I mean, Jesus is God and God cannot even look upon sin, so how could He permit them to be placed upon Himself?
For three hours while Jesus was on the cross, from noon to 3:00 PM, darkness covered the land. This was God’s demonstration, employing visible physical reality, to teach us invisible physical truth. The visible reality was the three hours of darkness. The invisible truth was that, while Jesus the Son of God bore the sins of all mankind on Himself, Father God turned away and refused to look upon His Son.
I must apologize, but the day is far spent and the shadows are growing longer. Let us betake ourselves to the prayer closet a while and learn at the feet of Jesus. We’ll continue this topic on the morrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Three crucial events of the Gospel are the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In defining the essence of the Gospel to the Corinthian Christians, the Apostle Paul noted those same three items (cf., 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). In this context we will embark on a Bible trilogy comprised of these three events.
Psalm 22 is a prophetic depiction of the crucifixion, of Jesus’ death on the cross for the sins of mankind. Anyone who reads the Bible, especially the Old Testament, knows that David ben Jesse suffered grievously during the course of his life.
David was hounded by King Saul without letup because the Lord through Samuel proclaimed David to be Saul’s replacement as king—and Saul didn’t want to relinquish the kingship to David. Saul was determined to keep it for himself and for his son Jonathan after him. “Down with David! Up with Saul & Family!” That was Saul’s logo.
And then there were David’s own sins which got him into hot water. He had no one to blame but himself for those ordeals. And did he pay the piper! A pound of flesh was demanded of him on more than one occasion. Yep, David suffered interminably during the course of his life.
Notwithstanding this, when David wrote Psalm 22 it was prophetic, not personal. Certainly the Holy Spirit inspired David to write it as prophecy. Yes, David suffered much in life. But no, Psalm 22 is not so much about David’s life of suffering, as it is about the suffering of the Messiah. Psalm 22 is prophetic.
From the cross Jesus the Son of God cried out to Father God, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” [Matthew 27:46] Jesus quoted verse 1 of Psalm 22, when He uttered those words. He recognized their prophetic import as applicable to His crucifixion.
Someone might choose to query, “What do those words have to do with Jesus’ crucifixion?”
It’s like this. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind, past, present, and future. It is a mystery of eternity how Jesus as God could take upon Himself the sins of mankind. I mean, Jesus is God and God cannot even look upon sin, so how could He permit them to be placed upon Himself?
For three hours while Jesus was on the cross, from noon to 3:00 PM, darkness covered the land. This was God’s demonstration, employing visible physical reality, to teach us invisible physical truth. The visible reality was the three hours of darkness. The invisible truth was that, while Jesus the Son of God bore the sins of all mankind on Himself, Father God turned away and refused to look upon His Son.
I must apologize, but the day is far spent and the shadows are growing longer. Let us betake ourselves to the prayer closet a while and learn at the feet of Jesus. We’ll continue this topic on the morrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Bible Trilogy I – Part 2
My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? [Psalm 22:1]
We concluded our last study at the foot of the cross. Darkness covered the earth from noon to 3:00 PM. The darkness was the visible reality which depicted a spiritual truth. This truth was that Father God turned away from looking upon His Son because the Son became a sin offering on behalf of mankind.
Huh? That doesn’t compute! How can God turn away from God because God has sin on Him and God cannot even look upon sin? Oh, my aching head! Everything is spinning in circles and I am becoming quite disoriented. Can someone please explain this bizarre concept to me? I am confused.
Uh, that would be no. Can’t explain it. It is a Bible mystery. We only know that it is true because the Word of God tells us as much. But it is beyond the comprehension of finite minds because it is spiritual truth, the truth of eternity. And that is something we finite creatures have no experience with, rendering us incapable of grasping it fully.
But not to worry. We believe this truth by grace through faith because the Lord teaches it to us, and we trust Him to tell us only the truth. No sooner did Jesus cry out the words of Psalm 22:1, than He released His Spirit, surrendering His life all the way to death so that sinners can live.
Indeed Father God did forsake the Son of God, but not as the Son of God. Rather, Father God forsook Jesus as the Son of man. This was essential because Jesus the Son of man became a sin offering for mankind. God is righteous, so He cannot tolerate sin. Sin is the refusal to obey the Word of God. Sin requires God’s judgment of death.
If God overlooked sin, any sin, even a so-called peccadillo, He would no longer be righteous. Such a prospect is an impossibility because God cannot deny Himself. He is righteous. He cannot be otherwise.
Ergo, when Jesus the Son of man became a sin offering on man’s behalf, God the Father turned away from Him, rejecting Him because God must reject sin. God judged sin in His own Son. He did forsake Jesus the Son of man for a time, as He judged mankind’s sins in Jesus.
We’ve already gone down this road further than perhaps is advisable. As finite creatures we cannot really grasp the extent of Jesus’ death on our behalf. We mustn’t attempt to explain it more than is revealed in Scripture. It is revealed, and it is explained; but the explanation is tempered with moderation because the truth is vast and unfathomable. Let us believe without thinking we know it all.
Read Psalm 22. As you do so, consider the prophetic import. Meditate on the crucifixion of Jesus and how Psalm 22 depicts that historic event. You meditation will bring the psalm alive, and you will find yourself in deep and stirring worship of our God.
Lord Jesus, we appreciate you even more, now that we’ve pondered anew your death on our behalf. Thank you for loving us that much. We love you in return because you first loved us…all the way to death on a cross. Make us like you, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We concluded our last study at the foot of the cross. Darkness covered the earth from noon to 3:00 PM. The darkness was the visible reality which depicted a spiritual truth. This truth was that Father God turned away from looking upon His Son because the Son became a sin offering on behalf of mankind.
Huh? That doesn’t compute! How can God turn away from God because God has sin on Him and God cannot even look upon sin? Oh, my aching head! Everything is spinning in circles and I am becoming quite disoriented. Can someone please explain this bizarre concept to me? I am confused.
Uh, that would be no. Can’t explain it. It is a Bible mystery. We only know that it is true because the Word of God tells us as much. But it is beyond the comprehension of finite minds because it is spiritual truth, the truth of eternity. And that is something we finite creatures have no experience with, rendering us incapable of grasping it fully.
But not to worry. We believe this truth by grace through faith because the Lord teaches it to us, and we trust Him to tell us only the truth. No sooner did Jesus cry out the words of Psalm 22:1, than He released His Spirit, surrendering His life all the way to death so that sinners can live.
Indeed Father God did forsake the Son of God, but not as the Son of God. Rather, Father God forsook Jesus as the Son of man. This was essential because Jesus the Son of man became a sin offering for mankind. God is righteous, so He cannot tolerate sin. Sin is the refusal to obey the Word of God. Sin requires God’s judgment of death.
If God overlooked sin, any sin, even a so-called peccadillo, He would no longer be righteous. Such a prospect is an impossibility because God cannot deny Himself. He is righteous. He cannot be otherwise.
Ergo, when Jesus the Son of man became a sin offering on man’s behalf, God the Father turned away from Him, rejecting Him because God must reject sin. God judged sin in His own Son. He did forsake Jesus the Son of man for a time, as He judged mankind’s sins in Jesus.
We’ve already gone down this road further than perhaps is advisable. As finite creatures we cannot really grasp the extent of Jesus’ death on our behalf. We mustn’t attempt to explain it more than is revealed in Scripture. It is revealed, and it is explained; but the explanation is tempered with moderation because the truth is vast and unfathomable. Let us believe without thinking we know it all.
Read Psalm 22. As you do so, consider the prophetic import. Meditate on the crucifixion of Jesus and how Psalm 22 depicts that historic event. You meditation will bring the psalm alive, and you will find yourself in deep and stirring worship of our God.
Lord Jesus, we appreciate you even more, now that we’ve pondered anew your death on our behalf. Thank you for loving us that much. We love you in return because you first loved us…all the way to death on a cross. Make us like you, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
That’s Just Perfect! – Part 1
But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings [Hebrews 2:9-10].
The last time I purchased a new automobile, it was a most peculiar affair. I found myself inside the dealer’s showroom. The salesman was courteous as all get-out, smiling from ear to ear like the Cheshire Cat. And when it came to service on my new automobile, the salesman had a knack for disappearing like the Cheshire Cat!
But that is not the subject of the story. I signed the papers—I couldn’t resist the ear-to-ear smile—and drove my brand spanking new car home to my driveway. I phoned all my friends to report my good fortune. I have a brand spanking new car!
So everyone came over, elated at my good fortune. They marveled at the beauty of the car, the slimline features, the shine in the finish, a grill which was the envy of the neighborhood. Well, you get the point. They were impressed!
Nary a friend present declined a ride in my brand spanking new car. Truth be told, each one insisted on it. So the first batch of folks piled in, cramming themselves until they were jam-packed to the brim. The car was bursting at the seams, but no one seemed to mind at all. They were too ebullient in anticipation of the fantastic, super-duper ride they expected.
So there I was, sitting in the driveway in the driver’s seat of my brand spanking new car, the car bursting at the seams with passengers-to-be, my good friends at that. They were urging me on. It seems that, in their estimation, I wasn’t moving fast enough at starting the trip.
Let’s go, dude! Get a move on already! I can’t wait to feel how this beautiful piece of machinery glides along the road, like a flat stone skating across the surface of a calm lake. O! the suspense is unbearable. Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!
Well, it went something like that anyway. And that was the best part, because no sooner did I insert the key into the ignition and turn it, than we all experienced a letdown of gigantic proportions. The engine sputtered and stuttered and in general coughed up its last gasping breath.
There was my brand spanking new car filled with a good many of my friends, and many more were in the front yard observing this embarrassment. I was suddenly suffused with a flushed face, the butt of all the jokes that day. O! the shame of it all!
I wasn’t going to tolerate such shenanigans. I hied off to the car salesman and vented my perturbation.
This is totally unacceptable! Your lousy excuse for a car just cost me the respect of all my friends. And you can bet your booties, Granny, they won’t come here to buy a car anytime soon. How dare you sell me a piece of junk like that!
You won’t believe what the dealer had to say about this. So be sure to return tomorrow and hear it for yourself. For now let’s go to Jesus and find out what He has to say.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The last time I purchased a new automobile, it was a most peculiar affair. I found myself inside the dealer’s showroom. The salesman was courteous as all get-out, smiling from ear to ear like the Cheshire Cat. And when it came to service on my new automobile, the salesman had a knack for disappearing like the Cheshire Cat!
But that is not the subject of the story. I signed the papers—I couldn’t resist the ear-to-ear smile—and drove my brand spanking new car home to my driveway. I phoned all my friends to report my good fortune. I have a brand spanking new car!
So everyone came over, elated at my good fortune. They marveled at the beauty of the car, the slimline features, the shine in the finish, a grill which was the envy of the neighborhood. Well, you get the point. They were impressed!
Nary a friend present declined a ride in my brand spanking new car. Truth be told, each one insisted on it. So the first batch of folks piled in, cramming themselves until they were jam-packed to the brim. The car was bursting at the seams, but no one seemed to mind at all. They were too ebullient in anticipation of the fantastic, super-duper ride they expected.
So there I was, sitting in the driveway in the driver’s seat of my brand spanking new car, the car bursting at the seams with passengers-to-be, my good friends at that. They were urging me on. It seems that, in their estimation, I wasn’t moving fast enough at starting the trip.
Let’s go, dude! Get a move on already! I can’t wait to feel how this beautiful piece of machinery glides along the road, like a flat stone skating across the surface of a calm lake. O! the suspense is unbearable. Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!
Well, it went something like that anyway. And that was the best part, because no sooner did I insert the key into the ignition and turn it, than we all experienced a letdown of gigantic proportions. The engine sputtered and stuttered and in general coughed up its last gasping breath.
There was my brand spanking new car filled with a good many of my friends, and many more were in the front yard observing this embarrassment. I was suddenly suffused with a flushed face, the butt of all the jokes that day. O! the shame of it all!
I wasn’t going to tolerate such shenanigans. I hied off to the car salesman and vented my perturbation.
This is totally unacceptable! Your lousy excuse for a car just cost me the respect of all my friends. And you can bet your booties, Granny, they won’t come here to buy a car anytime soon. How dare you sell me a piece of junk like that!
You won’t believe what the dealer had to say about this. So be sure to return tomorrow and hear it for yourself. For now let’s go to Jesus and find out what He has to say.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
That’s Just Perfect! – Part 2
But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings [Hebrews 2:9-10].
My brand spanking new car wouldn’t even start. It was all of three hours old, and all the engine could do was groan and moan and kick the bucket. So I hied off to the car dealer to give him a piece of my mind…a big piece!
The dealer asked for clarification. He wanted to know what the problem was. So I painted him a picture of that entire afternoon. He looked at me for a moment, scratched his head, then retorted,
I still don’t see the problem, son. The air conditioner works fine, doesn’t it? And the radio plays sweet tunes. The tires are inflated properly, and the gas tank is full. You can run the automobile for hours and listen to the radio in air conditioned comfort, all to your little ol’ heart’s content. And all your friends will be impressed. So what more could you ask for? You are a strange one, sir.
Huh? Are we missing something here? Did we just pass into the Twilight Zone? The Beatles “Yellow Submarine” made more sense than the car salesman! One would think his name was “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and he lived on Boulevard Strawberry Fields Forever.
You see, no one pays big bucks for an automobile, just so he can sit in air conditioned comfort and hear a fantastic stereo system. For that we buy a home stereo setup. We buy a car so we can drive to different places. The engine is primary. The stereo and A/C are extras. (By the way, I made this up. No car salesman would be so inept.)
In Biblical terminology we would say that the imagined automobile I purchased was not “perfected”. It didn’t serve the purpose for which an automobile is manufactured. That is the real meaning in Scripture for being “perfect” or “complete”. It doesn’t have to do with moral issues, with sinlessness and holiness. It refers to something attaining to the purpose for which it was made.
Allow me to cite a Biblical example to illustrate. The Lord prophesied through Isaiah that He would raise up Cyrus king of Persia to put the hurting to Babylon. Cyrus was a heathen king who ruled a heathen empire. Yet the Lord arranged history so that Cyrus accomplished God’s work. When Cyrus did what the Lord foretold he would do, Cyrus was “perfected”. No, this heathen king wasn’t sinless or holy; but he was “perfected”.
In the same vein we read in our Bible verses today of another Person being “perfected”. As Cyrus king of Persia was “perfected”, so too in the case of the Person in our Bible verses: He wasn’t less than “perfect” and somehow became “perfect”, not in the sense of being imperfect or sinful and becoming sinless. He was “made perfect” though.
This concept is absolutely essential to get solidified in our noggins, if we are to rightly understand the Scriptures. And we will attempt a right understanding of them in our next study. For now let’s visit with our Lord Jesus and learn from Him.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
My brand spanking new car wouldn’t even start. It was all of three hours old, and all the engine could do was groan and moan and kick the bucket. So I hied off to the car dealer to give him a piece of my mind…a big piece!
The dealer asked for clarification. He wanted to know what the problem was. So I painted him a picture of that entire afternoon. He looked at me for a moment, scratched his head, then retorted,
I still don’t see the problem, son. The air conditioner works fine, doesn’t it? And the radio plays sweet tunes. The tires are inflated properly, and the gas tank is full. You can run the automobile for hours and listen to the radio in air conditioned comfort, all to your little ol’ heart’s content. And all your friends will be impressed. So what more could you ask for? You are a strange one, sir.
Huh? Are we missing something here? Did we just pass into the Twilight Zone? The Beatles “Yellow Submarine” made more sense than the car salesman! One would think his name was “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and he lived on Boulevard Strawberry Fields Forever.
You see, no one pays big bucks for an automobile, just so he can sit in air conditioned comfort and hear a fantastic stereo system. For that we buy a home stereo setup. We buy a car so we can drive to different places. The engine is primary. The stereo and A/C are extras. (By the way, I made this up. No car salesman would be so inept.)
In Biblical terminology we would say that the imagined automobile I purchased was not “perfected”. It didn’t serve the purpose for which an automobile is manufactured. That is the real meaning in Scripture for being “perfect” or “complete”. It doesn’t have to do with moral issues, with sinlessness and holiness. It refers to something attaining to the purpose for which it was made.
Allow me to cite a Biblical example to illustrate. The Lord prophesied through Isaiah that He would raise up Cyrus king of Persia to put the hurting to Babylon. Cyrus was a heathen king who ruled a heathen empire. Yet the Lord arranged history so that Cyrus accomplished God’s work. When Cyrus did what the Lord foretold he would do, Cyrus was “perfected”. No, this heathen king wasn’t sinless or holy; but he was “perfected”.
In the same vein we read in our Bible verses today of another Person being “perfected”. As Cyrus king of Persia was “perfected”, so too in the case of the Person in our Bible verses: He wasn’t less than “perfect” and somehow became “perfect”, not in the sense of being imperfect or sinful and becoming sinless. He was “made perfect” though.
This concept is absolutely essential to get solidified in our noggins, if we are to rightly understand the Scriptures. And we will attempt a right understanding of them in our next study. For now let’s visit with our Lord Jesus and learn from Him.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
That’s Just Perfect! – Part 3
But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings [Hebrews 2:9-10].
We ended our last study by defining the Biblical usage of the term “perfect” or “perfected”. When someone matures or reaches the stage where he accomplishes the purpose for which he was made, then he is said to be “perfect” or “perfected”.
Our Bible verses quoted above are about Jesus. Let us understand that the name “Jesus” was given to the eternal Son of God at a point in time when He took upon real humanity and became a man. Now Jesus is the God-man. Before He took upon humanity, however, Jesus didn’t exist. The eternal Son of God always exists, but the God-man Jesus began circa 3 B.C.
In taking upon humanity Jesus “was made for a little while lower than the angels”, as Hebrews 2:9 phrases it. This is an allusion to the eternal Son of God becoming a man.
The purpose for Jesus doing this is worded “so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone”. We cannot fail to recognize the reference to the cross of Christ in those words. The purpose for the eternal Son of God becoming a man—all the while remaining the eternal Son of God—was to enable Him to die on the cross.
Even more, His death on the cross was to “taste death for everyone”. Jesus’ crucifixion was the payment for the penalty of sins for all mankind. That should be palpable from those words. The wages of sin is death, and all have sinned. Ergo, everyone must die. Jesus’ died everyone’s death so that everyone might live His life.
Now let’s observe the words “Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor”. God the Father crowned Jesus the Son with glory and honor because Jesus the Son suffered death on behalf of everyone. That is the teaching to be culled from those words.
We read the same teaching by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 2:5-11. You would do well to turn in your Bible to that passage and prayerfully read the teaching there.
The reason God the Father crowned Jesus with glory and honor was because Jesus died everyone’s death as payment for the penalty of everyone’s sins. In other words the eternal Son of God had a purpose for taking upon humanity, and it was to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind.
When Jesus did so, He achieved the purpose for which He was made, viz., to pay the penalty for sins. This is another way of saying that Jesus was “made perfect” or was “perfected”. The eternal Son of God wasn’t “made perfect” or “perfected”. Jesus the God-man was.
This is deep theological truth, dear friends. We are standing on holy ground, when we discuss this topic. We need to stop and sit before the Lord Jesus now. Allow Him to prepare us to continue this journey in our next study.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We ended our last study by defining the Biblical usage of the term “perfect” or “perfected”. When someone matures or reaches the stage where he accomplishes the purpose for which he was made, then he is said to be “perfect” or “perfected”.
Our Bible verses quoted above are about Jesus. Let us understand that the name “Jesus” was given to the eternal Son of God at a point in time when He took upon real humanity and became a man. Now Jesus is the God-man. Before He took upon humanity, however, Jesus didn’t exist. The eternal Son of God always exists, but the God-man Jesus began circa 3 B.C.
In taking upon humanity Jesus “was made for a little while lower than the angels”, as Hebrews 2:9 phrases it. This is an allusion to the eternal Son of God becoming a man.
The purpose for Jesus doing this is worded “so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone”. We cannot fail to recognize the reference to the cross of Christ in those words. The purpose for the eternal Son of God becoming a man—all the while remaining the eternal Son of God—was to enable Him to die on the cross.
Even more, His death on the cross was to “taste death for everyone”. Jesus’ crucifixion was the payment for the penalty of sins for all mankind. That should be palpable from those words. The wages of sin is death, and all have sinned. Ergo, everyone must die. Jesus’ died everyone’s death so that everyone might live His life.
Now let’s observe the words “Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor”. God the Father crowned Jesus the Son with glory and honor because Jesus the Son suffered death on behalf of everyone. That is the teaching to be culled from those words.
We read the same teaching by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 2:5-11. You would do well to turn in your Bible to that passage and prayerfully read the teaching there.
The reason God the Father crowned Jesus with glory and honor was because Jesus died everyone’s death as payment for the penalty of everyone’s sins. In other words the eternal Son of God had a purpose for taking upon humanity, and it was to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind.
When Jesus did so, He achieved the purpose for which He was made, viz., to pay the penalty for sins. This is another way of saying that Jesus was “made perfect” or was “perfected”. The eternal Son of God wasn’t “made perfect” or “perfected”. Jesus the God-man was.
This is deep theological truth, dear friends. We are standing on holy ground, when we discuss this topic. We need to stop and sit before the Lord Jesus now. Allow Him to prepare us to continue this journey in our next study.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
That’s Just Perfect! – Part 4
But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings [Hebrews 2:9-10].
We ended our last study on a most holy topic, the two natures of Jesus the God-man. Let’s continue this discussion now.
The eternal Son of God was never created or made. He created all things, but He Himself always is. He is the plumb line by which everyone and everything else is measured. Jesus, on the other hand, is not the eternal Son of God: He is both God and man. Jesus is the name of the God-man, not the name of the eternal Son of God.
The eternal Son of God cannot die: He is God! In order to die for mankind’s sins, the eternal Son of God had to become a man. As a man He could die: as the eternal Son of God He can not die. This is a profound mystery of eternity—even more, a mystery of the very nature of God and, more specifically, of the two natures of the God-man.
It would be dangerous for us to try to explain too much about the issue. We can only know what the Lord reveals about it to us in His Word. Even then we are limited in our understanding by our finite nature. Our Bible verses intimate the truths we are discoursing about, but the verses don’t set before us a complete unfolding of all the details.
The purpose of our study is to mine the ore of the topic about being “made perfect”, or being “perfected”. This is a much more limited attempt at understanding than is the topic of the two natures of Jesus the God-man. The Bible is written to teach us everything we need to know for a life of godliness, not to satisfy our every curiosity about eternity and the things of God.
Our two Bible verses are quite admirably divided into two sentences. Verse 9 is about Jesus, but verse 10 is about God the Father. Read the verses again, slowly please…no, more slowly than that. Ah, that’s better. Jesus is specifically identified as the subject in the first sentence, as you can see.
The second sentence distinguishes between Jesus and the One who “perfected” Jesus. This other One is identified in the first sentence as “God”. God is the One “for whom are all things, and through whom are all things”. This means He is the Creator. We know that much from Genesis 1.
Well, God is the One “bringing many sons to glory”. How did God do this? John 3:16 answers the question:
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…
Jesus did the dying, but God the Father did the giving, you see. And in bringing salvation to mankind (“bringing many sons to glory”), God the Father made “perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings”. This author of man’s salvation is none of than Jesus the God-man.
We already explained what it means for Jesus to be “made perfect” or “perfected”. The eternal Son of God took upon humanity to die for the sins of mankind. This was done “through sufferings” on the cross. When Jesus achieved the purpose for which He was made a man, He was “made perfect” or “perfected”.
Let’s savor this delectable morsel of spiritual truth. I hear there is a fine dining table in the prayer closet. Let’s make use of it now. Thank you, Jesus, for Your Word. Amen.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We ended our last study on a most holy topic, the two natures of Jesus the God-man. Let’s continue this discussion now.
The eternal Son of God was never created or made. He created all things, but He Himself always is. He is the plumb line by which everyone and everything else is measured. Jesus, on the other hand, is not the eternal Son of God: He is both God and man. Jesus is the name of the God-man, not the name of the eternal Son of God.
The eternal Son of God cannot die: He is God! In order to die for mankind’s sins, the eternal Son of God had to become a man. As a man He could die: as the eternal Son of God He can not die. This is a profound mystery of eternity—even more, a mystery of the very nature of God and, more specifically, of the two natures of the God-man.
It would be dangerous for us to try to explain too much about the issue. We can only know what the Lord reveals about it to us in His Word. Even then we are limited in our understanding by our finite nature. Our Bible verses intimate the truths we are discoursing about, but the verses don’t set before us a complete unfolding of all the details.
The purpose of our study is to mine the ore of the topic about being “made perfect”, or being “perfected”. This is a much more limited attempt at understanding than is the topic of the two natures of Jesus the God-man. The Bible is written to teach us everything we need to know for a life of godliness, not to satisfy our every curiosity about eternity and the things of God.
Our two Bible verses are quite admirably divided into two sentences. Verse 9 is about Jesus, but verse 10 is about God the Father. Read the verses again, slowly please…no, more slowly than that. Ah, that’s better. Jesus is specifically identified as the subject in the first sentence, as you can see.
The second sentence distinguishes between Jesus and the One who “perfected” Jesus. This other One is identified in the first sentence as “God”. God is the One “for whom are all things, and through whom are all things”. This means He is the Creator. We know that much from Genesis 1.
Well, God is the One “bringing many sons to glory”. How did God do this? John 3:16 answers the question:
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…
Jesus did the dying, but God the Father did the giving, you see. And in bringing salvation to mankind (“bringing many sons to glory”), God the Father made “perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings”. This author of man’s salvation is none of than Jesus the God-man.
We already explained what it means for Jesus to be “made perfect” or “perfected”. The eternal Son of God took upon humanity to die for the sins of mankind. This was done “through sufferings” on the cross. When Jesus achieved the purpose for which He was made a man, He was “made perfect” or “perfected”.
Let’s savor this delectable morsel of spiritual truth. I hear there is a fine dining table in the prayer closet. Let’s make use of it now. Thank you, Jesus, for Your Word. Amen.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Counting When It Counts – Part 1
If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple [Luke 14:26-27].
Often in life we face excessive and overwhelming burdens or trials, requiring us to trudge through the thick marsh to reach deliverance on the other side. It is not uncommon when facing such dire straits to utter the phrase, “This is my cross to bear.” Have you ever heard it?
Seldom is the distress identified by those words truly the person’s cross…at least not in the Biblical sense. The idea of bearing or carrying or taking up the cross has become a meaningless platitude. It would be well worth the effort for us to delve into this issue a bit.
Scripturally speaking there is only one cross, just as there is only one Savior who died on the cross and one salvation resulting from His death on the cross. We are of course referencing the cross of Christ. Though countless people were subjected to crucifixion under Roman rule, still none of their crosses deserves mention from God’s standpoint. Each one died for his own sins. Only Jesus did not.
The cross of Christ is the symbol of the God-man, as He died to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind past, present, and future. The cross in and of itself holds no value. It was only some rough lumber, unfinished and unsightly. It was the Lord’s death which created eternal value. The cross was merely the instrument employed in putting Jesus to death. Hence the cross is the symbol of His death, but in and of itself the wood cross on which He died holds no value.
From this understanding we can deduce that a cross in and of itself has no merit or value. I mean, since the cross of Christ in and of itself merits no value, certainly any other “cross” you or I supposedly bear cannot have merit or value. Am I not right?
So then what good is it, to identify troubles we face by the phrase “my cross to bear”? Such rhetoric can only muddy the waters of spiritual truth by devaluing the Lord’s death. Each of us would be well served to refrain from rhetoric about crosses, and instead focus on only the cross of Christ with regard to its true meaning.
Someone will object, “Oh, but Jesus commanded us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. Are you saying Jesus was wrong about us having our own personal crosses?”
You are indeed correct, dear friend, to recall Jesus’ words. It warms my heart that you know them. In fact we quoted one example of this in the verses which kicked off this study. You err, however, in your understanding of what Jesus meant. Let’s consider this issue and see what we can learn.
What did Jesus mean in Luke 14:27, when he stated, Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple? To answer this we need to recall Rule #1 for Bible study: a text without a context is a pretext.
Oh, dear. Out of time again! Let’s spend some time alone with the Lord now and meet back here tomorrow, same time, same station.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Often in life we face excessive and overwhelming burdens or trials, requiring us to trudge through the thick marsh to reach deliverance on the other side. It is not uncommon when facing such dire straits to utter the phrase, “This is my cross to bear.” Have you ever heard it?
Seldom is the distress identified by those words truly the person’s cross…at least not in the Biblical sense. The idea of bearing or carrying or taking up the cross has become a meaningless platitude. It would be well worth the effort for us to delve into this issue a bit.
Scripturally speaking there is only one cross, just as there is only one Savior who died on the cross and one salvation resulting from His death on the cross. We are of course referencing the cross of Christ. Though countless people were subjected to crucifixion under Roman rule, still none of their crosses deserves mention from God’s standpoint. Each one died for his own sins. Only Jesus did not.
The cross of Christ is the symbol of the God-man, as He died to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind past, present, and future. The cross in and of itself holds no value. It was only some rough lumber, unfinished and unsightly. It was the Lord’s death which created eternal value. The cross was merely the instrument employed in putting Jesus to death. Hence the cross is the symbol of His death, but in and of itself the wood cross on which He died holds no value.
From this understanding we can deduce that a cross in and of itself has no merit or value. I mean, since the cross of Christ in and of itself merits no value, certainly any other “cross” you or I supposedly bear cannot have merit or value. Am I not right?
So then what good is it, to identify troubles we face by the phrase “my cross to bear”? Such rhetoric can only muddy the waters of spiritual truth by devaluing the Lord’s death. Each of us would be well served to refrain from rhetoric about crosses, and instead focus on only the cross of Christ with regard to its true meaning.
Someone will object, “Oh, but Jesus commanded us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. Are you saying Jesus was wrong about us having our own personal crosses?”
You are indeed correct, dear friend, to recall Jesus’ words. It warms my heart that you know them. In fact we quoted one example of this in the verses which kicked off this study. You err, however, in your understanding of what Jesus meant. Let’s consider this issue and see what we can learn.
What did Jesus mean in Luke 14:27, when he stated, Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple? To answer this we need to recall Rule #1 for Bible study: a text without a context is a pretext.
Oh, dear. Out of time again! Let’s spend some time alone with the Lord now and meet back here tomorrow, same time, same station.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
