FRIDAY 10th
John 19:1-30
We come today to what I believe are the most important days (what we call Easter weekend) in the history of the world. For what took place in the death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ has repercussions for all mankind, not just for time but for eternity.
Thousands of years earlier our fore-parents Adam and Eve had disobeyed God and as a result, sin entered the human-race defiling every single person that has ever been born. (Psalm 51:5 ‘Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.’ Romans 3:23 ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’) But God was not caught out, he had a plan and the plan involved undoing what happened in the garden of Eden and restoring lost humanity.
But it was going to cost! The plan was in place before creation and the cost was going to be the shed blood of the Son of God. (1 Peter 1:18-21 ‘. . . knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God . . .’) And Galatians 4 tells us that at the right time, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoptions as sons.’ (Galatians 4:4-5) This is good news, God sending his Son (John 3:16) to redeem mankind so that we could be reconciled and brought into his family.
And his Son did arrive, born of a woman (Mary), with the purpose of becoming the sacrifice for the sin of the world.
That Friday which we now call Good Friday, with all its horror, was a day of ‘good news’ for as Jesus went through all that he went through, (and it’s good to meditate upon John 19 to consider all that he suffered for us) what was taking place is summed up in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 ‘God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.’
To be honest it’s difficult in knowing where to start, where to stop and what to include in between in putting this devotion together. It is such a wonderful story, it was such an amazing day, because it is only as a result of what Christ did at Calvary that we today can say that we have been ransomed, healed, restored and forgiven. It is because God was ‘in Christ’ when he went to the cross that we post Calvary can come to the Cross and find ourselves ‘In Christ’. It is a wonderful study to look at all the ‘in Christ’ texts, for this is where we are, we are no longer alienated from God, no longer foreigners, no longer dead in our sins, no longer heading for a lost eternity in hell. Instead we are reconciled and at peace with God and we can call him ‘Abba, Father.’
This should want to make us shout out in praise as we acknowledge all that Christ has done for us. I am going to stop here and suggest that we make time to look at another Scripture that reminds us of Calvary and the wonderful love of God. Isaiah 53.
It was also a difficult task to choose a hymn to close this devotion with, so I have chosen two. The first is one of my favourites ‘Jesus was slain for me’ the second is a good old well known hymn that always brings a challenge ‘ Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all’. Be blessed today as you centre your thoughts around the Cross.
Jesus was slain for me
At Calvary.
Crowned with thorns was He,
At Calvary.
There He in anguish died,
There from His opened side,
Poured forth the crimson tide,
At Calvary.
Pardoned is all my sin,
At Calvary.
Cleansed is my heart within,
At Calvary.
Now robes of praise I wear,
Gone are my grief and care,
Christ bore my burdens there,
At Calvary.
Wondrous His love for me,
At Calvary.
Glorious His victory,
At Calvary.
Vanquished are death and hell,
Oh, let His praises swell,
Ever my tongue shall tell,
Of Calvary. Amen!
George Perfect CCLI 778682
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.
See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Isaac Watts CCLI 778682