There's more to the Crucifixion . . . . from "His Kindness Year Round"

Happy Resurrection Day!  Oh, what a glorious day!

Ever notice sometimes followers of Jesus, as well as non-believers who celebrate Easter, will refer to Jesus’ death on the cross, and then stop, as if that's the end?  His crucifixion is a huge factor of the season indeed.  Jesus, our Savior, died for the physical and spiritual healing of the world.  Hallelujah!!!

However, let’s not forget what happens next.  Jesus was resurrected!!!  He arose from the grave!!!  We serve a risen Savior!!!  He lives!!!  How do I know?  Because His Word tells me so!!!  He wasn't found in the tomb.  He is not in the tomb now.  His body wasn't stolen.  He arose!

Because of His free will as man, He could have chosen not to be crucified.  But, He did die, and He did arise from the grave, and He is alive!  Shout it!!!

I sometimes am speechless at the awesomeness of this season.  Jesus was born, became a man, ministering on earth healing the body, spirit and soul.  Then died for us.  God gave His only Son, a sinless man, to die for us, sinners, undeserving.  He arose from the grave and gifted us with the Holy Spirit, while now preparing our eternal home.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow, for great things He has done, and will continue to do!!!

Matthew 28:5-7 “The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, Who was crucified.  He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.  Then go quickly and tell His disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ Now I have told you.”

(Don’t you just love when the angel says “He has risen, just as He said.”!!!)

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

No matter how things seem in the natural, it truly is a Good Friday from "His Kindness Year Round"

He’s betrayed.  He’s denied.  He’s arrested.  He’s shackled and brought before religious and government leaders, passed from one to another and back to the prior again.  Over and over again He is ridiculed, beaten, spit upon, deemed guilty while a man blamed of murder is set free.

Pilate did not think our Lord was guilty.  He looked for ways out of the situation by sending Him to Herod, but when faced with the final decision, in order to maintain his job, he declared Him innocent, but handed Him over for crucifixion.

Matthew 27:22-26 “Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”  They shouted back, “Crucify Him!”  “Why?” Pilate demanded.  “What crime has He committed?”  But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify Him!”  “Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing.  So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.  The responsibility is yours!”  And all the people yelled back, “We will take the responsibility for His death – we and our children!”  So Pilate released Barabbas to them.  He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned Him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.”

Wearing His crown of thorns, He carried His cross to Golgotha and was crucified along with two criminals. He suffered for hours, darkness came upon the region.

Matthew 27:50-51 “Then Jesus shouted out again, and He released His spirit.  At that moment, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.  The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened.”

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus requested His body from Pilate and placed His wrapped body in a tomb, which belonged to Joseph himself.  And sunset concluded the day.

As we proceed through our day, please take time to meditate in the Gospels as to what our Lord did for you and for me.  People ask me why I get so passionate about this season.  And I wonder how people cannot get passionate about it . . . . .

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

Maundy (Holy) Thursday from "His Kindness Year Round"

I trust you’re enjoying your meditation in the Word and basking in the awesomeness of this entire week; the true Holiness of the week.

What a busy day!  I’m referring to almost 2,000 years ago.  We know the happenings of Maundy Thursday and the Last Supper.  We know the events to follow and the outcome.  The disciples, however, did not know this information at the time of the Last Supper.  First, they were astonished at the act of love Jesus displayed when washing His disciples’ feet. 

John 13:34 “A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

The final meal with the Lord was indeed an eventful evening.  He was preparing His disciples for His upcoming departure.  He told of the prediction of His betrayal by one of His own, one of those at that very table. 

Luke 22:21-23 “But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.  The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed.  But woe to that man who betrays him!  They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.”

He shared the bread and wine with His followers.

Luke 22:19-20 “And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  And in the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

More news for that evening, as He speaks of the denial by Peter. 

Luke 22:33-34 “But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Imagine after the Last Supper, Jesus and three disciples, John, Peter and James, walking to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, before His arrest.

Matthew 26:42 “He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done.

His spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak.  He said this prayer three times, checking on His disciples after each prayer, finding them sleeping.

Jesus knew of the betrayal by one of His disciples.  He knew of the denial by a friend and follower.  He knew of His arrest and crucifixion.  He knew it all.  But was willing to endure – for us – for you and for me.  The sheer wonder of this still astonishes me!  Who else, other than my Savior, would do this for me, knowing exactly what He would bear.   

We know the answer.  He is the answer.  He is THE ONE who would die for you and for me.  He, and He alone. 

Have I ever told ya I love the Resurrection season!  What a powerful time!  Anyone who knows me or has read anything from me during this time of year certainly knows!  Shout it!  We love You, Lord, and thank You for sacrificing the punishment of your body and Your life for us!

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

Thoughts for Holy Wednesday from "His Kindness Year Round"

I fully understand the events of this week had to transpire.  I know it was prophesied in the Old and New Testaments.  But . . . .

It still tugs at my heart to think of the deliberate occurrences of this Holy Week.  Judas, one of His disciples, one of the closest men in Jesus’ circle, betrayed Him, for the price of a slave.  Judas, resentful of Mary’s act of love in opening an expensive container of oil to anoint her Jesus, was seeking the opportunity to hand over the Savior to the authorities.

Luke 23:3-6 “Then satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.  And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.”

Prayerfully, meditating in His Word, your sister in Him,

Robin

Had it not been . . . . from "His Kindness Year Round"

Let me share a little story . . . . .

A few weeks ago, I recalled a remarkable song that caused a powerful experience in my life several years ago . . .  so step back in time a few years . . .

 

A sweet friend introduced me to a ‘homegrown’ (North Carolina) gospel singing group by giving me one of their CDs.  

I was working on a home project, listening to the CD.  I knew there were several difficult circumstances upon the horizon.  I felt deflated, not able to see the end in sight, thinking too strongly in the flesh and my inability to get things accomplished.  Notice, I’m heavily emphasizing how I could not do the tasks set before me.  I wasn’t holding dear the faith in the Lord that HE would accomplish it all; that I was not alone. 

Then, this song began to play.  I literally dropped to my knees and began to cry.  That was one of those eye opener, ‘light bulb’ moments for me.  I will never forget that day.  Whenever I hear this song, the same Holy Spirit that was with me at that moment fully continues to engulf me now in His love and protection and comfort.  Shout it!

Had It Not Been

Just suppose God searched through Heaven,
And couldn't find one willing to be,
The supreme sacrifice that was needed,
That would buy eternal life for you and me

Had it not been for a place called Mount Calvary,
Had it not been for the old rugged cross,
Had it not been for a man called Jesus,
Then forever my soul would be lost

Well I'm so glad He was willing to drink His bitter cup,
Although He prayed "Father let it pass from me",
And I'm so glad He never called Heaven's angels,
From these hands, Pulled the nails that torment me

John 19:17-18a "Carrying the cross by Himself, He went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha).  There they nailed Him to the cross."

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

Palm Sunday and the awesome week approaching from "His Kindness Year Round"

I sometimes like to mentally picture Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem . . . .

I see the Lord riding his donkey, as prophesied in the Old Testament. 

Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!  Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!  See, your king comes to you; righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

I imagine the crowd, celebrating His arrival with voices of praise, laying down their garments and palm branches, shouting “Hosanna”!  Ah, at last, their king had arrived to save them.

Meditate on the Word today, in preparation for the magnificent week, Holy Week, to come.

Matthew 21:1-9 “As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her.  Untie them and bring them to me.  If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them and he will send them right away.  This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:  “Say to Daughter Zion, See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.  They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.  A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”  “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”  “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Yes, the Savior has arrived . . . . .

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

Reflecting, as we prepare for Palm Sunday, from "His Kindness Year Round"

Loss.  According to one definition from Google:  “the fact or process of losing something or someone; the state or feeling of grief when deprived of someone or something of value.”

I’ve had many people over the years ask how one gets over the loss of a loved one.  My thoughts are we don’t get over a loss, but through it.  You can’t blink and grief is “over”.  We go through different stages of shock or denial; pain and loneliness; sometimes anger.  We go through grief of missing someone and the life that could have been; the memories that could have been. But we continue onward in life, because we don’t have a choice.

There are a few rare exceptions.  Of course, I’m referring to the resurrection of our blessed Redeemer! 

A great many of us may have experienced the feelings, thoughts and emotions – our human soul life – that the disciples and followers of Jesus felt after His crucifixion.  Sadness. Guilt. The ache and emptiness.  Anger. 

But after seeing an empty tomb and finally realizing the Savior lives, they experienced the joy and exaltation of His resurrection!   Their feelings of loss were short lived. 

Folks, unfortunately we don’t have the elation of visiting an empty tomb to find our loved one has had life restored on earth.  I certainly don’t belittle the grief you or I experience because it’s real and it’s painful.  But because of THIS resurrection, we have the opportunity to reunite with our loved ones one glorious day!  As Casting Crowns sing in “Glorious Day”:

“Living He loved me, dying He saved me.

Buried He carried my sins far away.

Rising He justified freely forever

One day He's coming, oh, glorious day,

Oh, glorious day, Glorious day!”

Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have hope; we can accept that we will see our loved ones again . . . . if, during their life, they made the commitment to Him and accepted Him as their Savior. 

Can we turn down His invitation to join Him for eternity, or afford not to deliver His message to others?  NO!

Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

John 3:30-36 “He must increase, but I must decrease. The One Who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The One Who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. Whoever has accepted His testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.”

Time is progressing quickly.  This is a decision no one can delay until tomorrow. There may not be one.

                                                                                      

As Palm Sunday approaches and we begin the esteemed Holy Week, the last week of Christ’s life on earth before His crucifixion, remember the reason for the season; your life depends on it.

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin