[CS-FSLUG] TD: Easter Thought

[Ben Tanner]

Hi guys just a quick amendment, the Leviticus
ref should have been 20:10. And it refers to the high priest - the point
stands but my cross references were wrong. Apologies but i hope the
thought was helpful.

God bless

Ben

On Fri, 2006-04-14 at 12:10 +0100, Ben Tanner wrote:
> Hey guys it being good friday, i figured it would be good to remind
> each other of both the price paid and the assurance we have. In the
> shower this morning i was thinking on this passage:-
> 
> 22And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place
> of a Skull). 23And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did
> not take it. 24And they crucified him and divided his garments among
> them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25And it
> was the third hour when they crucified him. 26And the inscription of
> the charge against him read, "The King of the Jews." 27And with him
> they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.
> 29And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying,
> "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
> 30save yourself, and come down from the cross!" 31So also the chief
> priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, "He saved
> others; he cannot save himself. 32Let the Christ, the King of Israel,
> come down now from the cross that we may see and believe." Those who
> were crucified with him also reviled him. 
> 
> 33And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole
> land until the ninth hour. 34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a
> loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my
> God, why have you forsaken me?" 35And some of the bystanders hearing
> it said, "Behold, he is calling Elijah." 36And someone ran and filled
> a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink,
> saying, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down."
> 37And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38And the
> curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39And when
> the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed
> his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"
> 
> Just a few good friday thoughts to ponder (not all original):- 
>       * Firstly note they do not tear his clothes but cast lots for
>         them, remember how the high preast tore his own clothes in Mk
>         14:63? Yet preists were not to tear their cloths (Lev
>         1:17,13:56). Even on the cross as he seemed in his weakest
>         still is a perfect high priest. 
>       * Secondly note what was writen above his head as the people
>         have rejected Jesus, as the scribes feel they have won, yet
>         still in God's providence his title is displayed for the world
>         to see (elsewhere we see it is in all the big languages of the
>         day). A reminder that even as he looks weak and helpless - he
>         is still the all powerful King. 
>       * Thirdly v29 even in their insults they testify to his
>         resurection. Here we are reminded that the our King and our
>         Priest is also the first born from among the dead. 
>       * Fourthly as the darkness fell (signifying Gods anger against
>         Jesus - who became sin for us) we are reminded that Christ is
>         our substitute. I deserve that anger, I deserve to be cut off
>         from God, yet that sin, he took upon himself. The pain and
>         humiliation of the cross is nothing but a dull reflection of
>         what Jesus went though as he said the words in v34. 
>       * Fifthly and finally al though there is so much more in this
>         passage, THE CURTAIN IS TORN! The curtain that though out the
>         OT signified the barrier to God has been removed, we can enjoy
>         a relationship with God. this has massive implications - are
>         you feeling far from God? The curtain has been torn - there is
>         nothing between you if trust Jesus.  Therefore as the writer
>         to the Hebrews puts it..."Therefore, brothers, since we have
>         confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
>         20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the
>         curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21and since we have a
>         great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a
>         true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts
>         sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed
>         with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope
>         without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let
>         us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
>         25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,
>         but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the
>         Day drawing near."
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