😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you. At this point in my life, something that I haven’t done and honestly have no real desire to do, is run or even walk a marathon. I realize people do marathons for different reasons and they can even be therapeutic, but it seems like a whole lot of hours, very early mornings, pain, and a good possibly of injury, for an event that is really just a blink compared to all the time you spend training. I can only imagine someone crossing the FINISH line of their first marathon, in pain and tired, yet invigorated and on an adrenaline high, with their arms in the air victoriously…”It is finished!” Can you feel the relief?
This past week, I read a booklet titled The Mockery & Majesty of the Cross, which is excerpted from Bill Crowder’s book, For This He Came. I would highly suggest that you read this booklet also. Here are a couple points that really struck me.
‘Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit (John 19:30).
“IT IS FINISHED!” In the Greek, it is “tetelestai”: “It is completed”; “I have done it!” Matthew 27:50 says that Jesus’ last words were cried with a loud voice – it’s a victory shout!’
I have never thought of those words, “IT IS FINISHED!”, as a victory shout coming from Christ’s broken body, hanging at the point of lifelessness on the cross.
‘Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.” Having said this, He breathed His last (Luke 23:46).
Christ retains regal composure here. He had become the ransom for suffering and death – all “for the joy set before Him” (HEB. 12:2). All that remained was for Him to finalize it all by dying. Yet even here, He was in control.
At the outset of the crucifixion, Jesus turned to His Father in seeking pardon for sinful people. At the instant the sins of the world were placed on Him, he cried, “My God!” with the derelict cry of abandonment. Once the deed was done, He again cried, “Father!” Mission accomplished. Relationship restored!’
Like preparing for a marathon, Jesus put in a whole lot of hours, suffering pain and injuries, to cross our threshold between a sinful life and eternal salvation. Your salvation journey is a marathon. Oh, look at that…I am running/walking a marathon after all. But sometime I feel I’m crawling or not even moving at all. I’m so thankful and blessed that God is patient with me and never stops working on me.
Bless others and be blessed.
Shelly :0)
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#BillCrower – The Mockery & Majesty of the Cross
#Crowder – Still
Third Day Devotions 