O Glorious Day!

We all need to take a day to remember what Jesus did for us so many years ago on that old rugged cross. I will never forget the first time I saw a replica of what the crown of thorns may have looked like. I was about 21 years old and in my young mind, as a new Christian, I had imagined the small thorns on a rose bush I had in my yard. I thought that thorns were sharp and I have been pricked by them before while cutting them on my own, but it certainly was nothing compared to what Jesus endured for me.

Matthew 27:28-31, “²⁸And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

²⁹And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

³⁰And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

³¹And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.”(KJV)

The next thing that came to my mind as a new found believer was the nails. These were not the same small nails I use to hang a picture on a wall. These nails had to be big enough and thick enough to hold the weight of a full grown man. This man, Jesus, was a carpenter. Carpenters are very strong men. They carry heavy wood, sand it, and cut the wood. I imagine that Jesus had muscles and stamina to build wood projects and walk all over the country side as He did during His ministry here on earth. I was told that the nails were not actually placed in the center of His hand, as I previously imagined. The bones in the hand aren’t strong enough to hold up a man’s weight in this manner. I had to learn that the large nails were thrust into the bones within the wrist to be able to hold Him up.

I have worked with my dad in the work shop before, building small projects, and have missed the nail and hit my thumb. THAT was painful! I can’t even begin to imagine a nail going through my wrists and then my feet. As the soldiers cross the feet of Jesus, one over the other, and hammered the nail in, it must have been excruciating! I know from the days when I was in school, that my arms get tired if I have to keep my hand raised for too long when the teacher doesn’t see me. Now imagine hanging on that rugged tree from your wrists, as your arms are outstretched. It has been recorded in history that during crucifixions they would lift themselves up on their feet in order to catch their breath. When a body is hunched over their lungs from hanging by their hands, it would cause an obstruction to the airways.

With each and every push on His feet, He was able to catch a breath, until the soldiers came and broke his legs. I have never broken a leg before, or even an arm for that matter. I have fractured two toes and that was painful enough as it is, let alone to have both legs broken. Now He hung from his wrists alone, with no way to catch a breath! Then a soldier came to pierce his side. Our Lord lifted up His eyes and spoke his last words, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 KJV)

After having three girls, I was so excited to find out I was having a boy. I love my son so very much! Now, Mary was watching her own little boy, as a grown young man, enduring this crucifixion before her very eyes! My heart can’t fathom the pain she must have felt that day. Her son had died, but not just any death. Jesus died a physical death and a spiritual death. Not only had He left this world and all his friends and family, but He also was out of the presence of the Father for three days!

For three days His friends and family mourned His departure from this world. They saw Him suffer as He died. When my dad passed away I grieved, I cried, I was in shock, and at times I couldn’t think straight at all. The pain was so much for me to bear. I miss my dad so much and often day dream about him being alive. After three days, Jesus’ friends was still in shock that He had died, yet three women went to the tomb and were stunned to see the stone rolled away!

As the angels told them that He is risen, could you just imagine how they felt? Would you believe it? Who rolled the stone away? How could he be alive? Yet did they not remember when Jesus himself raised Lazarus from the grave after he had been dead for many days?

What a blessing for these ladies! They were the first ones there on the morning Jesus rose from the grave! Our Savior lives! Not just then, but even today! You may have seen an image of Jesus on a cross, maybe on a necklace or in an old church, but let me tell you that He is not on the cross anymore! He’s not even in the grave anymore! He is risen!

Mark 16:6, ” And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. “(KJV)

Jesus willingly sacrificed His own life for ours! It would be as if there is a drive by shooting and someone jumps in the way to save your life. He gave His life and rose from the grave for you and for me. His resurrection gave us the victory over sin and over death!The day I realized that Jesus loves me so much that He died like this for me, was January 24, 1995. It was that night, a Tuesday, that I spoke to a woman at my church about salvation. I just wasn’t sure about going to heaven. I had been in church for several months and heard this story so many times, but on this one night it became very real to me. The Holy Spirit of God had touched my heart and gently brought me to the feet of the Savior as I bowed my head to trust Christ as my personal Savior. I had the head knowledge, but did not have the relationship in my heart. Ever since then I can tell you that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He walks with me. I know that I have victory in Jesus!
1 John 5:13, ” These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. “(KJV).“(KJV)How are you remembering the Savior this day?
Do you remember the day you trusted Christ as your Savior?

 

Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved