The Ultimate Sacrifice

October 8

(Luke 23:46 NIV) ““Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.””

(Matthew 27:50 NIV) “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.”

(Romans 5:6-9 NIV) “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. {7} Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. {8} But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. {9} Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!”

(1 Corinthians 15:3 NIV) “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,”

(Hebrews 2:14 NIV) “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil”

(1 Peter 3:18 NIV) “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”

After around six hours on the cross, Jesus died. Luke, the physician, says, “He breathed His last.” Matthew says, “He gave up His spirit.” Let that soak in. God incarnate, the Word become flesh, the Creator of the universe… died. It is such a difficult concept that many cannot accept it. But it is an essential, foundational truth of Christianity. Our faith and salvation depend upon Christ’s death. He died for us. He died for our sins. He died to destroy the power of the devil. He died to conquer death. He died to bring us to God. In love, God gave the life of His Son to save us from the eternal penalty for our sins. Yes, Jesus was a good teacher, and He came to establish a community called the church. But His main purpose in coming was to save sinners. That’s you and me. Believe, and receive His gift. Accept His sacrifice. Believe, and be saved. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

The Torn Curtain

October 7

(Luke 23:44-45 NIV) “It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, {45} for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.”

(Exodus 26:33 NIV) “Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.”

(Hebrews 10:19-23 NIV) “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, {20} by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, {21} and since we have a great priest over the house of God, {22} let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. {23} Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

For a short time, as Jesus hung dying on the cross, darkness appeared to triumph over light. As Christ took upon Himself the sins of the world, the darkness grew bolder, and in a last ditch effort to defeat the light, it asserted itself over nature. Satan may have even claimed victory for a brief moment, as Christ took His last breath. But in that same moment, defeat came when the curtain in the Temple was torn in two. The barrier that separated God’s holy presence from humanity was torn asunder. The dividing wall between God and His people was no more. The sacrifice was complete. The Lamb of God had been slain for the sins of the world. God’s Spirit would no longer dwell behind a curtain in a temple made by human hands. He would now live in the hearts of those covered by the blood of the Lamb. They would be His dwelling place and His temple. Hallelujah! The curtain is gone! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day    

The Man in the Middle

October 6

(Luke 23:39-43 NIV) ““One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" {40} But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? {41} We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." {42} Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." {43} Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.””

(2 Corinthians 5:8-10 NIV) “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. {9} So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. {10} For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

Two thieves were crucified along with Jesus -- one on His left, the other on His right. One died in sin, and faced the grimmest of reapers -- the other died with God’s assurance of Paradise. The difference between the two was their attitude toward the man in the middle. One cursed Jesus, and told Him that if He was really the Christ, He would save them and Himself. The second man rebuked the first, saying that they deserved punishment for their sin, but that Jesus was innocent. Then he uttered a short, but profound salvation prayer, acknowledging Jesus as Lord, and asking for God’s mercy. He asked the right person. The man in the middle just happened to be the Son of God, and Christ assured the repentant thief that they would soon be together in Paradise. Jesus is still the man in the middle -- the man between us and hell. And the wise still appeal to Him for mercy. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

If You Are

October 5

(Luke 23:35-38 NIV) ““The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." {36} The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar {37} and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." {38} There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.””

(Matthew 4:3-7 NIV) ““The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." {4} Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" {5} Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. {6} "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" {7} Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.””

(Hebrews 12:2 NIV) “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Everyone has their own perspective. The disciples saw the cross as a defeat. The writer of Hebrews saw the cross as a gateway to eternal joy and to the very throne of God. Satan saw the cross as one last opportunity for temptation, hoping Christ would abandon His mission of mercy. The sneering, mocking people were Satan’s tools. They taunted Jesus: “Show off your power. If you are God, prove it by coming down from the cross.” Satan had used the same line at the beginning of Christ’s ministry -- “if you are”. It was the same temptation: grab earthly power, instead of seeking God’s glory. But Jesus did not waiver. An eternal God does not think in terms of “if”. The great “I Am” does not deal in possibilities. Christ did not come to batter His enemies into submission, but to die for their sins. The cross was not a mistake or a defeat -- it was Christ’s original mission. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day