JESUS, WHAT DID YOU DO? No, I don’t mean what did You do during your
time here on earth? I’ve just been
wondering today what it was like for You when You knew you were down to Your
last few weeks before Your crucifixion. Not
that You hadn’t known for always and forever, because obviously there has never
been anything that You didn’t know about before it happened. For me, I think that almost would have been
worse. Always knowing, never a day going
by that my life wasn’t on a count-down to death on a cross. How did that make you feel, Jesus? Especially when You were perfect, knowing You
hadn’t done anything to deserve death – much less this kind of a torturous
death. Knowing that You weren’t paying
for Your own sins, because You are sinless – but paying for all of mankind’s
sins from the beginning of time until the end of time as we know it on
earth. Obviously, because You are the
Son of God, You didn’t allow this knowledge to be a stress-point or a heaviness
on Your heart that diminished Your ability to still love this lost world with
an everlasting love. You didn’t allow it
to make You bitter that because of us – You had to die because that was the
Father’s plan to redeem us. You just
drank the bitter cup when the time came to pour out Your life for ours. I cannot comprehend such a love, Jesus … I
just believe and accept it, and am eternally grateful that You literally saved
my life! There are no words to express
what I feel. I just have to believe that
forever and always, including the last few weeks of Your life on this earth,
You weren’t moping around, hiding in despair, awaiting the inevitable thrust of
those spikes through Your flesh. I
believe that because You saw not only me, but all of Your creation down through
the ages, You fell in love with us just as a parent does when they gaze upon
their child. You knew we would stumble
and fall … and need You to help us get up again. You saw our bad choices and outright sins …
and knew that You would need to be the One to rescue us from an eternity in
hell. You felt our pain when the
diseases and sicknesses came upon us … and it was clear that it would take the
stripes on Your back to bring healing to our ravished bodies. You understood the dark clouds of depression
and darkness that would seek to take us down … and You knew that You would be
lifted up on that cross, so that we might also be lifted up as overcomers. You saw our hearts bleed for a million
reasons … and Your compassion would compel You to allow Your blood to be
spilled so our bleeding could stop. You
saw our confusion and our blinded ways … and You knew we would need a Shepherd
to follow Who was willing to give His life for His lost sheep. You knew we would be disappointed by others
and You couldn’t bear the thought that there would be no one that we could
truly count on … so You chose to come to us and through Your death and
resurrection fulfill Your promise that You never change and that You will
always be with us, always – to the end, and always – throughout eternity! Never to leave us. Ever! I have this sense that for any of us humans
facing a cross or any kind of death on behalf of someone else, we would either
rebel or run. Even if we had the
slightest desire to give our life, would we not dread the end, wishing there
could be another way? You know, Jesus
faced the cross knowing the pain and agony He would endure – He even cried out
to His Father, asking if it be His will, that this cup would pass from
Him. When that wasn’t possible, the
unspeakable joy at what He saw beyond the cross as the ultimate Gift for all of
us is what kept Him focused on the plan, and He could still love through the
sweat-drops of blood staining His face.
He paid the ultimate price to bring us victory for every day of our
lives. That’s what Jesus did then. And that’s what He is still providing for us
now! Jesus sees us as worthy – through
the blood of the Lamb! May we daily live
that way, never wasting His willingness to give us His ALL!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
A SPECIAL
WELCOME to Mike, Marcia, Jessica, and Matthew who worshipped with us
this past Sunday! May God bless you!
10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP
10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE
CHURCH
MON, MAR 18TH:
6:30 P.M. – RE:FUEL YOUTH
WED, MAR 20TH/THU,
MAR 21ST:
7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDIES
Check your church calendar for locations
SUN, MAR 24TH:
10:00 A.M. – PALM SUNDAY SERVICE
10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE
CHURCH
ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!
Just a few weeks away will be our Children's Easter event at church on Saturday, March 30th, at 10:00 in the morning. We don't want anyone missing out on this special time that will remind them and teach them more about what Jesus did on the cross for them and how He arose from the tomb - for them! They will love this time of learning, celebrating, fun, and special treats! Plan to bring your children - and if they have friends who do not have a church ... invite them to come along! This could be their time to hear about how very much Jesus loves them and ask Him into their hearts! What a great opportunity for us to reach out around us!
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
