1 John 4:19 “We love Him because He first loved us.”
As we are in the EASTER weekend our verse seems fitting as without question JESUS FIRST LOVED US. His love was so on display at CALVARY. Paul wrote to the Romans that “when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6) And he wrote that God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8. Peter wrote that Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,” 1 Peter 3:18. The writer of Hebrews wrote that He endured hostility from sinners. Hebrews 12:3. John would write in Revelation that He loved us AND washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father.” Because of His love and what He did for us John says “to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
As you survey the wondrous cross of Jesus this weekend I place before you again what was done to Him. May as you see sorrow and love mingled together it will cause you to say, “Lord, here is my life, my soul, my all.” “You paid all, all to you I owe!”
They ACCUSED (vehemently and falsely accused) Him; They ARRESTED Him;
He would experience immense AGONY. He would be ALONE.
They BEAT Him; They BLASPHEMED Him; They BLINDFOLDED Him; They BOUND Him; They mockingly BOWED their knee to Him WORSHIPING Him;
He was BETRAYED by a KISS from a friend.
They CONDEMNED Him to death; They treated Him with CONTEMPT; They CROWNED Him with a crown of THORNS. They called for Him to be CRUCIFIED;
They DELIVERED Him up; They DENIED Him; He was DEEPLY DISTRESSED and TROUBLED;
He was DENIED by Peter. They called Him an EVILDOER.
They sought FALSE WITNESSES to present FALSE TESTIMONY against Him.
They (His disciples) FORSOOK Him; He was FORSAKEN by God
They GAMBLED for His Garments; They HUNG Him on a tree They hurled INSULTS at Him
They JEERED Him; They KILLED Him – Peter went so far as to say They MURDERED Him
They LAID their HANDS on Him. They would MOCK Him.
They NAILED Him to the cross
He was OVERWHELMED with Sorrow. They PIERCED Him. They PLOTTED AGAINST Him
They repeatedly QUESTIONED Him to get Him to self-incriminate Himself
They RIDICULED Him. They REVILED Him. They SCOURGED Him (They FLOGGED Him)
They SLAPPED Him. They SNEERED at Him. His soul was exceedingly SORROWFUL
They SPIT on Him and SPAT in His face. They STRIPPED Him. They STRUCK Him
The TAUNTED Him, tempting Him while on the cross to come down.
They placed a crown of THORNS on His head.
They gave Him an UNJUST religious trial
They gave Him VINEGAR for His THIRST
They WAGGED their Heads as they walked by.
They CRUCIFIED Him and He DIED. Friends would BURY Him.
Dare we stop here and not tell the whole story that though He endured the hostility of sinners and SUFFERED and died, HE AROSE from the dead on the third day!!!!
AN APRIL TO BELIEVE Note
With Easter Sunday tomorrow, April 20, we are reading through the Gospel of John. On this April 19th, we encourage you to read/listen to John 19 where Christ is the LAMB of God, CRUCIFIED. The key verse for BELIEVING in Jesus is John 19:35. It says, “And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.” May this April be an April to Believe!
And remember, you can join reading/listening to the daily reading of John on the Date the Word APP under the title April to Believe.
Continue Strong Growing Deeper In Love With Jesus,
And remember to DATE The Word