The Great News

Good Friday is almost here, where Jesus gets hung onto the wooden cross. I would like to take a moment and think about why Jesus did this for us. He wanted to pay the ultimate sacrifice to save us from out sins and to make us so we may have life with him in eternity, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV.

The Lord wants us to be living sacrifices as our act of worship towards unbelievers to bring them into a relationship with Christ. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 ESV. As i ponder on this scripture from Romans that talks about being living sacrifices, I wanted to bring it in with my Young adult group does Study themes and last month it was “Living Sacrifices” and someone brought up this passage specifically. I brought up multiple actions that you can be a living sacrifice to glorify God’s kingdom for his purpose into your life with his specific calling that he has for you in ministry, and sharing your faith and what it means to be a Living sacrifice.

In today’s present time we are considered in a place as to be living in exile with no social contact with anyone or dining in at a restaurant, or going to the mall or movies because of the pandemic we are currently in as a whole world and nation. A verse that is stated in scripture that talks about exile from back then, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.” Jeremiah 29:4. This is a small glimpse from scripture to bring it all in to what we are currently going through in our world today to contrast to scripture from the prophet of Jeremiah who was writing at the time of Exile, just to name a few.

As we prepare for Holy week I wanted to debrief why it is so important to take apart of to show why Jesus’s death is so important to what is to come on the 3rd day. In scripture in the Gospels when it discusses the preparations that Jesus is making for his time of arrest to the Roman Governor, and his time of death on the cross. I wanted to share a couple of verses from Luke. Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.”. Luke 22:7-8 ESV. In following Luke, Jesus states instructions to his disciples when he took the Lord’s supper with them during his last few days on Earth. And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it he has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed! Luke 22:14-23 ESV. This scripture brings in which why we celebrate the Lord’s Supper and why it is so relevant during this time of remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ dying on the cross to save us and make us holy so we may have life to spend with him in heaven. But in the scriptures which were fulfilled he did rise again as he said on the 3rd day according to the scriptures.

Come back tomorrow and Saturday as we ponder on the Ultimate sacrifice that the Lord Jesus Christ did for us and took the Atonement for our sins.

Joyfully,

I.C.M