119 Sermon Illustrations on Atonement

[compiled from numerous similar illustrations]

Who has not read with thrilling interest the story of old curfew? A young soldier, for some offence, was condemned to die, and the time of his death was fixed "at the ringing of the curfew." Naturally, such a doom would be fearful and bitter to one in the years of his hope and prime; but to this unhappy youth, death was doubly terrible since he was soon to marry a beautiful, young lady whom he had long loved. The lady, who loved him ardently in return, had used her utmost efforts to avert his fate, pleading with the judges, and even with Cromwell himself; but all in vain. In her despair, she tried to get the old sexton not to ring the bell, but she found that to be impossible.

The hour for the execution drew near. The preparations were completed. The officers of the law brought forth the prisoner, and waited while the sun was setting for the signal from the distant bell tower. To the wonder of everybody, curfew did not ring! Only one human being, at that moment, knew the reason. The poor girl, half wild with the thought of her lover's peril, had rushed unseen up the winding stairs, and climbed the ladders into the belfry loft, and seized the tongue of the bell. The old sexton was in his place, prompt to the fatal moment. He threw his weight upon the rope, and the bell, obedient to his practised hand, reeled and swung to and fro in the tower. But the brave girl kept her hold, and no sound issued from its metallic lips.

Again and again, the sexton drew the rope, but with desperate strength the young heroine held on. Every moment made her position more fearful; every sway of the mighty bell threatened to fling her through the high tower window; but she would not let go. At last, the sexton went away. Old and deaf, he had not noticed that the curfew gave no peal. The brave girl descended from the belfry, wounded and trembling. She hurried from the church to the place of execution. Cromwell himself was there, and, just as he was sending to demand why the bell was silent, she saw him:

And her brow,

Lately white with sorrow, glows

with hope and courage now.

At his feet she told her story,

showed her hands all bruised and torn,

And her young face, still haggard

with the anguish it had worn,

Touched his heart with sudden pity,

lit his eyes with misty light--

"Go; your lover lives," cried Cromwell;

Curfew shall not ring tonight.

Think you that this young man, redeemed by that sacrifice of love from the clutches of the law, would regard any service to the fair woman who redeemed him a hardship? Nay, he would have been willing to have laid his life upon the altar for her!

Now, let us listen to another story of love. The scene is laid at Calvary. Jesus is upon the cross. The brow, once crowned with glory, is now crowned with thorns. The hands, so often outstretched in love and mercy, are now pinioned to the cross. The heart that throbbed and ached with human sorrow is now pierced with a spear. Oh, it is a sad moment in the history of the world! The earth trembles; the mountains quake; and the sun veils itself in darkness, for God's Son is dying. But listen! "It is finished! It is finished! It is finished!" The great plan of redemption, born in the heart of love, has now received its finishing touch, and God and the world stand reconciled!

Oh, dear friends, this was for us! Shall we not respond, not only with our hearts but with our substance, yea with all that we have, to gladden His dear heart and spread His kingdom from pole to pole?

-- L. G. Broughton

Crimson all the sky with beauty;

Aged sires, with heads of white,

Tell the eager, listening children,

"Curfew did not ring that night."

O'er the distant hills came Cromwell;

Bessie sees him, and her brow,

Lately white with fear and anguish,

Has no anxious traces now.

At his feet she tells her story,

Shows her hands all bruised and torn;

And her face so sweet and pleading,

Yet with sorrow pale and worn,

Touched his heart with sudden pity,

Lit his eyes with misty light:

"Go! your lover lives," said Cromwell,

"Curfew shall not ring tonight."

Wide they flung the massive portal;

Led the prisoner forth to die,

-- All his bright young life before him.

`Neath the darkening English sky

Bessie comes with flying footsteps,

Eyes aglow with love-light sweet;

Kneeling on the turf beside him,

Lays his pardon at his feet.

In his brave, strong arms he clasped her,

Kissed the face upturned and white,

Whispered, "Darling, you have saved me,

--Curfew will not ring tonight!"

Like Justice, deaf to mercy's plea, the old sexton did what law demanded. Like Jesus, Who muffled in His hands on the cross, the death-knell of our eternal doom, Bessie did what love designed to save the one she loved. And, like Basil, whose liberty was love-bought, we all, though totally unworthy, may escape the just Curfew of Eternal Death through Jesus' death in our behalf. --Duane V. Maxey

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Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight

(Rose Hartwick Thorpe)

(1850-1939)

Note: To be declaimed. In a heartfelt manner.

Slowly England's sun was setting o'er the hilltops far away,

Filling all the land with beauty at the close of one sad day,

And the last rays kissed the forehead of a man and a maiden fair,

He with footsteps slow and weary, she with sunny floating hair;

He with bowed head, sad and thoughtful, she wit lips all cold and white,

Struggling to keep back the murmur,

"Curfew must not ring tonight."

"Sexton," Bessie's white lips faltered, pointing to the prison old,

With its turrets tall and gloomy, with its walls dark, damp, and cold,

"I've a lover in that prison, doomed this very night to die,

At the ringing of the Curfew, and no earthly help is nigh;

Cromwell will not come till sunset," and her lips grew strangely white

As she breathed the husky whisper:

"Curfew must not ring tonight."

"Bessie," calmly spoke the sexton,'every word pierced her young heart.

Like the piercing of an arrow, like a deadly poisoned dart,"

"Long, long years I've rung the Curfew from that gloomy, shadowed tower;

Every evening, just at sunset, it has told the twilight hour;

I have done my duty ever, tried to do it just and right,

Now I'm old I will not falter,

Curfew, it must ring tonight."

Wild her eyes and pale her features, stern and white her thoughtful brow,

As within her secret bosom Bessie made a solemn vow,

She had listened while the judges read, without a tear or sigh:

"At the ringing of the Curfew, Basil Underwood must die."

And her breath came fast and faster, and her eyes grew large and bright;

In an undertone she murmured:

"Curfew must not ring tonight."

With quick step she bounded forward, sprang within the old church door,

Left the old man threading slowly paths he'd trod so oft before;

Not one moment paused the maiden, but with eye and cheek aglow

Mounted up the gloomy tower, where the bell swung to and fro:

As she climbed the dusty ladder, on which fell no ray of light,

Up and up, her white lips saying:

"Curfew must not ring tonight!"

She has reached the topmost ladder, o'er her hangs the great, dark bell;

Awful is the gloom beneath her, like the pathway down to hell.

Lo, the ponderous tongue is swinging, 'tis the hour of Curfew now,

And the sight has chilled her bosom, stopped her breath, and paled her brow.

Shall she let it ring? No, never! Flash her eyes with sudden light,

As she springs, and grasps it firmly,

"Curfew shall not ring tonight!"

Out she swung, far out; the city seemed a speck of light below,

There 'twixt heaven and earth suspended as the bell swung to and fro,

And the half-deaf sexton ringing (years he had not heard the bell),

Sadly thought the twilight Curfew rang young Basil's funeral knell.

Still the maiden clung more firmly, and with trembling lips so white,

Said to hush her heart's wild throbbing:

"Curfew shall not ring tonight!"

It was o'er, the bell ceased swaying, and the maiden stepped once more

Firmly on the dark old ladder where for hundred years before

Human foot had not been planted. The brave deed that she had done

Should be told long ages after: as the rays of setting sun

Crimson all the sky with beauty, aged sires, with heads of white,

Tell the eager, listening children,

"Curfew did not ring that night."

O'er the distant hills came Cromwell; Bessie sees him, and her brow,

Lately white with fear and anguish, has no anxious traces now.

Color At his feet she tells her story, shows her hands all bruised and torn:

And her face so sweet and pleading, yet with sorrow pale and worn,

Touched his heart with sudden pity, lit his eyes with misty light:

"Go! Your lover lives," said Cromwell,

"Curfew shall not ring to-night."

Wide they flung the massive portal: led the prisoners forth to die,

All his bright young life before him. 'Neath the darkening English sky

Bessie comes with flying footsteps, eyes aglow with lovelight sweet;

Kneeling on the turf beside him, lays his pardon at his feet.

In his brave, strong arms he clasped her, kissed the face upturned and white,

Whispered, "Darling, you have saved me,

Curfew will not ring tonight!"

============================================

A poem by Rose Hartwick Thorpe, entitled "Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight," beautifully illustrates this. During the time when Oliver Cromwell ruled England, a young soldier named Basil Underwood was found guilty of some offense and sentenced to die at the sounding of the evening curfew. Bessie, the young woman he was soon to have married, passionately interceded for his life, even to Cromwell himself, but all to no avail. Finally, in loving desperation she went to the old, deaf sexton who was to toll the huge bell which would sound Basil's death-knell. As "Old Curfew," the sexton, made his way to the church where he had faithfully rung that bell for many years, Bessie tried to persuade him not to ring the bell that night.

*

A friend visited an elderly woman crippled by arthritis. When asked, "Do you suffer much?" she responded, "Yes, but there is no nail here," and she pointed to her hand. "He had the nails, I have the peace." She pointed to her head. "There are no thorns there, He had the thorns, I have the peace." She touched her side. "There is no spear here. He had the spear, I have the peace." This is what the atonement of Christ Jesus means for us -- He gave of Himself so that we might have the peace.

1. What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Chorus

Oh! Precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

2. For my pardon this I see–

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

For my cleansing this my plea–

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

3. Nothing can for sin atone–

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

Naught of good that I have done–

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

4. This is all my hope and peace–

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

This is all my righteousness–

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

*

New York - A 31-year-old accountant repaid the $40 he stole 15 years ago from an amusement park - and added 286 percent interest to atone for his previous theft. Jeff Street was a 16-year-old parking lot attendant at the amusement park in 1969. Recently, he said, "I was praying at my desk and reading the Word, and it just came to me. It wasn't the Lord's voice, but it came from within me - I had to pay back the money," Street said.

________

Cited in {Dallas Morning News,} Nov. 11, 1984.

In a certain community in England, someone had been stealing

sheep. The forces of the law were unable to apprehend the thief. A

certain farmer was brought before the judge and accused of being the

thief, but he established his innocence of any connection with the

offense, beyond the shadow of a doubt. Thereupon the judge said, "You

are an innocent man, but someone has been stealing sheep. I must show

to this community what the law would do to a sheep thief." Then the

judge committed the innocent man to a period of incarceration, "to

uphold public justice." But what justice!

Cited by James O. Buswell, {Systematic Theology of the

Christian Religion}, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1963)

1. To God be the glory — great things He hath done,

So loved He the world that He gave us His son,

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,

And opened the Life-gate that all may come in.

Chorus

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,

And give Him the glory — great things He hath done.

2. O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!

To every believer the promise of God;

The vilest offender who truly believes,

That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

3. Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,

And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son,

But purer and higher and greater will be

Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

*

1. "Man of Sorrows!" what a name

For the Son of God, who came

Ruined sinners to reclaim!

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

2. Bearing shame and scoffing rude,

In my place condemned He stood—

Sealed my pardon with His blood:

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

3. Guilty, vile and helpless we,

Spotless Lamb of God was He;

Full atonement! Can it be?

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

4. Lifted up was He to die,

"It is finished!" was His cry;

Now in heav'n exalted high:

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

5. When He comes, our glorious King,

All His ransomed home to bring,

Then anew this song we'll sing:

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

[Tune “Man of Sorrows”]

*

MORMONISM: GETHSEMANE OR CALVARY?

In the official LDS newspaper a Mormon prophet explained that the atonement for sin happened in the Garden of Gethsemane. "What happened in that garden, said President Ezra Taft Benson, `was the greatest single act of love in recorded history.

"`It was in Gethsemane that Jesus took on Himself the sins of the world, in Gethsemane that His pain was equivalent to the cumulative burden of all men, in Gethsemane that He descended below all things so that all could repent and come to Him.'"

"`That holy, unselfish act of voluntarily taking on Himself the sins of all other men is called the Atonement'." (LDS Church News, 1 June 1991, p.14 or Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.15)

BLOODY SWEAT OR THE BLOOD OF THE CROSS?

Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie wrote, "Forgiveness is available because Christ the Lord sweat great drops of blood in Gethsemane as he bore the incalculable weight of the sins of all who ever had or ever would repent." (The Promised Messiah, p.337) "In a garden called Gethsemane, outside Jerusalem's walls, in agony beyond compare, he took upon himself the sins of all men on condition of repentance." (p.552)

McConkie wrote, "And as he came out of the Garden, delivering himself voluntarily into the hands of wicked men, the victory had been won. There remained yet the shame and the pain of his attest, his trials, and his cross. But all these were overshadowed by the agonies and sufferings in Gethsemane. It was on the cross that he 'suffered death in the flesh,' even as many have suffered agonizing deaths, but it was in Gethsemane that `he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.'" (The Mortal Messiah, pp.127-128)

IS THE MORMON VIEW OF THE ATONEMENT TO BE TRUSTED?

How often in the Bible is Gethsemane mentioned? Only two times! Mormon leaders will point to Luke 22:44 saying, "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." What credible teacher would build such a monumental doctrine of the atonement through an "as it were"? The Bible says nothing about Gethsemane being the atonement.

WHERE HAVE YOU PLACED YOUR FAITH?

The New Testament is replete! Where did Christ bear our sin? The burning passion and pulpit of the apostles of Jesus Christ was in the preaching the blood of the cross!

"I delivered unto you first of all ...that Christ died for our sins." (1 Cor. 15:1-4)

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." (Rom. 5:8-11)

"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (1 Cor. 1:17-18)

"For I determined not to know anything among you, save

Jesus Christ, and him crucified." (1 Cor. 2:2)

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Galatians 6:14a)

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." (Eph. 1:7)

"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." (Eph. 2:13)

"And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Phil. 2:8)

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Col. 1:20)

Hebrews 9:22 states that without the shedding (not sweating) of blood, there is no remission of sins.

LDS leaders sometimes mention that Christ died on the cross in order for the resurrection to take place. Marion Romney, a member of the LDS First Presidency, explained, "Jesus then went into the Garden of Gethsemane. There he suffered most. He suffered greatly on the cross, of course, but other men had died by crucifixion; in fact, a man hung on either side of him as he died on the cross. But no man, nor set of men, nor all men put together, ever suffered what the Redeemer suffered in the garden. He went there to pray and suffer'." (Conference Report, October 1953, p.35)

1. Far dearer than all

that the world can impart

Was the message that came to my heart,

How that Jesus alone

for my sin did atone –

And Calvary covers it all.

Chorus

Calvary covers it all,

My past with its sin and shame;

My guilt and despair

Jesus took on Him there,

And Calvary covers it all.

2. The stripes that He bore

and the thorns that He wore

Told His mercy and love evermore;

And my heart bowed in shame

as I called on His name –

And Calvary covers it all.

3. How matchless the grace,

when I looked in the face

Of this Jesus, my crucified Lord;

My redemption complete

I then found at His feet –

And Calvary covers it all.

4. How blessed the thought

that my soul, by Him bought,

Shall be His in the glory on high,

Where with gladness and song

I’ll be one of the throng –

And Calvary covers it all.

*

Readers of the U.K. Telegraph were likely surprised to open their paper and find the headline, “First World War Officially Ends.” Most of us learned in school that WWI ended either with the 1918 armistice agreement or the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. But the Telegraph points out that, technically, the war will not come to a formal conclusion until October 3, 2010, when Germany makes its final reparation payment.

The Telegraph’s Allan Hall explains, “The initial sum agreed upon for war damages in 1919 was 226 billion Reichsmarks, a sum later reduced to 132 billion, £22 billion at the time. The bill would have been settled much earlier had Adolf Hitler not reneged on reparations during his reign. ... Time’s Josh Sanburn explains, “With the Third Reich refusing to pay the reparations throughout the 1930s and ‘40s, some historians thought it might take a full century for Germany to fulfill its financial requirements under the treaty. But the German economy is on a remarkable upswing even amidst the global financial downturn. German GDP is forecast to grow at 3.3 percent this year, almost single-handedly driving European economic growth.”

Application:

This story drives home the point that a conflict isn’t over just because the hostilities have ceased. Until reconciliation and reparations have taken place, closure is on hold.

Two thousand years ago, the long war between man and God came to end. This was made possible by the fact that reparations for our transgressions against God were paid in full by Christ - a payment that not only covers all past transgressions, but all ongoing and future transgressions, as well.

________

Source: The Atlantic Wire, September 29th, 2010

*

[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #17043]

Until recently I knew very little about umbrellas. However, there was a time I found it necessary to know what the shadow of an eclipse was called. As you know science has a word for everything. I discovered the word is umbra.

The Italians adapted the concept of the umbra to a device which casts a shadow, they called it an umbrella. The word also applies to a tent, the main body part of the jellyfish, and even to military maneuvers. There's even an umbrella bird and umbrella tree.

The umbrella's history dates to 1610; it is considered sacred among many African tribes. As far back as 1635 it was used to illustrate the significance of deity hidden in the God-man Jesus, His flesh served as a covering for His supernatural being.

Commentary: Consider also a lunar eclipse. If we visualize "judgment" as the sun, sinful man as the moon, and the earth as Christ, we can see how He casts a shadow over us to cover our sins, interceding for us. But the illustration breaks down at this point, it is just a temporary covering; as you know, the moon eventually comes out from under the earth's shadow, but a year later ... there it is again. Much like the priest on the Day of Atonement - year after year.

It takes the cleansing blood of Christ to cover the sins of man - "not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." [Hebrews 9:12]

_______________

Source/Attribution: John Gillmartin; SIEW

Medical Account of Crucifixion

by Dr. C. Truman Davis

Brought to you by:

The Youth Ministry Newsletter Exchange

http://www.cm-online.net/ym

A Physician Testifies About the Crucifixion

About a decade ago, reading Jim Bishop's “The Day Christ Died”, I realized that I had for years taken the Crucifixion more or less for granted -- that I had grown callous to its horror by a too easy familiarity with the grim details and a too distant friendship with our Lord. It finally occurred to me that, though a physician, I didn't even know the actual immediate cause of death. The Gospel writers don't help us much on this point, because crucifixion and scourging were so common during their lifetime that they apparently considered a detailed description unnecessary. So we have only the concise words of the Evangelists: “Pilate, having scourged Jesus, delivered Him to them to be crucified -- and they crucified Him.”

I have no competence to discuss the infinite psychic and spiritual suffering of the Incarnate God atoning for the sins of fallen man. But it seemed to me that as a physician I might pursue the physiological and anatomical aspects of our Lord's passionate some detail. What did the body of Jesus of Nazareth actually endure during those hours of torture?

This led me first to a study of the practice of crucifixion itself; that is, torture and execution by fixation to a cross. I am indebted to many who have studied this subject in the past, and especially to a contemporary colleague, Dr. Pierre Barbet, a French surgeon who has done exhaustive historical and experimental research and has written extensively on the subject.

Apparently, the first known practice of crucifixion was by the Persians. Alexander and his generals brought it back to the Mediterranean world -- to Egypt and to Carthage. The Romans apparently learned the practice from the Carthaginians and (as with almost everything the Romans did) rapidly developed a very high degree of efficiency and skill at it. A number of Roman authors (Livy, Cicer, Tacitus) comment on crucifixion, and several innovations, modifications, and variations are described in the ancient literature.

For instance, the upright portion of the cross (or stipes) could have the cross-arm (or patibulum) attached two or three feet below its topiin what we commonly think of as the Latin cross. The most common form used in our Lord's day, however, was the Tau cross, shaped like our T. In this cross the patibulum was placed in a notch at the top of the stipes. There is archeological evidence that it was on this type of cross that Jesus was crucified.

Without any historical or biblical proof, Medieval and Renaissance painters have given us our picture of Christ carrying the entire cross. But the upright post, or stipes, was generally fixed permanently in the ground at the site of execution and the condemned man was forced to carry the patibulum, weighing about 110 pounds, from the prison to the place of execution.

Many of the painters and most of the sculptors of crucifixion, also show the nails through the palms. Historical Roman accounts and experimental work have established that the nails were driven between the small bones of the wrists (radial and ulna) and not through the palms. Nails driven through the palms will strip out between the fingers when made to support the weight of the human body. The misconception may have come about through a misunderstanding of Jesus' words to Thomas, “Observe my hands.” Anatomists, both modern and ancient, have always considered the wrist as part of the hand.

A titulus, or small sign, stating the victim's crime was usually placed on a staff, carried at the front of the procession from the prison, and later nailed to the cross so that it extended above the head. This sign with its staff nailed to the top of the cross would have given it somewhat the characteristic form of the Latin cross.

But, of course, the physical passion of the Christ began in Gethsemane. Of the many aspects of this initial suffering, the one of greatest physiological interest is the bloody sweat. It is interesting that St. Luke, the physician, is the only one to mention this. He says, “And being in Agony, He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground.” Every ruse (trick) imaginable has been used by modern scholars to explain away this description, apparently under the mistaken impression that this just doesn't happen. A great deal of effort could have been saved had the doubters consulted the medical literature. Though very rare, the phenomenon of Hematidrosis, or bloody sweat, is well documented. Under great emotional stress of the kind our Lord suffered, tiny capillaries in the sweat glands can break, thus mixing blood with sweat. This process might well have produced marked weakness and possible shock.

After the arrest in the middle of the night, Jesus was next brought before the Sanhedrin and Caiphus, the High Priest; it is here that the first physical trauma was inflicted. A soldier struck Jesus across the face for remaining silent when questioned by Caiphus. The palace guards then blind-folded Him and mockingly taunted Him to identify them as they each passed by, spat upon Him, and struck Him in the face.

In the early morning, battered and bruised, dehydrated, and exhausted from a sleepless night, Jesus is taken across the Praetorium of the Fortress Antonia, the seat of government of the Procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate. You are, of course, familiar with Pilate's action in attempting to pass responsibility to Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Judea. Jesus apparently suffered no physical mistreatment at the hands of Herod and was returned to Pilate. It was then, in response to thecries of the mob, that Pilate ordered Bar-Abbas released and condemned Jesus to scourging and crucifixion.

There is much disagreement among authorities about the unusual scourging as a prelude to crucifixion. Most Roman writers from this period do not associate the two. Many scholars believe that Pilate originally ordered Jesus scourged as his full punishment and that the death sentence by crucifixion came only in response to the taunt by the mob that the Procurator was not properly defending Caesar against this pretender who allegedly claimed to be the King of the Jews.

Preparations for the scourging were carried out when the Prisoner was stripped of His clothing and His hands tied to a post above His head. It is doubtful the Romans would have made any attempt to follow the Jewish law in this matter, but the Jews had an ancient law prohibiting more than forty lashes.

The Roman legionnaire steps forward with the flagrum (or flagellum) in his hand. This is a short whip consisting of several heavy, leather thongs with two small balls of lead attached near the ends of each. The heavy whip is brought down with full force again and again across Jesus' shoulders, back, and legs. At first the thongs cut through the skin only. Then, as the blows continue, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles.

The small balls of lead first produce large, deep bruises which are broken open by subsequent blows. Finally the skin of the back is hanging in long ribbons and the entire area is an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding tissue. When it is determined by the centurion in charge that the prisoner is near death, the beating is finally stopped.

The half-fainting Jesus is then untied and allowed to slump to the stone pavement, wet with His own blood. The Roman soldiers see a great joke in this provincial Jew claiming to be king. They throw a robe across His shoulders and place a stick in His hand for a scepter. They still need a crown to make their travesty complete. Flexible branch covered with long thorns (commonly used in bundles for firewood) are plaited into the shape of a crown and this is pressed into His scalp. Again there is copious bleeding, the scalp being one of the most vascular areas of the body.

After mocking Him and striking Him across the face, the soldiers take the stick from His hand and strike Him across the head, driving the thorns deeper into His scalp. Finally, they tire of their sadistic sport and the robe is torn from His back. Already having adhered to the clots of blood and serum in the wounds, its removal causes excruciating pain just as in the careless removal of a surgical bandage, and almost as though He were again being whipped the wounds once more begin to bleed.

In deference to Jewish custom, the Romans return His garments. The heavy patibulum of the cross is tied across His shoulders, and the procession of the condemned Christ, two thieves, and the execution detail of Roman soldiers headed by a centurion begins its slow journey along the Via Dolorosa. In spite of His efforts to walk erect, the weight of the heavy wooden beam, together with the shock produced by copious blood loss, is too much. He stumbles and falls. The rough wood of the beam gouges into the lacerated skin and muscles of the shoulders. He tries to rise, but human muscles have been pushed beyond their endurance.

The centurion, anxious to get on with the crucifixion, selects a stalwart North African onlooker, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross. Jesus follows, still bleeding and sweating the cold, clammy sweat of shock, until the 650 yard journey from the fortress Antonia to Golgotha is finally completed.

Jesus is offered wine mixed with myrrh, a mild analgesic mixture. He refuses to drink. Simon is ordered to place the patibulum on the ground and Jesus quickly thrown backward with His shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly, he moves to the other side and repeats the action being careful not to pull the arms to tightly, but to allow some flexion and movement.

The patibulum is then lifted in place at the top of the stipes and the titulus reading “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” is nailed in place. The left foot is now pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed. The Victim is now crucified. As He slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists excruciating pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain -- the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves. As He pushes Himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, He places His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again there is the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet.

At this point, as the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push Himself upward. Hanging by his arms, the pectoral muscles are paralyzed and the intercostal muscles are unable to act. Air can be drawn into the lungs, but cannot be exhaled. Jesus fights to raise Himself in order to get even one short breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, he is able to push Himself upward to exhale and bring in the life-giving oxygen. It was undoubtedly during these periods that He uttered the seven short sentences recorded:

The first, looking down at the Roman soldiers throwing dice for His seamless garment, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” The second, to the penitent thief, “Today thou shalt be with me in Paradise.” The third, looking down at the terrified, grief-stricken adolescent John - the beloved Apostle - he said, “Behold thy mother.” Then, looking to His mother Mary, “Woman behold thy son.”

The fourth cry is from the beginning of the 22nd Psalm, “My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?”

Hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain where tissue is torn from His lacerated back as He moves up and down against the rough timber. Then another agony begins. A terrible crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart.

One remembers again the 22nd Psalm, the 14th verse: “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.”

It is now almost over. The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level; the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissue; the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. The markedly dehydrated tissues send their flood of stimuli to the brain.

Jesus gasps His fifth cry, “I thirst.”

One remembers another verse from the prophetic 22nd Psalm: “My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou has brought me into the dust of death.”

A sponge soaked in posca, the cheap, sour wine which is the staple drink of the Roman legionaries, is lifted to His lips. He apparently doesn't take any of the liquid. The body of Jesus is now in extremes, and He can feel the chill of death creeping through His tissues. This realization brings out His sixth words, possibly little more than a tortured whisper, “It is finished.”

His mission of atonement has completed. Finally He can allow his body to die. With one last surge of strength, he once again presses His torn feet against the nail, straightens His legs, takes a deeper breath, and utters His seventh and last cry, “Father! Into thy hands I commit my spirit.”

The rest you know. In order that the Sabbath not be profaned, the Jews asked that the condemned men be dispatched and removed from the crosses. The common method of ending a crucifixion was by crurifracture, the breaking of the bones of the legs. This prevented the victim from pushing himself upward; thus the tension could not be relieved from the muscles of the chest and rapid suffocation occurred. The legs of the two thieves were broken, but when the soldiers came to Jesus they saw that this was unnecessary.

Apparently to make doubly sure of death, the legionnaire drove his lance through the fifth interspace between the ribs, upward through the pericardium and into the heart. The 34th verse of the 19th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John reports: “And immediately there came out blood and water.” That is, there was an escape of water fluid from the sac surrounding the heart, giving postmortem evidence that Our Lord died not the usual crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart failure (a broken heart) due to shock and constriction of the heart by fluid in the pericardium.

Thus we have had our glimpse - including the medical evidence - of that epitome of evil which man has exhibited toward Man and toward God. It has been a terrible sight, and more than enough to leave us despondent and depressed. How grateful we can be that we have the great sequel in the infinite mercy of God toward man - at once the miracle of the atonement and the expectation of the triumphant Easter morning.

________

Dr. C. Truman Davis is a nationally respected Ophthalmologist, vice president of the American Association of Ophthalmology, and an active figure in the Christian schools movement. He is founder and president of the excellent Trinity Christian School in Mesa Arizona, and a trustee of Grove City College.

================================================

Similar material from SermonCentral.com, 3/27/06:

The author Lee Strobel has written a book titled GOD’S OUTRAGEOUS CLAIMS. In it he writes these words:

Jesus was tied to a post and beaten at least thirty-nine times – and probably more – with a whip that had jagged bones and balls of lead woven into it. Again and again the whip was brought down with full force on his bare shoulders, back, and legs ...At first the heavy thongs cut through skin only. Then, as the blows continued, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues, producing first and oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles. The small balls of lead first produce large, deep bruises which are broken open by subsequent blows. Finally, the skin of the back is hanging in long ribbons, and the entire area is an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding tissue. One witness to a Roman flogging gave this description: “The sufferer’s veins were laid bare, and the very muscles and tendons and bowels of the victim were open to exposure.”

________

Contributed by David Haun

1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy wounded side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure;

Save from wrath and make me pure.

2. Could my tears forever flow,

Could my zeal no respite know,

This for sin could not atone—

Thou must save, and Thou alone:

In my hand no price I bring,

Simply to Thy cross I cling.

3. When I draw my final breath,

When my eyes shall close in death,

When I rise to worlds unknown

And behold Thee on Thy throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee.

[Tune “Toplady”]

[Alternate words and versification:

1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy riven side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure;

Save from wrath and make me pure.

2. Not the laboUs of my hands

Can fulfill Thy law’s commands;

Could my zeal no respite know,

Could my tears forever flow,

All for sin could not atone;

Thou must save, and Thou alone.

3. Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to the cross I cling;

Naked, come to Thee for dress;

Helpless, look to Thee for grace;

Foul, I to the fountain fly;

Wash me, Savior, or I die.

4. While I draw this fleeting breath,

When mine eyes shall close in death,

When I soar to worlds unknown,

See Thee on Thy judgment throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in thee.]

*

[This email has an interesting twist - Brian did read this at an FCA meeting, and he did die tragically, but he is not the original author. It is plagarized from Joshua Harris. Barbara Mikkelson writes, “It’s ironic that an essay describing the author’s sense of shame over his personal accumulation of sins would be used by another to add a few file cards to his own stash. The dead boy not only stole someone else’s work but also presented it as his own before a Christian fellowship he was part of and lied to his parents about it. That’s three of the Ten Commandments right there (stealing, not honoring parents, and bearing false witness).” See http://www.snopes.com/glurge/room.asp]

___________________

Seventeen-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something because he had a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting. It was his turn to lead the discussion so he sat down and wrote. He showed the essay, titled "The Room" to his mother, Beth, before he headed out the door.

Only two months before, he had handwritten the essay about encountering Jesus in a file room full of cards detailing every moment of the teen's life. But it was only after Brian's death that Beth and Bruce Moore realized that their son had described his view of heaven.

Brian Moore died May 27, 1997 -- the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a friend's house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted. [This story is also found at HolwickID #54; according to Snopes.com, Brian did read this essay at a Christian Athletes meeting but he had plagiarized it - see http://www.snopes.com/glurge/room.htm ]

THE ROOM...

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the Room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I have liked" I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.

This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content.

Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I have betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed at."

Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've yelled at my brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger" "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to write each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I have listened to," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music but more by the vast time I knew that file represented. When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.

An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: "No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!"

In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.

But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus.

I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?

Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card.

"No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood.

He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

1. I heard an old, old story,

how a Saviour came from glory,

How He gave His life on Calvary

to save a wretch like me;

I hear about His groaning,

of His precious blood's atoning,

Then I repented of my sins

and won the victory.

Chorus

O victory in Jesus,

my Saviour, forever!

He sought me and bought me

with His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him,

and all my love is due Him–

He plunged me to victory

beneath the cleansing flood.

2. I hear about His healing,

of His cleansing pow’r revealing,

How He made the lame to walk again

and caused the blind to see;

And then I cried, “Dear Jesus,

come and heal my broken spirit,”

And somehow Jesus came and brought

to me the victory.

3. I heard about a mansion

He has built for me in glory,

And I heard about the streets of gold

beyond the crystal sea,

About the angels singing

and the old redemption story–

And some sweet day I’ll sing up there

the song of victory.

*

In Portland, Oregon, noted atheist Christopher Hitchens laid down some seriously good theology. Most people recognize Hitchens as the author of the bestselling book “God Is Not Great: Why Religion Poisons Everything.” In Portland he was interviewed by Unitarian minister Marilyn Sewell. The following exchange took place near the start of the interview:

Sewell: The religion you cite in your book is generally the fundamentalist faith of various kinds. I’m a liberal Christian, and I don’t take the stories from the Scripture literally. I don’t believe in the doctrine of atonement (that Jesus died for our sins, for example). Do you make any distinction between fundamentalist faith and liberal religion?

Hitchens: I would say that if you don’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and Messiah, and that he rose again from the dead and by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you’re really not in any meaningful sense a Christian.

Sewell wanted no part of that discussion so her next words are, “Let me go someplace else.”

This little snippet demonstrates an important point about religious “God-talk.” You can call yourself anything you like, but if you don’t believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross for our sins and then rose from the dead, you are not “in any meaningful sense” a Christian. In one of the delicious ironies of our time, an outspoken atheist grasps the central tenet of Christianity better than many Christians do. What you believe about Jesus Christ really does make a difference.

*

[Original illustration at this number was added to HolwickID #15885]

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. — Romans 5:8 — Read: Isaiah 53

The atoning death of Christ is a truth so profound that scholars have been unable to fully plumb its depths. Think of it—Jesus, God’s Son, died to pay the penalty for our sins! Various theories have been advanced to explain what happened, but Scripture teaches that substitution lies closest to the heart of this great mystery. One innocent man bore the sins of all humanity.

Cliff Barrows tells of the time his two young children did something wrong. Although they were gently warned, they repeated the offense and needed to be disciplined. Cliff’s tender heart was pained at the thought of having to punish the ones he loved. So he called Bobby and Bettie into his room, removed his belt and shirt, and with bare back he knelt by his bed. He told each child to whip him 10 times. Oh, how they cried! But the penalty had to be paid. The children sobbed as they lashed their daddy’s back. Then Cliff hugged and kissed them, and they prayed together. “It hurt,” he recalls, “but I never had to spank them again.”

Are you haunted by the memory of some cowardly, selfish, or shameful acts? Jesus took the lashes for all our sins. Now He invites us to accept His forgiveness and devote the rest of our lives to Him. He wants us to know the greatness of His Father’s love. That’s why He died! — DJD

The Lamb of God was crucified,

The penalty for sin was paid,

God’s holiness was satisfied,

For all our sins on Christ were laid. —Sper

God the judge not only declared us guilty but also paid our penalty.

I ‘m told most people in 16th Century England got married in June because they took their annual bath in May. It seems they still smelled pretty good in June. Still, many were starting to ripen, so brides began carrying a bouquet of flowers to hide the aromas. [Adapted from Life in the 1500’s, author unknown]

Commentary:

Christ is God’s supernatural bouquet for believers; He covers our sins and hides our natural odor.

The crimson flow traveled down the tree

Dripping upon the earth for all the world to see.

Nail pierced hands did not cause this crimson flow.

Though the pain to bare alone was an awesome blow.

A spear pierced side allowed the water to pour

Mixing with the blood, the flow became more.

Upon the ground, the crimson red did soak.

Taking on from men a painful eternal yoke.

As the crimson spread from the replanted tree

The thunder roared loudly and hell’s locks exploded free.

Down from the hill the stream did rush,

Sickness and death this crimson stream did crush.

The crimson flow was power and Holy Fire

Setting the captives free, creating a Holy desire

So much flowing blood to come from just one man

To cover every soul and sweeping every land.

From Heaven this crimson flow did come,

It watered the earth, sprinkling all not some.

Flowing to hell by way of a grave,

Resurrected in three days all men to save.

Then ascending back up to heaven again,

Taking with it death and repented sin.

Jesus was God and then Jesus was man.

Salvation was for all when the crimson blood ran.

1, Not all the blood of beasts

On Jewish altars slain,

Could give the guilty conscience peace,

Or wash away the stain.

2. But Christ, the heav'nly Lamb

Takes all our sins away;

A sacrifice of nobler name,

And richer blood than they.

3. My faith would lay her hand

On that dear head of Thine,

While like a penitent I stand,

And there confess my sin.

4. My soul looks back to see

The burden Thou didst bear,

When hanging on th'accursèd tree,

And knows her guilt was there.

5. Believing, we rejoice

To see the curse remove;

We bless the Lamb with cheerful voice,

And sing His dying love.

[Tune “Boyleton” S.M.]

*

Sermon on the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 9:12-15

WHY SO MUCH BLOOD?

==================

I. Gore of Mel Gibson's movie.

II. The gospel and violence.

A. In public's mind, Jesus represents non-violence.

B. Yet his message has produced incredible violence.

C. Did Jesus fail?

III. The violence of the cross served a purpose.

A. Sin requires sacrifice.

B. Old Testament has many examples of blood sacrifices.

C. New Testament upholds the same principle. Heb 9:22

IV. Blood is harsh.

A. Many modern people don't see the need for it.

B. There is a gulf between us and God.

C. HOW the blood does it is a mystery.

V. You need the blood.

An emotional Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy, in his first speaking engagement since his son’s funeral, headlined the 19th annual Athletes in Action Super Bowl breakfast Saturday morning at the Super Bowl XL headquarters hotel in Detroit. All eyes were on Dungy, who was given two standing ovations in telling of the pain and the lessons from his son’s suicide in December.

Dungy said he had learned a lot from his sons, Eric, 14 and Jordan, 5, “but the most important thing came from James, who would have been 19.”

“He was a Christian and is today in heaven. He was struggling with the things of the world and took his own life. People ask how I could come back to work so soon. I’m not totally recovered, I don’t know if I ever will be, it’s still ever-painful,” he said, wiping back a tear. “But some good things have come out of it.”

He said he has received dozens of letters from people who heard him speak at his son’s funeral or at a Colts news conference on the peace and assurance he has in his son’s salvation and eternal destination. Dungy told of two people having received the gift of sight from his son’s donated corneas and of the youth to whom he has talked who are wrestling with similar problems as his son.

But Dungy used the most important lesson to drive home his point before the packed ballroom full of former NFL players and coaches, league officials and fans.

“If God had talked to me before James’ death and said his death would have helped all these people, it would have saved them and healed their sins, but I would have to take your son, I would have said no, I can’t do that.

“But God had the same choice 2,000 years ago with His Son, Jesus Christ, and it paved the way for you and me to have eternal life. That’s the benefit I got, that’s the benefit James got and that’s the benefit you can get if you accept Jesus into your heart today as your Savior.”

Dungy said the biggest regret in his life is that when he saw his son for the last time during the Thanksgiving holidays, he did not hug him when he left but only gave him a causal goodbye.

He said he didn’t want to have the same regret at the sold-out breakfast, as he led the crowd in prayer, asking those who did not have Jesus in their life to accept Him for the very first time.

“I want you to know there is a peace in your mind through God’s spirit when you know Jesus and know you will be in heaven with Him.”

When he got up to speak, Dungy said it was the eighth or ninth time he had attended the annual Super Bowl event, but his dream remains to attend just 24 hours before he takes the field as a Super Bowl coach.

“This is a tremendous event and it’s great to be here, but I didn’t want come here as the invited speaker, but as the head coach of a Super Bowl team. My goal is to fill a couple of tables with my players the day before the game.

“It hasn’t happened yet; I'll sure be happy when it does.”

Before getting up to speak, a brief video was shown of Colts players taking about the impact Dungy had on their life before and after the tragic death of his son.

“This is the way a Christian man should coach a team,” punter Hunter Smith said. “I believe it’s the way Jesus would coach a team.”

Martin, in his acceptance speech for the Bart Starr Award, said his faith in God helped him overcome a rocky beginning to his life, including family and friends being killed when he was young and an abusive home situation where his dad regularly beat his mom.

“I always thought I would die before I was 21, but I appreciate life now and I do realize we have a God who forgives whatever we can do.”

Hall of Fame members Steve Largent, a receiver with the Seattle Seahawks, and Lem Barney, a Detroit Lions cornerback, also voiced testimonies of God’s goodness both on and off the field.

“Why does God allow pain in our life?” Dungy asked in his emotionally charged speech. “Because we’re loved by God and the pain allows us to head back to our Father.”

*

1. Alas! and did my Saviour bleed?

And did my Sov’reign die?

Would He devote that sacred head

For such a worm as I?

Chorus:

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light

And the burden of my heart rolled away–

It was there by faith I received my sight,

And now I am happy all the day!

2. Was it for crimes that I have done

He groaned upon the tree?

Amazing pity! grace unknown!

And love beyond degree!

3. Well might the sun in darkness hide

And shut his glories in,

When Christ, the mighty Maker, died

For man the creature’s sin.

4. But drops of grief can ne’er repay

The debt of love I owe:

Here, Lord, I give myself away–

’Tis all that I can do!

Additional verse, to go after 3., above:

Thus might I hide my blushing face

While Calv’ry’s cross appears,

Dissolve my heart in thankfulness

And melt my eyes to tears.

Very few of us know anything about conviction of sin. We know the experience of being disturbed because we have done wrong things. But conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit blots out every relationship on earth and makes us aware of only one-”Against You, You only, have I sinned … “ ( Psalm 51:4 ).

When a person is convicted of sin in this way, he knows with every bit of his conscience that God would not dare to forgive him. If God did forgive him, then this person would have a stronger sense of justice than God. God does forgive, but it cost the breaking of His heart with grief in the death of Christ to enable Him to do so. The great miracle of the grace of God is that He forgives sin, and it is the death of Jesus Christ alone that enables the divine nature to forgive and to remain true to itself in doing so.

It is shallow nonsense to say that God forgives us because He is love. Once we have been convicted of sin, we will never say this again. The love of God means Calvary — nothing less! The love of God is spelled out on the Cross and nowhere else. The only basis for which God can forgive me is the Cross of Christ. It is there that His conscience is satisfied.

Forgiveness doesn’t merely mean that I am saved from hell and have been made ready for heaven (no one would accept forgiveness on that level). Forgiveness means that I am forgiven into a newly created relationship which identifies me with God in Christ. The miracle of redemption is that God turns me, the unholy one, into the standard of Himself, the Holy One. He does this by putting into me a new nature, the nature of Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ Farewell Words: Love Enjoined: John 13:31–35 « Leader information shown in this fashion »

A. « Some comments by J. Vernon McGee on last week’s passage: It was the custom for the host at a banquet to take a piece of bread, dip it in the sauce, and present it to the guest of honour. The Lord makes Judas His guest of honour by this gesture. He is extending to him the token of friendship. Judas is at the crossroads. Christ keeps the door open to Judas up to the very last. Even in the garden, Jesus will say, “… Friend, wherefore art thou come?” (Matthew 26:50) … although the Lord knew what Judas would do, the Lord did not force him to do it.

B. The betrayer has gone out into the night to carry out his malevolent deed, and Jesus is left with the eleven. These, having heard again that Jesus, their rabbi and master, is about to be betrayed are sure to be even more disturbed in their minds and hearts. In the midst of this Jesus commences His final discourses.

C. In the verses that we will examine tonight, Jesus speaks enigmatically concerning His approaching death and begins His bequests to these, His own, precious disciples »

D. John 13:31-35 (NAS): 31 When therefore he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; 32 if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. 33 Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You shall seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, I now say to you also, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

«

E. What does Jesus mean by the term “glorified?” … what does it involve for Himself? … for the Father?

1. it means that their true personality and character are revealed

2. for the Son,

a. John 12:32 (NAS): “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

b. His substitutionary, vicarious, propitiatory, atoning death

c. His resurrection for His glory & man’s justification; 1 Pet 1:21

d. His ascension and exaltation to the Father’s right hand

3. for the Father,

a. Romans 6:4 (NAS): “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”

b. Ephesians 1:6 (NAS): “to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”

c. Philippians 2:11 (NAS): “and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

d. the consummation of His eternal plan and purpose for man’s redemption, which demonstrated His wisdom, power, mercy, love and grace

e. the foundation of the gospel, which reveals the righteousness of God (Romans 1:16-17)

F. In what sense does Jesus use the word “now”? … as far as man’s part is concerned, everything is now complete. Except if there should have been divine intervention, the course of events has been set. Jesus uses in a similar fashion the words “It is finished” on the cross. Although there was much yet to happen in His atoning work, at that point He had fully completed His task by complete submission to the Father’s will

G. From the human side what does Christ being “glorified” appear to be? — failure, shame (accursed on a tree) and defeat

H. Henceforward, Jesus changes His mode of address to His disciples; how is that shown in these verses? … why is this now especially suited? — Judas has now left; only the elect disciples remain, those who are indeed the children of God

I. What is the implication of the words, “Where I am going, you cannot come”? — while Jesus was truly man (as well as truly God) and He is our forerunner (Hebrews 6:20), yet, respecting our redemption, He is unique; in this aspect, as in His deity, He is not our example but our Saviour-God (Titus 2:13)

J. Galatians 5:15 (NAS): “But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by one another.”

1. what is it that will convince mankind? – Tertullian’s account of the spies sent by Roman government; if they entered our midst what would their report be? … “they’re just like everyone else”?

a. true love one for another

b. how is that love to be measured? By standard of His love.

c. what is this love’s source? From Christ; no imitations allowed

d. what are the evidences of true love one for another? …

2. what are the actions of believers that will dissuade people from listening and obeying the gospel message?

3. what do such actions by Christians do to Christ? … they either honour or dishonour His name and those who are and have been His true disciples — people will judge Christ and His church by the things that they observe in us »