An old story and an old song, but the message is always new. I hope you enjoy this Good Friday story of the Lamb.
In Him together, Susan Gaddis
Tag-Archive for » Easter «
In the midst of Easter week there are seven facts you don’t want to miss. These facts are easy to overlook. Even the Jews who were waiting for their promised Messiah couldn’t see God’s hidden strategy on that first Easter—they were looking for a Conquering King, not a Suffering Servant.
The disciples of Jesus didn’t see God’s hidden tactics—they ran away and denied ever knowing Jesus.
Satan couldn’t see the fullness of God’s plan—he was on the lookout for a Jewish King/Messiah who would reign over mankind. He had orchestrated his temptations accordingly.
The Jews, disciples, and even Satan missed the connection between the yearly sacrifice of an unblemished lamb and the final sacrifice of a sinless man—the Lamb of God.
Here are seven facts you don’t want to miss:
1. On a lonely cross, Jesus took on the sins of the world so that in His death sin would also die. It was the only way that humanity could again become right before God (2 Cor. 5:21).
2. He who had cursed man with death now experienced it Himself (Gal. 3:13).
3. God the Father and God the Holy Spirit turned away from God the Son, who in His innocence became crucified Sin. In His holiness, God walked away from a cross. In His love, God the Son embraced the cross so that we might be ransomed (John 10:17, 18).
4. As this innocent Lamb shed His blood, our sins became invalid in the courts of heaven. Neither could death hold Him in the grave, for sin and its death-curse were rendered powerless. He rose triumphant to proclaim freedom to all men who would accept His redeeming work (I Tim. 4:10).
5. Heaven rang with the declaration that sin and Satan no longer had legal authority over man, for the price of innocent blood had been eternally paid (Rom. 6:6; Heb. 2:14, 15).
6. Throughout the universe the cry of victory rose as the Prince of Darkness and his forces were paraded in the Triumphant Procession of the King of Kings. Heaven and earth shook with the victory of the Cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:15).
7. This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him (John 3:16-18 The Message Bible).
That’s the facts. Any comments?
(This post was taken from my book, Intercessors, God’s End-Time Vanguard available at the Eternal Foundations bookstore.)
In Him together, Susan Gaddis
In a busy week of preparing for Easter Sunday service, coloring eggs, and getting my house and yard ready for the traditional family gathering after church, I find it helpful to remember what is real—whether seen or unseen.
In his book, Abba’s Child, Brennan Manning tells the story of a newspaper reporter approaching G.K. Chesterton on a London street corner.
“Sir, I understand that you recently became a Christian. May I ask you one question?”
“Certainly,” replied Chesterton.
“If the risen Christ suddenly appeared at this very moment and stood behind you, what would you do?”
Chesterton looked the reporter squarely in the eye and said, “He is.”
Chesterton knew that Christ was alive and walking with him. He believed it to such a degree that he would not have changed his stride if Jesus suddenly materialized. Real is real, whether seen or unseen.
What is your reality this week?
In Him together, Susan Gaddis
Advent wreath
There are some things everyone ought to know about Advent, but somehow I missed the memo. I’ve been in ministry for over 34 years and am finally beginning to realize that Christmas is actually a whole season called Advent.
The season is designed to be a spirit ritual for growing in the grace of God. Following are five basic things we need to know about Advent.
1. The season of Advent is all about Jesus—the One who is God, but became human and chose to be like us in all ways except sin (Hebrews 4:15). It is about the One who humbled Himself “to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).
2. Christmas is not meant to be an isolated day, but a seasonal celebration that encompasses the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah, the wonder of the incarnation (God becoming man) and the hope of His coming again. Advent is that seasonal celebration—giving us time to embrace the wonder and reality of God’s overwhelming love.
3. In the Western church, Advent begins on the Sunday nearest to November 30th. It lasts for the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Advent contains four Sundays and the first Sunday is also the first day of the new church year.
4. Many homes have an Advent wreath on which four candles are placed. One candle is lit each week during Advent. The first candle represents Hope and the second candle symbolizes Peace. The third candle signifies Joy, and the fourth candle stands for Love. An optional fifth candle signifies the birth of Christ and is lit on Christmas.
5. It is in Advent that we begin to prepare for Easter, because without Christmas there would be no death, burial, and resurrection of the One born in a manger.
I plan to explore more of Advent in the weeks ahead, but for now, what are you doing to encounter the Holy during this season of Advent?
In Him together, Susan Gaddis
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