Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Cross-Way of Salvation
 Matthew 27:1-44
“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?”   
Pilate asked.  They all answered, “Crucify Him!” (v. 22) 

The gospel writer Matthew has narrated the events in chapter 27, as prophesied by the prophet Isaiah “Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted.  But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds, we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5).  A modern analogy for this might be a heart transplant:  one person lives because another dies.  This physical analogy pictures the spiritual healing our loving and compassionate God made available to us. 

The cross is saying that there is a ‘cruciform’ pattern to reality.  Reality rather is filled with contradictions what Bonaventure and others called “the coincidence of opposites.”  Bonaventure even found a sacred geometry in the symbol of the cross:  “For the center is lost in a circle, and it cannot be found except by two lines crossing each other at a right angle.”  In other words, some kind of suffering is the only way to reconcile differences. 

 Jesus was killed on the collision of cross-purposes, conflicting interests, and half-truths.  The cross was the price Jesus paid on our behalf.  The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus, “In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding”  (Ephesians 1:7-8).  Jesus willingly agreed to carry the mystery of suffering and not to demand perfection of creation.  He taught, in effect, that it is the “only” way to be saved.  We are indeed saved by the cross - much more than we realize.  

 Before we can justifiably delve into God’s Ways, we must stand firm in the faith that Jesus is the way to salvation:  “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  Jesus Christ is the way to eternal life, the way into the love of God, the only way to salvation. 
Friends, life is short, death is sure, hell is real, and Jesus saves! 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for punishing Your only Son to save these lost ones.   Help us to lead a life with gratitude. 

                                  Thought for the day

“The Christian faith is meant to be lived moment by moment.  It isn’t some broad, general outline - it’s a long walk with a real person.  Details count: passing thoughts, small sacrifices, a few encouraging words, little acts of kindness, brief victories over nagging sins” 

— Joni E. Tada  


Daniel Thomas 

 Orlando MTC, Florida  

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more