No more Barrier....
Today is Good Friday and I thought I should inspire us alittle bit...
On this day we remember the burial of our Lord Jesus christ who rose on the third day which is always celebrated as Easter.
In His bid to save mankind from their sins, He said these words:
“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” (Matthew 27:50-53)
Easter is a celebration of life! The cross brought life to everyone who falls at its feet. God loved us so much – as imperfect and broken as we were – that He commanded His Son to pay our penalty to make us whole. Jesus’ sacrifice broke the earth and brought life to those who follow him. It ripped the curtain that separated us from God. There are no longer any barriers between us and our Holy God! We can come directly to the throne and pour our hearts out in prayer. One day, we will join with the saints and cry, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy!’ Sin cannot separate us. Trials cannot separate us. Pain cannot separate us. Death will not separate us!
“Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’” (John 19:30) The curse of sin is finished. The barrier that denied us access to our Heavenly Father is no more. Rejoice, oh Christian, because it is finished! Come to the Father because Christ made the way. Leave who you were in the tomb and rise up in new life. You have been saved, redeemed, and forever welcomed into the Father’s loving arms
The night that Jesus was arrested holds many lessons for us. Jesus spent that last night giving final preparations to his disciples, showing them that a true leader but serve, and worshiping God. Just before he was arrested, Jesus could be found praying. There is nothing unusual about Jesus going off to pray. He made a habit of going off alone to pray. This night, however, his prayers were prayers of anguish. Matthew tells us that Jesus, “began to be sorrowful and troubled.
Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (Matthew 26:37-38)
This heart wrenching prayer of Jesus moments before his arrest teaches us so much. Verse 39 records his prayer: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus was obedient to God the Father to the point of a horrific death. The image of this moment tugs at my heart and brings tears of thanksgiving to my eyes.
It was my sin that led Jesus to the cross. It was my failures that necessitated his sacrifice. It was my life that brought tears to Jesus’ eyes. Easter is personal. Though Christ died for millions upon millions, his mind pictured us all as he prayed, suffered, and died. For you, he cried. For you, he died. For you, he took the keys of hell and paid the price to purchase your eternal life. For you, he lives forever more!
He told us to be of good cheer, since He overcame, we too can overcome.
Happy Easter celebration to you.