March 28th, 2021
By Eddie Keith
Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle” (John 19:16-18 NIV)
The cross is an interesting symbol. Two pieces of wood that have been tied together. Rough. Uneven. Heavy.
In the days of the Roman Empire, the cross was a symbol of shame. Streets were lined with the crucified criminals.
In some ways the cross is still a symbol of shame. My shame.. And yours. Many of us still carry that with us each and every day. But do we need to...
The truth being told, over two thousand years ago, the cross was given a new symbol. One of hope because Jesus Christ took the weight of that heavy, rough cross for us. He took the weight of the world’s sin on his shoulders. Because of that we are free indeed.
You see there is freedom in the cross. These lyrics come from Life Worship, “I find my freedom at the cross, I find my freedom at the cross. Where my sin was crucified. Jesus brought me back to life, I find my freedom at the cross.”
Friends, we were brought back to life by the events of the cross. For what once was a symbol of sin and shame that we were meant to bear; Christ bore them for us. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5 NKJV). We were healed and now the cross is a symbol of freedom and hope.
Freedom from the bondage of sin and shame. Freedom from our past. Freedom to live in the hope of the future. Freedom to be known as a child of the Almighty.
This weekend begins Holy Week. A time to reflect on the way of the Cross. That way is one of freedom through Jesus Christ and the work that was done on the cross for each of us. We no longer have to carry it…
Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle” (John 19:16-18 NIV)
The cross is an interesting symbol. Two pieces of wood that have been tied together. Rough. Uneven. Heavy.
In the days of the Roman Empire, the cross was a symbol of shame. Streets were lined with the crucified criminals.
In some ways the cross is still a symbol of shame. My shame.. And yours. Many of us still carry that with us each and every day. But do we need to...
The truth being told, over two thousand years ago, the cross was given a new symbol. One of hope because Jesus Christ took the weight of that heavy, rough cross for us. He took the weight of the world’s sin on his shoulders. Because of that we are free indeed.
You see there is freedom in the cross. These lyrics come from Life Worship, “I find my freedom at the cross, I find my freedom at the cross. Where my sin was crucified. Jesus brought me back to life, I find my freedom at the cross.”
Friends, we were brought back to life by the events of the cross. For what once was a symbol of sin and shame that we were meant to bear; Christ bore them for us. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5 NKJV). We were healed and now the cross is a symbol of freedom and hope.
Freedom from the bondage of sin and shame. Freedom from our past. Freedom to live in the hope of the future. Freedom to be known as a child of the Almighty.
This weekend begins Holy Week. A time to reflect on the way of the Cross. That way is one of freedom through Jesus Christ and the work that was done on the cross for each of us. We no longer have to carry it…
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