We all understand that a picture can be worth a thousand words or so we’ve been told. How about a picture that you paint? How many words did it bring to your mind? May have been hundreds that helped you create that picture. I know from my personal experiences, there have been hundreds of words describing most of my paintings…sometimes not that many, just one. Let’s take it a step further tonight. Let’s us paint a picture together. No you don’t have to get art supplies for this exercise. Our painting is going to be done by words. My imagination can paint a vivid picture…as can yours.
If you want to participate in this, clear your mind. If you don’t and still read, thank you. Ready? The words are going to be descriptive and should help you paint a picture. Yours may look like mine did earlier today and then again it may not. Still excited to hear about your “painting”.
Ready? Here we go.
A set of three crosses on a hill, a place named the Skull. The sky is dark and gloomy. By looking in the sky, you can almost hear the thunder in the near distant. A warm not so calming breeze is in the air. The smell of sweat and blood is moved throughout the air because of that breeze. Those three crosses are high off the ground and three men are fixed to each of them. Two tied to the cross, the other man, not so much. He may have been tied as well but also something done extremely horrific. Spikes, roughly 12 to 16 inches long. Some type of iron or metal. Effective for the purpose. One goes through His feet, one foot over the top of the other running done the cross support beam. Each wrist is stretched across to the cross beam. One spike through each wrist, attaching Him to that cross. He had a crown of thorns placed on His head as a mockery to Him being a king. The thorns were roughly one to two inches in length. It wasn’t just laid there, it was pressed firmly, piercing His brow, encircling His head. Blood and sweat were running down this man’s face. Remember, He was made to carry that cross to the place where it now stood with Him on it. A soldier eventually took a spear and punctured His side.
This man, had a name, Jesus Christ.
There are several people gathered at this event. What do these people look like? Probably soldiers, city folks interested to see what is going on. Commoners. Those people there are definitely different from each other. Some are there because they are assisting in making sure this crucifixion takes place. Some were there to wonder when this king would save Himself. Some were there to cry out. Sadness was in their eyes and hearts. A few have followed this man unconditionally because of His teachings. They gave up their past lives to follow Him.
How does your painting look? I’m sure it was very detailed from your creative imagination.
Why did this event happen? Most of you know why but I want to say it very clearly. I don’t want any misunderstanding of it. It was done for you and me! You get that? This man, this king, the Son of the Almighty God, died for you and me. How many times do you forget about that? I do a lot. A man, died for me and didn’t have to. Chose to. Why? He saw something in me worth dying for. God sent His perfect non-sinning Son to take on all my mistakes, sins, whatever you want to call them, so I can live. I don’t deserve that gift. God gave me His grace. Not only did He take on all my sins, yours were taken too. All of mankind’s sins from the beginning at the garden to the end of times…every one of them.
In the Bible, Mark 23:34 states this, “Jesus said, Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Really? He is asking God to forgive us. He has just been nailed to a cross to die by mankind and yet He is asking for God to show us mercy.
I’m sure your picture was awesome. I hope it made you think about something we may have not thought about in a few days or weeks. Stop and think about it this way, if you have a child or children, would you offer them to be crucified for everybody’s sins? No you would not. You would gladly die for them, but not have them die for your sins or anybody else’s .
I want to share with you something. The Almighty God, creator of everything….EVERYTHING, thought we were worth something so He sent HIS son to die for us. Because of Jesus’ death all those years ago, we can live. We were given a gift. Thank God for that gift. If you don’t have a relationship with Him or have chosen not to, He is waiting. He is right there with open arms, waiting for you to come to Him. Trust me, I chose for years to avoid that relationship. I thought I didn’t really need it. I was wrong. God never gave up on me and will always be with me. He will do the same for you.
Well said son.
ReplyDelete