New Again-Passion of the Christ Video

Friday is video day, so in keeping with the season and my posts earlier on The Passion Week and Good Friday, I wanted to show a video about the price Jesus paid for you and I.

There are so many videos to choose from about the crucifixion, I choose a song I had never heard, this song is by Brad Paisley and Sara Evans, I thought you would enjoy it.

Remember Jesus paid this price for you.

What so Good about Good Friday?

It took me almost 30 years to confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in my heart God raised Him from the dead. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior but I have not always been a follower. With that said, I sometimes have a different perspective on Biblical teachings and events.

I always wondered why the church called if Good Friday if Jesus died. What was so good about death, I thought. To an outsider, it sure seemed silly but I didn't mind Easter because we had lots of chocolate and a big dinner.

But now Good Friday is special to me. After watching the Passion of the Christ I have a new visual playing in my head. Reading and meditating on Isaiah 52 and 53 I believe Mel Gibson went light on the way Christ looked. Mr. Gibson even said so in an interview. So what does this all mean?

Good Friday is followed by Easter and that is when the celebration begins but Jesus' sacrifice on Good Friday paid for everything. When I say everything I mean a complete work, lacking nothing. Read 1 John 2:2

And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

All sin past, present and future were paid on Good Friday. What about sickness? Great question, Isaiah prophesied about this before it happened in 53:5

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. (Emphasis mine)

Peter wrote about this in a different tense in 1 Peter 2:24

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (Emphasis mine)

Isaiah wrote "You are healed" and Peter wrote "You were healed", same stripes, the only difference is one man saw into the future and the other looked back in the past. Why would God write this in His book? Because you are healed! It is a done deal just like salvation.

All sickness, like all sin, was also taken care of past, present and future. Jesus paid it all Good Friday. There is so much more He accomplished for you and I but time and space do not permit me to continue.

Meditate on Isaiah 52 and 53, and watch the Passion of the Christ. Jesus died for the whole world. This is the Atonement, it is the completed work. What a great God we serve.

By His Word and In His Name

To continue the thought of my last entry. How is the church going to defeat the enemies of Jesus? I believe it is only possible by using the word of God and the name of Jesus. Read John 14:12-14

12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (Emphasis mine)

Jesus Himself tells us we will do greater works than He did because He was going to His Father and sending His Spirit. Now Jesus, by His Spirit, could be everywhere, all at the same time. Now that is power!

I love the book of Acts; it is a picture of the early church learning and using the power of God. Look at Acts 3:1-10 this is where Peter healed the lame beggar. Notice Peter's words and where his power came from for the healing. (I know he was baptized in the Holy Spirit earlier.)

6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. (Emphasis mine)

Peter healed this man by using the name of Jesus. This is exactly what Jesus said would happen after He went to the Father.

How do we get this kind of power? It will only come when you plant the Word of God in your heart and let it take control of your life. I do not want this teaching to go on and on, but there is a lot here. Read Psalm 138:2:

I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. (Emphasis mine)

At the name of Jesus all things are possible and God has elevated His word above His Name. Again I am going to let that sink in, meditate on that and I will continue next post.

Power in Your Words- Part 3

Ok, now we need to try to tie all this together and see how you and I can use this in our life. James 1:22 tells us to be doers of the word and not hearers only. The word of God comes alive when you learn to apply it to your life.

I will look at two different events in the Gospels and what Jesus taught. I am also going to look at a teaching from Paul as well.

Matthew 8:5-13 is the story of the centurion that came to Jesus for healing for his servant. (Please read the whole account in your Bible) Jesus agrees to help, but let's look at what the centurion answers

...."Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. (8) (Emphasis mine)

Now that is an example of belief in God (faith). The centurion then tells Jesus why he believes Jesus can heal his servant with just a word. (Read authority)

Jesus marvels at this man's faith and then makes a point to teach those around Him

...."Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" (10)

Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour. (13) (Emphasis mine)

Notice the pattern. The man confessed with his mouth and believed in his heart. Now let's look at Romans 10:9, 10 Paul is writing to the church in Rome:

...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (9) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (10) (emphasis mine)

This is the same pattern I taught in the first lesson Power in Your Words- Part 1. As you walk it out through scripture and meditate on this it will come alive.

One last example I will use is the lady with the issue of blood. Let's look in Matthew 9:20-22 (you can also find the same story in Luke 8:43-48) concentrate on what the lady did before she touched the hem of His garment.

And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. (20) For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." (21) But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter, your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour. (22) (Again, emphasis mine)

Notice what happen, she spoke with her mouth exactly how she was going to be healed. She said, "If only I may touch His garment". She also had to believe in her heart, "I shall be made well." Her healing came because she then took action. Many people were touching Jesus, only one stopped Him.

I have been taught, Jesus is walking by, reach out and touch Him for what you need. I believe this is a true statement only if I do what the lady did before she touched Jesus. She used the power of her own words, mixed with faith in God and then she applied action.

The above examples are on healing but Jesus said ..."I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. "(John 10:10) The grace of God covers every area of your life. My final post will bring this teaching to a close.

Power in Your Words- Part 4