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“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was
rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might
become rich.” - 2 Corinthians 8:9
He was disfigured, and struggling
to breath. He walked an incredibly
lonely journey through the cobbled streets, tripping over the weight he carried
on his bruised and bloodied back. His
breath coming in gasps as his lungs filled with blood. His eyes were solid red, the capillaries had
all been exploded through the torment and anguish. Where were his friends and family? Where were
those that had praised his name only days before? Now they were laughing at him and spitting
upon him. Some even kicked and threw
stones as he made his way through the crowds.
As the leather whips came down
once again on his back, his knees buckled and the weight came crashing down
upon his shoulders, grinding his face into the stone pavement. Another man stepped forward and helped him
back up, supporting him and helping him make it the last few hundred feet up
the hillside. The stones cut into his
bare, bruised feet. He found a brief
moment to catch his breath as his body fell to the limestone of the quarry
hillside. Lying on his back he opened
his eyes, looking heavenward through the red blood. He couldn’t help but be anxious for the time
to pass quickly, for he knew what was to happen next as they picked up his body
violently and laid him upon the wooden beam.
Driving nails (the size of
railroad spikes) through his wrists, his screams of agony could not be
contained. The tearing of flesh and
crunching of bone as the final of the three nails penetrated his feet, securing
him to the vertical beam. Hoisting his
now limp body and the heavy cross of his burdens upward, they placed the post
into a hole in the ground. This action
ricocheted through his torso and body with an extreme pain he screamed out,
“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” (excerpt from “Truly Amazing Grace”(available in e-book format) – Rich Palmer)
He was rich in life, joy,
happiness and peace. He was King of the
Jews and destined for a throne. People
adored Him, flocked to him for healing when he came into a city. They sang out praises to Him and laid down
palms at His feet as if He were royalty.
He then gave it all up.
Everything – His peace, His comfort, His joy and happiness, His freedom,
His royalty and His life – just so you could have eternal life.
We don’t deserve it, we can’t pay
Him back and we can’t undo what has been done.
God sent Jesus Christ for this event to take place. The Son of God gave up His royal seat in heaven
for 33 years so you could enter because of everything He gave away. Come to grips with this, accept it at face
value, it is a gift and the greatest part is it costs you nothing, with His
riches He’s already paid for it.
PRAYER:
God Almighty,
You have given us the most incredible gift of grace through
Your Son Jesus Christ. We humble
ourselves in Your presence and offer our lives for Your purpose. Let us find comfort in knowing that our debts
are paid and our sins are forgiven by the blood of the lamb. We accept Your gift of grace with open arms
and thanksgiving that our names are captured in Your book of life as a
result. For Your goodness and perfect
plan in our life we are forever grateful.
In Your precious name we pray – Amen.
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