"Three Crosses on the Hill" [Good Friday]

“Three Crosses on the Hill”    [Good Friday]

Going back to the people at Calvary we gather an HD picture of the world.

Some gazed at Jesus with hatred, making fun of Him and all 

that He claimed. 

His clothes became the prizes in a gambling match while dying on the cross.  Remorse, tears, and grief flowed from the eyes of His family 

and friends.   While the pain of the rusted spikes drawn through His flesh rushed within His hands, and feet; the crown of thorns also throbbed upon His brow. Others cried with faith, hope and love that Jesus taught while He walked amongst them.

3 men died on Calvary that day.  Giving us 3 keys to our own attitudes today.

Luke: 23:33-34, 39-43  “They nailed Jesus to the cross there, and the two

criminals, one on His right and one on His left.  Jesus said, ‘Forgive them

Father!  They don’t know what they are doing...”   ...One of the criminals

hanging there threw insults at Him: “Aren’t you the Messiah?  Save yourself and us!”  The other one, however, rebuked him saying; 

“Don’t you fear God?  Here we are all under the same sentence, 

ours however, is only right, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong.”

And he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Jesus when you come as King!”

Jesus said to him, “I tell you this; today you will be in Paradise with me.”

The Three Crosses:  Rebellion, Redemption and Repentance

Cross on Right:       Rebellion:     A man dying in sin

Cross in Center:      Redemption: The Lamb of God dying for all sin

Cross on Left:         Repentance: A man dying in sin, but forgiven.

Rebellion: A man dying in sins and ruined his life in criminal acts. He lived

a hard life which made him bitter and cold hearted.  Now death was his final defeat.  Even in the very presence of God; his heart was blinded to spiritual truth.

Redemption: On the center cross Jesus died for our sins to redeem us.

We, the slaves to the deceptions of Satan became his slaves.  Jesus paid the price for our ransom by dying on the cross.  The only Son of God redeemed us from Satan’s power, and bought us with His own life.   

When Jesus died, He died in our place.   

1Peter 1:19  “You were set free by the costly sacrifice of Christ, 

who was like a lamb without defect or spot.”

Repentance: On the right cross the sinner died to his sins, was freed from

them by trusting in Jesus.  This freed man was willing to face Jesus and

the truth; he confessed his wrongs.  Jesus was His Savior, the Messiah.

Prayer of Thanksgiving: Ephesians 1:6-7 “Let us praise God for His glorious grace, for the free gift He gave us in His dear Son!   

For by the death of Christ we are set free, and our sins are forgiven.”

'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'

 

Palm Sunday

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.  Does he not leave the ninety-nine  in the open country and go after the the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.  Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

The Triumphal Entry

  ¹ As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, ² saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

 ⁴ They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, ⁵ some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” ⁶ They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. ⁷ When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. ⁸ Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. ⁹ Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
   “Hosanna!^[a]”
   “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”^[b]
 10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
   “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;¹⁸ they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

  
A dear brother in Christ went home with the LORD after claiming HIM as his Friend and Savior.
The brother put up a stubborn fight to be his own savior, but the prayers of many Christian Brothers and Sisters over turned his stubborn attitude of being able to save himself.
He accepted Jesus Christ Our Savior and LORD to be his Savior and LORD the evening before going home to the mansion in the heavens. 
This past week: week of April 10,  on Thursday Evening very late: our New Brother and Friend in Christ Jesus took the LORD'S hand and walked into paradise.  
Praise God for this awesome witness.  His Christian Blood brother never gave up.
                                                                                                                                                 ~Amen!


Just as I am, without one plea,
But that thy blood wast shed for me,
And that thou bidst me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Charlotte Elliott


Give rest, O Christ,
to your servant with your saints:
where sorrow and pain are no more;
neither sighting, but life everlasting.

You alone are immortal,
the creator and maker of man;
and we are mortal,
formed from the earth,
and to the earth we shall return;
for you so ordained when you created us, saying,
'Dust you are, and to dust you shall return;'
we shall all go down to the dust;
and, weeping over the grave, we sing
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Give rest, O Christ,
to your servant with your saints:
where sorrow and pain are no more;
neither sighing, but life everlasting.

Russian Liturgy, sixth century