Day 5 - Good Friday
Mark 15:25-39
It was nine in the morning when they crucified Him. The written notice of the charge against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
They crucified two rebels with Him, one on His right and one on His left. Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked Him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but He can’t save Himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him.
At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, He’s calling Elijah.”
Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave Him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take Him down,” he said.
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His last.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how He died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
I will never forget the impact of the tent crusade held on my old secondary school playing fields back in 1979.
I had been working in London and had just arrived back home in time for the last service inside the tent. A few days earlier, word had got back to me that both my sister and my girlfriend (who I'd duly dumped in favour of working in London, but is now my wife) had both become Christians during the last few nights of the crusade.
It really shook me to the core when I discovered that they had both received Jesus! I was intrigued and longed to find out more. I contemplated that I had spent my whole life in Church, and yet still didn’t have what they had found so quickly.
I parked up outside and nervously made my way into the tent. I was captivated by an incredible presence from the moment I walked in, and so I perched myself down on the fourth row. As the service drew to a close, the Evangelist lovingly called those who needed Jesus to respond. As he did so, tears rolled down my face, as yet again I realised the impact of what Jesus had done for me on the cross. I have never looked back, and today the Church I am privileged to pastor is literally a few meters away from where that tent stood.
As the old hymn was sung that night to close the two week crusade, many more people gave their lives to Jesus and are still serving Him today. Although the words were dated, that didn’t in any way matter as the meaning penetrated my heart.
The words of that old song are written below:
Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bid’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot, to Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt, fighting and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind; sight, riches, healing of the mind, yea, all I need in Thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown hath broken every barrier down; now, to be Thine, yea Thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come.
It was nine in the morning when they crucified Him. The written notice of the charge against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
They crucified two rebels with Him, one on His right and one on His left. Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked Him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but He can’t save Himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him.
At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, He’s calling Elijah.”
Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave Him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take Him down,” he said.
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His last.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how He died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
I will never forget the impact of the tent crusade held on my old secondary school playing fields back in 1979.
I had been working in London and had just arrived back home in time for the last service inside the tent. A few days earlier, word had got back to me that both my sister and my girlfriend (who I'd duly dumped in favour of working in London, but is now my wife) had both become Christians during the last few nights of the crusade.
It really shook me to the core when I discovered that they had both received Jesus! I was intrigued and longed to find out more. I contemplated that I had spent my whole life in Church, and yet still didn’t have what they had found so quickly.
I parked up outside and nervously made my way into the tent. I was captivated by an incredible presence from the moment I walked in, and so I perched myself down on the fourth row. As the service drew to a close, the Evangelist lovingly called those who needed Jesus to respond. As he did so, tears rolled down my face, as yet again I realised the impact of what Jesus had done for me on the cross. I have never looked back, and today the Church I am privileged to pastor is literally a few meters away from where that tent stood.
As the old hymn was sung that night to close the two week crusade, many more people gave their lives to Jesus and are still serving Him today. Although the words were dated, that didn’t in any way matter as the meaning penetrated my heart.
The words of that old song are written below:
Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bid’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot, to Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt, fighting and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind; sight, riches, healing of the mind, yea, all I need in Thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown hath broken every barrier down; now, to be Thine, yea Thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come.
It is my prayer, that like the many lives that were changed that day, yours will be too.
If you are searching, or have been touched by these last five days of Easter devotions, then I encourage you to make a plan to come to Church on Sunday. Why not come with your whole family, or call a friend right now and invite them too? You won’t be disappointed. I look forward to welcoming you!
EASTER SUNDAY— 10.30am — secure parking for 250 cars — Children’s Easter egg hunt— food vendors serving lunch.
If you are searching, or have been touched by these last five days of Easter devotions, then I encourage you to make a plan to come to Church on Sunday. Why not come with your whole family, or call a friend right now and invite them too? You won’t be disappointed. I look forward to welcoming you!
EASTER SUNDAY— 10.30am — secure parking for 250 cars — Children’s Easter egg hunt— food vendors serving lunch.