Did you know that Jesus had a prayer meeting while hanging on the cross…
He prayed, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”
He saved a soul while on the cross…He saved a thief, “this day you will be with me in paradise…”
He preached a funeral from the cross, when He said, “It Is finished!” John 19:30
“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands.” Then he breathed His last breath. Luke 23:34
Upon the cross at Calvary,
A prayer of forgiveness was spoken for humanity…
A thief asked Jesus, “Will you remember me?”
Jesus said, “This day in paradise with me you will be.”
In the final hours of Jesus’ life He made sure His mother was taken care of by John this was very important to Him. And from the cross He confirmed it. John she is now your mother. Mother he is now your son.
Jesus said, Father forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing…it wasn’t just for the ones standing there crucifying him, oh no, it was also for you, and me. He knew we’d all come later…forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing…we don’t know what we are doing when we reject His love and forgiveness…but like the thief that asked him to remember Him that day…my prayer is that we will also ask Him to remember us. I pray souls will realize that Jesus did nothing wrong, he did not deserve that punishment, but the ones that are lost and in sin need to be forgiven. We can’t save ourselves that’s why Jesus died for us. He is the savior. And when we ask Him, He will remember us and save us this very day.
Certainly if the son of God can do all of that after being beaten beyond recognition, and spat upon, and I mean a big-slimy-wad-of-mucus-kind-of-spit, not just once but by many that day. They (the crowd, no doubt there were people he had healed, ministered too, loved.) People mocked and humiliated Him by saying, If you are the son God save yourself… They (the soldiers) stripped Him naked. He hung on that cross His flesh, bloody and bare…they gambled over His clothes, the cloak he wore was seamless therefore it was of value so they didn’t want to tear it. They laughed and scoffed at Him and sarcastically called Him the king of the Jews…when He cried, “I thirst,” They gave Him vinegar to drink, as His blood flowed out…and all the while His thoughts were for you and for me. This is the Son of God we are talking about. The precious lamb of God, The Good Shepherd, The Lion of Judah, The Bright and Morning Star, The Messiah, King of kings and Lord of lords, The healer, the Way Maker, The Truth and Life…and yet spikes were driven into the hands that once prayed for souls, feet that walked the Hills of Jerusalem, who cast out demons and raised the dead. The head that once bowed in adoration for His heavenly father, now bowed with a bloody crown of thorns…His smile for children and a heart for people was broken, now tears and pain scrawled upon his face, Yes He was battered and broken for man-kind. He did all of this with a willing heart. If that’s not love, than brothers and sisters I don’t know what is.
But that is not the end of the story…Oh no…
Death was swallowed up in Victory…the keys to Hell he took back from Satan and the Son of God is ALIVE!!!
Somebody shout, Hallelujah!!!! Do you get it!!! He is alive!!!!!!
Forty days after His resurrection He ministered to people. He ate with the disciples. The last thing he said to His disciples was to go to Jerusalem and wait for the promise He was sending another comforter…The Holy Spirit would now dwell within them. To wait there until they received the Power from on High…then to go out and make disciples, heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons…baptize in the name of the Father, the son, and the Holy Spirit. And He is still telling you and me that today. The Holy Spirit Woo’s us unto Jesus and when we ask Him too, He will come and make his abode within us too. He loves us so much…don’t reject Him, don’t turn Him away…open your heart to him…and say, “Lord will you remember me?” And Jesus will answer, “I will write your name in my Book of Life and I will always remember you. And when you come into my Kingdom I will be there waiting with open arms for you.”
Acts 1:8-19 New King James Version (NKJV)
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Jesus Ascends to Heaven
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Brothers and sisters…He is coming…be watchful…be ready…for in an hour when you think not He will come!!!
Therefore you too must always be ready, for the Son of Man will come when you are not expecting him. Matthew 24:44 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
But the story doesn’t end there either…
Marla Shaw O’Neill March 2, 2017
