The Power of Christ's Cross

It is Good Friday. I plan to share an additional post after I attend the 12 noon Good Friday service at my neighborhood church today.

Sometimes I wonder what the Lord would have me write about on this day. The obvious, of course, is about Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross. He took our place, took on our sins, was beaten, spat upon, nailed to a cross, stabbed in the side and left there, for 3 long, [correction: it was 6 ] excruciating hours, to die.

The brutality of Jesus' crucifixion was captured in the film, "The Passion of the Christ." Why was Jesus tortured, maimed, spit upon, beard torn, whipped beyond recognition, stabbed in the side, nailed to a cross, humiliated unto death? Because that is exactly what evil does. God allowed those forces of evil to do what they did in order to send us a message so strong that we couldn't possibly miss it.

The enemy of our souls has the goal of devouring us in our sin. He prowls around like a roaring lion, bringing along with him evil, sin and death. That very thing was conquered by Christ at the cross. Because he was the "sinless Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world," he accomplished what no ordinary man could ever do. He kept the Law while on earth, then paid the penalty for our sin so that we would not suffer an eternity without him! He was bodily resurrected to life on that first Easter morning approximately 2,000 years ago, and that event changed the world forever.

Why would Jesus endure all of this for us? The Bible tells us, "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Put another way through a popular Christian song that plays on the radio (speaking of Jesus' sacrifice), "You would rather die, than to ever live without me."

Powerful!

I heard a quip on K-Love radio yesterday. The man said, "people fall into two camps; those who know Jesus Christ and those who want to know Him."

Wow. Simple but profound. Even those who won't admit it, still want to know Him. Why? Because to know Him is to know God. Jesus was God in the flesh. That is why it is said in the Bible, "they shall call him Immanuel." "Immanuel" means "God with us."

When I typed "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, Lord" into google, 1,450,000 websites popped up. The Christian "fish" symbol called an "Ichthys" describes and represents who Jesus is.

Remember when John Lennon said he, and the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus Christ?" Type in "John Lennon" and 3,970,000 sites popped up. Was he correct that he is more popular than Jesus?

Nope.

Type in "Jesus Christ" and 32,300,000 sites pop up!

Type in "The Beatles" and 39,200,000 sites pop up. Maybe John was correct?

What does this prove?

Probably nothing.

But I do have a small point. The point is that people are seeking him, more than ever before, from all corners of the world, today.

Does the world need Jesus?

Absolutely.

We could post links all day that would show how the love of Christ needs to be shared so that the Holy Spirit of God can enter into the minds, hearts, souls, and spirits of truly desperate people out there.

This is why I think that President Bush is correct when he says that the hearts, minds and souls of the Islamic world must be permeated with the hope of freedom and liberty in order to stop the hate and jihad against the West.

People in the U.S. are so spoiled!! We live in comfort and safety for the most part, every day. It is not so in the Islamic world.

The left is correct when they say, "we can't keep killing all of them." I would agree. That is why the introduction of freedom and liberty to their people is so essential in this struggle! There are those who are too far gone and will never abandon their suicide/homicide jihadist mindset and goals. Thus, they will have to be killed.

Just like in the '40's when the kamikazi pilots from Japan had no regard for life (including their own), and happily carried out their suicidal/homicidal missions, the Islamic jihadists of today will fight to the death. Their goal is to take as many "infidels" with them as possible. They value death by jihad more than they value life itself. The brainwashing is so complete, that it's a "kill or be killed" scenario for our nation.

Recently, there has been news of the desire for some Democrats (not all, of course) to end the phrase, "Global War on Terror." The arguments against using such terminology range from the belief that it is "inaccurate" (and not believable) all the way to the usual mantra of "intolerance." Well, I visited a site from my blogroll today that I have not clicked on for several months. Go there and see all of the attacks that have been done, just in this new year of 2007 by Islamic Terrorists who are carrying out their deadly deeds under the banner of Jihad.

Those who would believe that there is no "global war on terror" truly have their heads in the sand.

It's as real, and even more deadly, than Communism and Nazi Fascism of the past!

It is today's battle between good and evil.

To not recognize the warning signs and attacks that are happening directly in front of our eyes each day would be ludicrous...to say the least.

Yet, there are people in our country today who don't think that the U.S.A. should fight against this growing threat. The "party of appeasement" Secular Progressives think that if we just "leave them alone, they will leave us alone" and we will have peace in the world. That is fantasy, idiotic and infantile; to say the least! Of course, people are entitled to their own opinion(s) just like I am entitled to mine. But I feel sorry for people who can't see this global battle against Islamic terrorism and fascism for what it truly is. EVIL.

When you visit The Religion of Peace website, be sure to click over and see this page at the Dr. Homa Darabi Foundation.

When Nancy Pelosi visited Syria, the left accused the right of "overreaction." But when you go here and see how horribly women are treated in the religious Muslim world, you may understand why seeing Pelosi, a Secular Progressive Liberal, Feminist, Woman's rights advocate, being forced to wear a head scarf while visiting there was so understandably upsetting and demeaning. You may disagree with me on this and that's O.K. It is only my opinion, of course. But I saw her entire visit as a sign of submission to the entire Islamic world...at least they will try and portray it as such. We will see the reactions over the next several weeks. But I really think that her visit sent a sign of weakness, not strength, from the U.S. in particular, and the West in general.

It may appear that I drifted away from my original post. In actuality, I didn't. I wanted to point out that our current "culture of death" was known, all along, of course, by God. The Bible predicts that we will one day reach the point where we will be on the brink of totally annihilating ourselves. At the point where the anti-Christ will be revealed and he sets himself up to be God in the re-built temple in Jerusalem, the ultimate battle of Armageddon will be fought. Just when it appears that the anti-Christ might gain total victory, Jesus Christ will return to save the day.

When Jesus died on the cross at Calvary, he conquered the eternal effects of sin and death. He told us that he will one day return. He also told us that "in this world you will have trouble...but take heart! For I have overcome the world." He accomplished this through his death for our sin and his resurrection to life! Before his ascension back to the Father he told us, "I am with you always, even unto the end of the age. Amen." - Matthew 28:20

This is the hope that surpasses all understanding! No matter what happens to believers here on this earth, we have the eternal promise of God that because of what Jesus accomplished at the cross and through the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling each believer, we are his forever and "no one can snatch us out of his hands!"

That's the true hope of salvation and why we call this day "Good Friday." What the enemy of our souls meant for evil, God transformed into Good. He continues to do this in each of our lives every day.

My wonderful friend in Israel, Susan Smith, often asks in her newsletters, "Do you believe?"

We all need to ask ourselves that question. I would add, "Do you see Him working in your own life?" It is a marvelous thing! If you don't see him in your life, please go here, find out why not and make the necessary decision of your lifetime!!

The world usually has the attitude of, "I'll believe it when I see it." God's Word instructs us to 'believe, then you will see.' That is what faith is all about. It certainly matters in Whom you place your trust and faith.

Jesus asks each of us, "Who do you say that I am?"

What's your answer?

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Update: 10:59 a.m. PT

It will be time to leave for the Good Friday service soon. I thought I would check Technorati to see what others have posted about this most profound weekend in the history of the world.

Some links are wonderful and I will add them as I come across them. But I just found one link that truly made me sad! She doesn't know what she's missing!!!


So, it's Good Friday, huh?

[Update 4/11/09 - Apparently the post at the above link has been deleted. Perhaps the author discovered the link to this blog, read the TRUTH about Jesus Christ and had a change of heart? Hope so.]