SACRIFICE of LOVE

I read about an incredible sacrifice today... a sacrifice of love.

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces.

"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him to be stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted.

"But he was pierced for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each has turned to his own way; and the Lord as laid on him the iniquity of us all.

"He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.. . . .
                                    
"After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied;by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. He bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

The words of this amazing sacrifice come from the OLD TESTAMENT book of the BIBLE in Isaiah Ch.53.
They were written hundreds and hundreds of years before the NEW TESTAMENT was written.

When you read it you will see for yourself...That's Jesus. He was the one God chose to die in our place to wash us clean from all our sins! That's why he willingly gave himself to the horrors of the cross. What incredible love!

JESUS' LAST WORDS

He is a forgiving God. He would rather forgive than punish us.
The first words of Jesus on the cross were, "Father forgive them for they do not know what they do."

Two robbers hung there also. One believed, saying "You are truly the Son of God."

And Jesus said to Him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."  This shows that anybody can be saved if they believe. 

Jesus showed love for His mother for as first born son it was His responsibility to care for her.  "Woman, this is your son." Then He said to His disciple: "This is your mother."

The full force of God's righteous anger at the sin His son bore in our stead fell on Jesus. This awful separation from His father was the greatest suffering of all. Jesus cried out, "MY GOD, MY GOD, why have You forsaken me?"

Then he gasped, "I thirst." Because of this human side, we know that He understands when we suffer.  Then when Jesus received the wine He said, "It is finished; and He bowed His head and handed over His spirit." The darkest day for Jesus became the hope of all mankind.

Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit."

 
 EASTER says you can try to nail TRUTH to a cross, and hide it in a grave. But it won't stay there. 

You can wrap it in winding sheets and shut it up in a tomb, but TRUTH, like JESUS, will rise! 

 Jesus is my Saviour, My Lord, and my friend. You can find peace and a new beginning when you ask Him to come into your heart.

You can pray this simple prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you for dying and taking God's judgement from the sins I have committed. I am sorry for the wrongs I have done and for the good I should have done.  Please cleanse me and come into my life and please guide me from now on. Amen.