Understanding the Message of Christ: Redemption
Isaiah 53:4-6
Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.
Jesus was sent by the Father to be the One Mediator between God and man. Christ substitutionary death on the cross paid the penalty of sin and by His bodily resurrection from the tomb, death has been defeated.
A missionary to Brazil served a native tribe in a remote part of the jungle. A contagious disease was ravaging the population. The missionary determined that the only hope was to take the tribe to a hospital in another part of the jungle for treatment. In order to reach the hospital it was necessary to cross a large river. Yet the tribe refused to cross, believing that the river was inhabited by evil spirits. The missionary explained how he had crossed the water and no harm had come to him, but the people did not care. He next led them to the river bank and placed his hand in the water. The people still were too afraid. He walked out knee-deep into the water and splashed around, and they would not budge. Finally he turned around and dove into the water and swam beneath the surface until he emerged on the other side. As he came out of the water he punched his hand in the air as an act of triumph. The people broke into cheers and followed him across.
Jesus emerged from a grave that represented the fear of death and guilt of sin, thrust His fist in the air with the triumph of resurrection and someday will call us all to follow Him across. The way has been made safe.
Matt Emerson
Taken from Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden
Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.
Jesus was sent by the Father to be the One Mediator between God and man. Christ substitutionary death on the cross paid the penalty of sin and by His bodily resurrection from the tomb, death has been defeated.
A missionary to Brazil served a native tribe in a remote part of the jungle. A contagious disease was ravaging the population. The missionary determined that the only hope was to take the tribe to a hospital in another part of the jungle for treatment. In order to reach the hospital it was necessary to cross a large river. Yet the tribe refused to cross, believing that the river was inhabited by evil spirits. The missionary explained how he had crossed the water and no harm had come to him, but the people did not care. He next led them to the river bank and placed his hand in the water. The people still were too afraid. He walked out knee-deep into the water and splashed around, and they would not budge. Finally he turned around and dove into the water and swam beneath the surface until he emerged on the other side. As he came out of the water he punched his hand in the air as an act of triumph. The people broke into cheers and followed him across.
Jesus emerged from a grave that represented the fear of death and guilt of sin, thrust His fist in the air with the triumph of resurrection and someday will call us all to follow Him across. The way has been made safe.
Matt Emerson
Taken from Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden
Posted in Discipleship