Friday, April 22, 2011

In His Great Mercy

Jesus’ death was not the result of a panicking, cosmological engineer. 
The cross wasn’t a tragic surprise.  
Calvary was not a knee-jerk response to a world plummeting towards destruction. 
It wasn’t a patch-job or stop-gap measure. 
The death of the Son of God was anything but an unexpected peril.

No, it was part of plan.  It was a calculated choice. 
“It was the Lord who decided to crush him and make him suffer.”  (Isaiah 53:10)
The cross was drawn into the original blueprint.  It was written into the script. 
The moment the forbidden fruit touched the lips of Eve, the shadow of a cross appeared on the horizon. 
And between that moment and the moment the man with the mallet place the spike against the wrist of God, a master plan was fulfilled.

From the book God Came Near
Max Lucado

He looked around the hill and foresaw a scene. 
Three figures hung on the crosses.  Arms spread. 
Heads fallen forward.  They moaned with the wind. 
Men clad in soldiers garb sat on the ground near the trio. 
Men clad in religion stood off to one side… Arrogant, cocky.

Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill…Faces streaked.
All heaven stood to fight.  All nature rose to rescue.  All eternity poised to protect. 
But the creator gave no command.

“It must be done…,” he said and withdrew.
The angel spoke again.  “It would be less painful…”
The creator interrupted softly “But it wouldn’t be love.”

In The Eye of the Storm
Max Lucado

The blood was shed
The nails were real
The cross was heavy
The price was high
So He paid it for us

He didn't have to do it but He did
He knew paying our own ransom would bankrupt us.
He did it because He loved
Praise to be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
1 Timothy 1:3

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