Seven Coverings of the Cross…
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. (Luke 23:33)
THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS THE CENTERPIECE of human history. Nothing compares in significance to this lone event that displays God’s holiness and at once His eternal love for His sinning creatures. It was in the fulness of time that Jesus was crucified (Galatians 4:4). If He had been executed earlier by Jews, He would have been stoned, for that was the Jewish way.
HE WAS PIERCED BY THE AUTHORITY AND HANDS OF ROME and their way was by crucifixion. Not a bone of him was broken. He died with criminals and with the rich in his death. He was buried and yet not left to decay in his grave. Several kinds of people interacted with the cross: the fickle crowd, the religious leaders, Pilate, Mary and other women, God the Father, and The Holy Spirit.
●THE FICKLE CROWD COVERED THE CROSS WITH MOCKERY. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. (Matthew 27:22-23)
Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. (Matthew 27:41-44)
●PILATE COVERED THE CROSS WITH A PROCLAMATION. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; (John 19:4-8)
And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written. (John 19:19-22)
●GOD COVERED THE CROSS WITH DARKNESS. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. (Matthew 27:45) (An eclipse of the sun can only last for less than nine minutes. This darkness lasted three hours.)
●MARY AND OTHER WOMEN COVERED THE CROSS WITH WEEPING. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. (Luke 23:27-28)
●JESUS COVERED THE CROSS WITH BLOOD. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (John 19:33-34)
●RELIGIOUS LEADERS COVERED THE CROSS WITH DEATH. But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. (Mark 15:11) And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? (Mark 15:12) And they cried out again, Crucify him. (Mark 15:13) Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. (Mark 15:14)
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1Corinthians 2:8)
●THE HOLY SPIRIT COVERED THE CROSS WITH AN INVITATION. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)
Read Through the Bible in a Year
MARCH 30, 2018 – FRIDAY A.M Judges 1-2 P.M. Luke 7:1-30
MARCH 31, 2018 - SATURDAY A.M. Judges 3-5 P.M. Luke 7:31-50
APRIL 1, 2018 - SUNDAY A.M. Judges 6-7 P.M. Luke 8:1-21
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
Memory Verse This Month:
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)
Songs for Today:
Christ Arose (2:48) (Samonte – A Capello Choir)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtxSWcfH9hk
We Shall Rise (3:12) – (Gaither Group) (Congregation)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9P5VdY9ZBk
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