What Kept Jesus on the Cross?

Easter is this Sunday! Easter is one of the most important holidays in Christianity, as Jesus rising from the dead is the basis of the religion.

Holy Week has already started, with Sunday being Palm Sunday. On Thursday, Jesus and his disciples had the last supper, and Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. On Friday, Jesus was put on trial and was crucified. Jesus knew that the crucifixion would be brutal, and while in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed that if there were any other way to save the world, for God to do it. But, that was not God's plan. Jesus HAD to be sacrificed.

³⁵ When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. ³⁶ And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. ³⁷ Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.
³⁸ Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” ⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴² “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
~Matthew 27 (NIV)

 Jesus had to be sacrificed, and willingly did so because He loves you. It was not the nails that held Jesus to the cross. He could have found a way down or asked God to release Him, but His love for us kept Him there until the job was finished.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
~John 3:16 (NIV)

 Jesus can relate to you. Not in every specific scenario, but understands the suffering you are feeling. After all, He went through death in the most cruel and brutal way, and loves you enough to have done that.

We all received dots on our wrists with our names by it. This is to remind us that Jesus died for us. Everytime you look at it, remember that He died for YOU.

{When you look at your dot, remember that Jesus died for you}

Your Outlook on Life

Everyone faces different tragedies in life: divorce, deaths, relationship issues, money issues, and other things that we don't want to face. Everyone has good times and bad times in life.

There are things that happen that you shouldn't have to deal with, and sometimes others make bad decisions that you have to deal with. We all have issues and problems, but we have to deal with them and continue on with life.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. ~Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

Your attitude of how you deal with problems is important. Even though bad things happen, if we maintain a positive attitude, it makes it easier to deal with our problems. We can't do it alone, though. God will help you take care of the problem. Pray to God when you have a problem and He will help you.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. ~Proverbs 17:22 (ESV)

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Pain

How do you explain who you are to someone?

• Likes
• Interests
• Traits

How do you explain who you are to yourself?

• What you like about yourself
• Trials
• Pain & hurts

How would you deal with the pain? Personal responses are a choice. Do insults equal pain? Do jokes equal laughter? If you're stabbed, does it equal anger? Why would you want to give someone that power over you?

We've been given a gift by God that deals with pain and healing. An activity was done during the evening about counting coins. The coins represent the gift. We don't know the value or the power of this gift. This gift is forgiveness!

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But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. ~Psalm 130:4 (NIV)

Internal battles create destruction. Forgive others and end battles.

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Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  ~Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

"Jesus Calling", May 5

Make friends with the problems in your life. Though many things feel random and wrong, remember that I am sovereign over everything. I can fit everything into a patter for good, but only to the extent that you trust Me. Every problem can teach you something, transforming you little by little into the masterpiece I created you to be. The very same problem can become a stumbling block over which you fall, if you react with distrust and defiance. The choice is up to you, and you will have to choose many times each day whether to trust Me or defy Me.  The best way to befriend your problems is to thank Me for them. This simple act opens your mind to the possibilities of benefits flowing from your difficulties. You can even give persistent problems nicknames, helping you to approach them with familiarity rather than with dread. The next step is to introduce them to Me, enabling Me to embrace them in My loving Presence. I will not necessarily remove your problems, but My wisdom is sufficient to bring good out of every one of them.  

 

Basically, God tells us that we will be provided for and guided. He does not put stumbling blocks up to make us sin. God does not cause bad things.

God is light, evil is dark. The only way to get rid of the dark is to penetrate it with light. The only way to get rid of evil is with God.

Everyone has issues and problems and face things that they don't want to. Some people sweep their problems under a rug and ignore them. If you do this, you will just keep collecting problems and the pile is just going to get bigger. You need to face them. You need to deal with them and get rid of the problem. The problem may not stop immediately, and it can be difficult to change behaviors. Change your friends and your habits. Find people that take care of you and keep you accountable.

Decisions are made now. Be right with God and ask for forgivness. Have a good relationship with Him.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ~Romans 8:28 (NIV)
 

 ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ~1 Corinthians 1:23-24 (NIV)