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AMOKArts.com Worship Painting Jesus Christ Crucified "Father Forgive Them"
The second image for the IllustrationFriday.com stripes challenge may be slightly less predictable.
IllustrationFriday.com Challenge: Stripes Part 2
Isaiah 53:5 says: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
Those stripes were wounds driven deep into the flesh of the Savior by a lead tipped Roman whip. The intense punishment that began what we now call Good Friday. You see before they would place a convicted person on a cross the Romans would beat him nearly to death. Such was the beginning of the price Jesus paid for up. It’s a conundrum. How could a day of such torture be called Good Friday? Surely not because it was a good thing to happen to Jesus. I’m sure the disciples saw that day as anything but good. No the goodness was on the cross. It was Jesus doing the greatest act of good a person can do. He laid down His life for you and me. See, those stripes, they were yours and mine, but he took them.
The word at the bottom of the illustration is Tetellestai. It’s the last recorded word Jesus spoke before dying on the cross. Your English Bible records the word as the phrase “it is finished.” Jesus finished the work of Salvation when he hung on the cross, but that word Tetellestai has another meaning as well. In the market place, in that day, when a purchase was complete the merchant would sometimes shout out Tetellestai and in this context the meaning of the word was another phrase, “PAID IN FULL.” That’s what Jesus did. He took the penalty for everything wrong that you, me and everyone else has done and will ever do and took it on Himself. If you place your trust in Him as your Lord and Savior, your sins are forgiven and your debt is paid in full.
Jesus paid it all.
If you’d like to know more about Jesus and what He did for you, leave a comment or better yet drop me an email at AMOKArts@aol.com
This note is extra meaningful to me today, two days ago my friend Curt left this world. He was a guy who had a lot of struggles in this life but in spite of it all, he came to know and love Jesus. Jesus paid Curt’s price and today as I miss my friend, I know his struggles are over and he’s just beginning to enjoy the very best God has to offer.
Praise God for the stripes that heal.
If you can’t see the image above, click this link.
As I put this message together it is good Friday and I think that is very fitting. Remember what Jesus said in that most famous of all verses, John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. That is ultimately God’s will, that we come to Him through Jesus and receive eternal life. 2 Peter 3:9 says it this way, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Another translation says It is God’s will that none should perish. So as we look at God’s will for our projects and our ministries and our very lives, it becomes less about our projects and more about how everything we do and everything we are represents Christ.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven. To live out God’s will for our lives is ultimately about how we represent Him in every aspect of our lives. In every action, we need to ask ourselves does this represent Jesus well or will it make God’s work in this world harder. If it’s God’s will that none should perish then those of us who love Jesus must be about helping others to love Him too.
And finally 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Why do we do all this? Because we are grateful for what Jesus has done for us to save us. We’re not earning our salvation. We could never do that. We are living out our lives to say thank you to God for the free gift that cost Jesus everything. May God bless you as you seek to know and do His will.
