JESUS DIED FOR YOU AND ME
Author : Rev. Glenn Williams
We certainly have a fascination about death.Perhaps
because it is so inevitable,or simply because it seems to be our final destiny.Not true!Death is merely a milestone in the journey of mankind.I simply like to refer to it as "the transition".True life starts beyond the grave.Let us be reminded that Jesus Christ conquered death,hell,and the grave.Even when he began to share with his disciples he was
about to lay down his life they said,"Surely Lord,this is not true".However,Jesus knew the only
way he would defeat death was to face it head on.Isn't it rewarding to know that our saviour
personally experienced the whole process,and in the most excruciating fashion you can imagine.
Our Lord knows fully what we would go through,he's been there.Sometimes it seems like I
really need to feel his presence more through the trials of life,than in death.Life tends to send one trial after another,and the ones that are so unexpected can do the most harm.Thank
God he sent us the Holy Spirit,after his Victory.Christs' death is also our victory over this present life.
I cannot think of a better way to start the first line of a book,sermon,song,testimony or ministry than,"Jesus died for you and me."There could never be a better foundation to start with.This is the beginning of salvation.Recognizing and accepting: First,the divine miraculous
birth; Secondly,the life and ministry; Third,the crucifixion and death; Finally,the resurrection
and ascension.Jesus Christ of Nazareth,our Lord and saviour.Recognizing Christs' death is the
beginning of life.
In the book of Acts you read about the stoning of Stephen,how bold he was.In Acts 7 starting with verse 54: "When they heard these things,they were cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth.But he,being full of the Holy Ghost,looked up stedfastly into Heaven,and saw the Glory of God,and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,and said,behold,I see the heavens opened,and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.Then they cried out with a loud voice,and stopped their ears,and ran upon him with one accord,and cast him out of the city and stoned him:and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet,whose name was Saul.And they stoned Stephen,calling upon God,and saying,Lord Jesus,receive my spirit.And kneeled down,and cried with a loud voice,Lord,lay not this sin to their charge.And when he had said this,he fell asleep."
There are so many things I would like to say concerning this,starting with how the King James version says,"he fell asleep".Notice how gently he accounted such a tragic death simply as falling asleep.As Stephen was making the transition from this earthly life,he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God.The very stoners themselves watched and experienced how
a mans spirit transforms from earth to Heaven.I might also add,this gives you the most extreme possible example of how,as the flesh grows weak the spirit transpires.It is no wonder
that fasting is such a powerful attribute to a victorious Christians life.
We are all just one heartbeat away from true-life after death.It seems amazing how courageously Stephen accepted his own killing,but let's not forget where he is from.This man walked with Jesus along the seashore,lived with him throughout so much of his ministry,watched his unjust judgement and crucifixion,stood with him after he rose from the dead,watched him ascend into Heaven.NO WONDER HE WAS SO BOLD!
Just like planting seeds in the ground,Jesus Christ purchased our salvation through his resurrection.If you plant Jesus in your heart right now,you can sprout true life. God Bless.
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