{"id":5241,"date":"2022-04-15T17:29:24","date_gmt":"2022-04-15T21:29:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/?p=5241"},"modified":"2022-04-15T17:31:02","modified_gmt":"2022-04-15T21:31:02","slug":"look-to-the-cross-a-good-friday-meditation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/?p=5241","title":{"rendered":"Look to the Cross: A Good Friday Meditation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Good<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At this moment, on the anniversary of the crucifixion, we pause to \u201clook on Him whom we have pierced\u201d (John 19:37) We are among those who pierced him since it was our sin that held Him there, since it was our sin \u201cthat drove the bitter nails.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We look, and what do we see?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. We see the horror of our sin<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    We are prone to take our sin too lightly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    See here what it took to pay for our sin. Our sin was so deep, so bad, so treacherous that it took the death of God the Son to pay for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cWas it for crimes that I had done, He groaned upon the tree?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Yes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cMine, mine was the transgression, thine the deadly pain\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cIt was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Look to the cross<\/strong> and see the hideousness of your sin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. We see the satisfaction for our sin<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is what it took to pay for our sin, and it was done! We see here that the sins of all those who will believe are paid for. This is why it is Good<\/em> Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cBecause the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For God the just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Look to the cross<\/strong> and know that your sin, all of it in all its horrible depths have been paid for, washed away, forgiven, if you are in Jesus. And if you are not, they can be if you will trust Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. We see the love of God<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Look what God was willing to do in order to rescue us from ourselves. Behold how he loves us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cThis is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cGod demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cHere is love, vast as the ocean, lovingkindness like a flood<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    when the prince of peace our ransom, shed for us his precious blood\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cWhat wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss, to bear the dreadful curse for my soul\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cHow deep the Father\u2019s love for us, how vast beyond all measure<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That He should give His only Son, to make a wretch his treasure\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Look to the cross<\/strong> and see how deeply God has loved you. You are loved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4. We see our pride shattered<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There is nothing here of human accomplishment, but sin, rebellion, the rejection of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cThen what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded\u201d (Rom 3:27)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cmy richest gain I count but loss,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    and pour contempt on all my pride.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Look to the cross<\/strong> and be humbled<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    5. We see the only way<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Jesus pleaded with the Father not to have to go to the cross if there was any other way. He went to the cross so there must have been no other way for redemption to be accomplished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This then, the work of Christ received by faith, is the only<\/strong> way to salvation. There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we may be saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Look to the cross and see the only way of salvation. If you have not already trusted him do so. If you have trusted him, share that news with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cThus might I hide my blushing face, While Calvary\u2019s cross appears,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, and melt mine eyes to tears.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cHere Lord I give myself away, \u2018tis all that I can do\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    At this moment, on the anniversary of the crucifixion, we pause to \u201clook on Him whom we have pierced\u201d (John 19:37) We are among those who pierced him since it was our sin that held Him there, since it was our sin \u201cthat drove the bitter nails.\u201d We look, and what do we see? We …<\/p>\n

    Continue reading ‘Look to the Cross: A Good Friday Meditation’ »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[296,377],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5241"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5241"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5241\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5244,"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5241\/revisions\/5244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}