Cause of Death

Revelation 1: 17-18 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man. And He laid His right hand upon me saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and Last, and the Living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades." 

"Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"

They all said, "Let Him be crucified!"

And when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of this Man's blood; see to that yourselves," (Matthew 27:22-24).

On Golgotha, the hill in Jerusalem where crucifictions took place, Jesus bore His cross, hung from the beams by stakes pounded into His flesh. His previously fileted-open back sticking to the splintered wood, blood dripping from the crown of thorns smashed down around His head. Naked, bleeding, suffering, suffocating...Yet enduring the Cross, the Will of  the Father God.

Because it was soon to be the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate if he could take care of Jesus's body. Pilate gave the permission. (Matt. 27:57-58). His body was wrapped in strips of linen most likely soaked in aloes and myrrh. Placed in a donated tomb, Pilate made sure that His body was guarded, secured, as well as a seal placed on the tomb.

No coroner showed up, no hearse, or mortuary...

~~~

A few weeks after my son passed away, I received his death certificate in the mail. It read something like this: Cause of Death, multiple organ failure do to kidney disease and other maladies.

I remember thinking in my deep grief, how could someone sum up his death in just a few short words? It involved so much more, so much I needed to see explained on that piece of paper as if that might justify everything...give me closure.

 I began my process of grief by proclaiming a "Life Certificate," of my son's and my own.

What would Jesus's death certificate say?


Cause of death: 
lying, stealing, coveting, lust, greed, idol worship, hypocrisy, disrespect, gossip, slander, impurity, wrath... 

Racism, poverty, enslavement, starvation, murder, rape...

War, Terrorism, the Halocaust, Genocide, 911, Syria...drug cartels, political anarchy and brutal regimes...

Every disease known and unknown, brought into existence by the deterioration of this world since man made the choice to desire his own will apart from God. 


Jesus died for every sin this world, you and I ever commited--every sin, the blatant and the underlying condition of our hearts, since the beginning of time. Though Pilate "washed his hands," his sin still infiltrated his soul. God sent His Son to right Humanity. Humanity has a way out of eternal separation from the Almighty.

Unfathomable--Yet I believe, because He has given me His Life Certificate.

What did Jesus die from? His Cause of Death?

One Word, one word only...

LOVE.

Lord, Although I write many words, my Life Certificate really says one clear statement--
Reedemed by Grace. Your death on the Cross that Good Friday 2000 years ago, conquered the sin in my life--everyday! I am forgiven, redeemed by Your shed blood, allowing me access to enjoy an intimate relationship with My Heavenly Father. I am thankful Lord, for the gift of the Holy Spirit which gives me Your direction and guides me through the days I am alive in this broken world. In the darkness that covers our lives today, at these hours that are now weeks, may You Jesus, the Light of the World, fill our homes and our hearts with Your Hope. I sing and praise You Lord for Easter morning, when our belief in the Resurrection assures us that we, too, will have eternal life abiding with You into Eternity, victory over sin. Amen.

Distant or Redeemed?

Luke 22:54  "And having arrested Him, they led Him away, and brought Him to the house of the High Priest; but Peter was following at a distance.  


Today is Good Friday. And why is it "Good?"  

One may answer in many ways. 

..."because it's payday,    
         ..."because, --Whoo-hoo, it's Spring Break!"  
                        ..."because I just found some cute shoes on sale!"


In Christendom, "Good Friday" names the day Christ placed Himself on the Cross and our sins onto His shoulders. He hung his thorned-pressed brow and bled out. He pushed Himself up long enough to communicate His love to a thief next to Him and to give instructions to His Apostle John, and others. He released His last breath and lowered Himself when He knew God's Will was done. It's the day, two days out from THE DAY! 


 It is "Good" because we are not. It is "Good" because of His Great Love for us, ...it is "Good" because this Holy moment brings us back into a relationship with God and restores us into His purpose. 

Yet some of us, like Peter did for a brief, weak moment, still follow Him at a distance. Now these moments have turned to years. 

The lyrics of "The Old Rugged Cross" are revived one more time, although its a little harder to remember them; a dusty Bible is located, and a seat is found near the exit. Maybe you'll attend a sunrise service. You squint and a shiver in the morning breeze, thinking about the ham and what time it needs to go in the oven.  

We get close again for an hour or so, just long enough to read and sing, but not infuse the red letters on the crispy pages, to wear the new shoes that are already forming a blister, to hear the story of the Resurrection but fail to see the empty tomb in our own heart chambers. 

Knees are un-calloused; hands are smooth, kept in pockets and on devices. God calls from the splintered Tree of His own creation, seeing you near, but you keep your distance, your comfortable place, your routine, your fears, your burdens, your complaints...your excuses.  

You haven't denied Him. You've always been a Believer, well sort of... but...is there evidence of that?  Forgiveness frees us to draw close.

And that IS your fear...the judgment. And that is Your comfort zone...staying at a distance, away from those that can hurt. And that is your complaint...time and money and sacrifice...and that is your burden...a lack of purpose, of true JOY, of Your Destiny as His Child! 

God is near. Christ is here, resurrected, the Redeemer! Grab His nail-pierced hand and take Him home with you. Don't keep your distance any longer. Ask Him to show you how to stay close, how to not wander, how to begin to leave evidence that you belong to Him, to see His Amazing Grace! 

In a momentary admission of your need for Him, He will pour His love out again. There is no condemnation. He begins to remove the obstacles, dusting off your name written so many years ago in His Book of Life. The scriptures will once again become alive, filled with all the wonderful blessings He planned for you. You've come close before, you've met, you've felt His love for you.  Can you feel Him again? His loves bridges all the ways you distanced yourself from Him. If we could see it, it is shaped like a Cross; kneel again. 

Jesus forgave Peter and He became the Rock of the Church. He forgave you in the same way. Calvary is paved with stepping stones poured from His own blood. In each step of faith, His Light begins to diminish your fears, your burdens. "Belief" becomes a powerful promise. HOPE--embraceable! It's no longer distant, no longer unattainable. 

James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.


Don't place Him back in the cold, distant tomb! 

                                  He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!  

Lord, Help us to cherish the Old Rugged Cross, to not grow distant from you, but to serve You and give You worship in every part of our lives. Help us Lord to draw close to You and then cling to You for all our needs, for all Your plans. You took that Crown of Thorns, the piercing spikes, the wretched beatings and humiliation. You carry the burden of our sin so that we may live eternally and receive a crown, a Crown of Everlasting Life!  Hallelujah! Help us Lord to be strong in a world which wants to deny Your Deity, Your sovereign Truth. Help us to live each day as if it is Good Friday/Easter; with the knowledge that we are not worthy, but because of Your blood on the Cross, --Christ Crucified, You reign right here, in our hearts. Thank You for living in my heart, undeniably close in every breath, and I give You praise for this great Love. You are my hope,  Amen.