Cross My Heart Ministry

“It is finished.”
John 19:30

And finally, the cross is a place of Completion.

Dictionary.com defines Complete: having all parts or elements; lacking nothing; whole; entire; full;
finished; ended; concluded.

Jesus came to earth with an assignment.  He devoted His time here to being on task with His assignment.  He was about His Father’s business.  He knew who He was and He knew what He was called to do.  There was purpose to His presence and He lived devoted to that purpose.  He lived on Purpose.

Consider these verses that remind us that Jesus CHOSE the Cross…

“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Matthew 20:28

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.  Luke 19:10

“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” John 6:38

“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.” John 12:27

 The cross did not happen to Jesus.  He chose the cross.  He submitted to it. His purpose on this planet reached its place of completion at the Cross.

At the Cross Jesus became what Hebrews 10:10 calls the “once for all” sacrifice:

“….we have been made holy
through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ
once for all.”
Hebrews 10:10

 We are not holy, but we are made holy…declared holy…because of our identification with Jesus Christ.  His work on the Cross is complete. There is nothing for us to add.  We cannot improve, add to, or embellish the Cross.  It is thorough, complete, whole, entire, full, lacking nothing.

Jesus captured the essence of this truth when He said from the cross in John 19:30 —
“It is finished.”

 Nothing else required.  The cross plus nothing.

The old hymn says it well:

Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Are you resting in that truth?  Do you believe the CROSS was the place of completion?  Or are you backsliding into the works-based, legalistic mindset of trying to earn your salvation?

The formula is Faith + nothing.  Jesus paid it ALL.  The CROSS is completion.

It is peace, and rest and knowing for sure that we are HIS.

Do you have that blessed assurance that you are His?

Does the peace that comes with His presence…leave you grateful and confident and assured that you know that you know that you are secure in Him?

 The woman of God worships at the Cross, the place of completion.

The audio teaching lecture for this message can be found here:  http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/ladies-bible-study-mark-lesson-29-laura-macfarlan-%E2%80%94-5-1-14/

{Photo attribution:  http://fineartamerica.com/featured/wooden-cross-jerry-bunger.html}

Our journey through the Gospel of Mark brings us to the pinnacle of our faith, the reason we have hope, and the very essence of the gospel message.   The Cross of Christ.

Today’s post is devoted to the word intersection.

As we study Mark 15:21-47 and the crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus — God has given me three key words that convey three key truths:

•  Intersection
• Substitution
• Completion

The Cross of Christ represents all three.

Intersection

Of course, the Cross is a literal intersection – we see two beams, one horizontal and one vertical, fastened together.  The place where they meet is the point of intersection.  Spiritually speaking, the Cross is where truth and faith intersect – where an awareness of our sin intersects with His provision of grace and faith is born.  Our journey through life on our own climaxes with our new journey of faith in Him.

At the cross we see the intersection of God’s character – His Justice & His Love.  Without the cross, God would have violated his own nature.  His justice demanded payment for the sin of the world.  To be true to His own character, justice must be served. God’s character is also one of great love.  His love brings the desire that none should perish, but all have eternal life.  He makes that possible through the gift of His son.

At the Cross we see the tension:  God’s love constrained by His justice…and His justice constrained by His love.  They come to a point of intersection at the Cross and in the Person of Jesus Christ.

What does the Cross mean to you?  Is it the intersection in your life?  The point where your flesh and your spirit collide?  The place where the realization that you are a great sinner intersects with the realization that Christ is a great Savior…and Faith is born?

The child of God must return to the Cross for perspective and re-alignment in her journey.

We begin our journey of faith at the cross…and we continue on by returning to the cross.

What in your life needs brought to the foot of the cross?  Where do you need re-aligned…or need your mind renewed…where do you need to re-commit….re-dedicate…be reminded of who you are in Christ?

When the world and circumstances and challenges of life bring confusion and seem to flip us inside out and upside down, only the Cross gives us the perspective, the purpose, and the PEACE we so desperately need.

The woman of God meets Jesus at the cross, the place of intersection.

The audio teaching lecture for this message can be found here:  http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/ladies-bible-study-mark-lesson-29-laura-macfarlan-%E2%80%94-5-1-14/

{Photo attribution:  http://fineartamerica.com/featured/wooden-cross-jerry-bunger.html}

The chief priests accused him of many things.
 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer?
See how many things they are accusing you of.” 
But Jesus still made no reply,
and Pilate was amazed.
Mark 15:3-5

 Luke 23:2 provides a list of these “many things” hurled at Jesus by the chief priests:

• Subversion – acts that would be overthrowing the nation of Rome
• Opposition to taxes
• Claiming to be king.

(Interesting that blasphemy is not on that list.  Because Rome – and, therefore, Pilate–would not care about blasphemy.   They have to trump up charges that will matter to Rome.)

These are serious allegations, crimes worthy of execution.  If accused of a crime carrying the death penalty, a guilty man would probably open his mouth and attempt to defend himself or dispute the accusations.  And surely an innocent man would protest and plead his case before the one authority who has the means to control his destiny.

Pilate was intrigued … surprised … and even amazed that Jesus refused to answer.  It’s unlikely that an accused criminal standing before him had ever made no reply.

Jesus is doing the unexpected…and it is amazing.

How might God ask you and me to do the opposite of what is expected?

To keep our mouth closed when facing harsh or unjust criticism.
To leave a generous tip…even when service was less than stellar.
To bless those who hurt us.
To pray for those who wound us.
To forgive those who harmed us.
To love those who have withheld love from us.
To honor those who have not honored us.

And when we do those things…when we walk in the opposite spirit…we are like Christ – and we, too, are AMAZING!

Who is God asking you to amaze this week?

Let’s ask Him to provide an opportunity to do the unexpected…to respond in a situation that is totally out of character…to respond in the Spirit and not in the flesh.  We can be amazing when we are controlled by the Spirit of God.

Pilate was amazed by Jesus.  Let’s go out there and amaze someone for Jesus this week!

“Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.
Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him:
“Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.”
And he broke down and wept.”
Mark 14:27

Jesus had to get the “Peter” out of Peter in order to have him ready for the Kingdom work prepared for Him.  Everything that wasn’t the Peter God saw in Him had to be chipped away — the pride, the brash confidence in Himself, the smugness.

When that cock crowed, cocky Peter became contrite Peter.  Humbled Peter.  In that instant the dots were connected and Peter saw himself and his sinful state before Jesus.

His response should be our response to our sin:  mourning.  The text says he broke down and wept. The parallel passage in Luke says he wept bitterly.  I believe those were tears of remorse, shame, repentance, and humility.

In Matthew 5:4 Jesus says: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

 Our journey of faith begins with the acknowledgment of our sin, mourning our sin. As we see ourselves as sinners, we also see our need of a Savior. The only comfort for that type of mourning is Jesus Christ — only HE can comfort and heal us from our sin.

Peter mourned his sin that day.

Jesus used that rooster and the timing of it’s crowing to bring conviction to Peter’s heart.

If God will use even a rooster, won’t he use anything or anyone as his instrument to chip away the behaviors, actions, attitudes, mindsets, or words in our lives that don’t need to be there?

Peter didn’t go after the rooster with his sword. He went out and wept.

Who is that cocky person that brings conviction to your life? Maybe you and I have gone round and round in the ring this week — boxing with a cocky teenager. Maybe we’ve allowed a 2-year-old to get the best of us – – or an 82-year-old – – or a tax form – – or an overdue bill.  What – or who – is God using to humble you?

II Corinthians 10:4-5 says we are to … we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

 What thoughts need taken captive in your life and mine?  What attitudes, motives, behaviors, words are in our lives that need purged so we can filled?  What sin do you and I need to mourn, to confess, and allow God to chip away?

Peter mourned his sin.  He wept bitterly over his sin.  We, too, must take sin seriously and then celebrate our Savior who is continuously working in our lives.

He loves us as we are, but also loves us too much to leave us that way.

{Here’s the link to last week’s teaching on Mark:  http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/2014/04/19/ladies-bible-study-mark-lesson-27-laura-macfarlan-%E2%80%94-4-17-14/ }

Photo attribution: http://www.shadesvalley.org

“…She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.”
Mark 14:3

Mary of Bethany came to Smon’s house that day with a specific, deliberate purpose. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume to anoint Jesus.  Mark tells us it was not only expensive…but adds the word VERY.  We will learn in verse 5 that its cost represented about a year’s worth of wages.

This was a huge sacrifice.  It was an offering of love and worship.

Mary held nothing back.  She broke the jar and used it all.

She didn’t come in with a teaspoon….she didn’t pour out a drop or two…She was all in!

How about you and me?  Have you ever jumped all in?

Do you and I give to God out of our abundance…our excess…our surplus?  Do we wait to see if there is anything left over before we give to God? Are you hoarding the best and giving God the dregs?

Mary broke the jar!  She gave it all!  And the fragrance of that perfume would have filled that place.

I John 3:1 says:
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are!

It’s a fun word to say.  It’s even more fun to experience.  In a world where we’re taught to conserve, recycle, and be thrifty, lavish feels extravagant.  God’s love for us without limit, extravagant.  It has been lavished.  We can lavish back.  That’s what Mary did.

Absolutely, comprehensively, ultimately, thoroughly, perfectly, exhaustively, extensively.

She holds nothing back.

Are you ready to break the jar….break the bank…break a few less-than-important appointments?

Where are you holding out on God? Where is He calling you to be “all in?” To worship HIM completely?

Maybe it is the time needed in the Word.  Are we giving ten minutes and congratulating ourselves for doing anything at all? What would it look like to “break the jar” on your schedule….let go of our agenda…and lavish His Word into your heart and mind.

Whether time, treasure, or talent, let’s ask God what jar in our lives needs broken?

I want to be “all in” – how about you?

Note:  The teaching lecture on Mark 14:1-11 can be found here: http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/2014/04/04/ladies-bible-study-mark-lesson-25-laura-macfarlan-%E2%80%94-4-3-14/