Watch “The Glory of the Crucified King by Dr. Maher Samuel” Easter

The Gospel Story In Arabic with subtitles – A truly inspired sermon.

Many people in the world struggle with the idea that God would become a man.

God loved his creation so much that He became one of us so he could save us from ourselves when we were separated from Him as a result of sin.

At Easter we celebrate God’s great love when He became a man, lived a perfect life, and became the perfect spotless Lamb of God who let himself be sacrificed to pay the price for our sin when He died on the cross.

When He rose again on the third day He demonstrated that He defeated death.

An almost equal amount of people in the world struggle with the idea that someone who is all-powerful could be treated so terribly and still be all-powerful.

We don’t recognize the ultimate power and majesty of Jesus Christ when it is manifested as humility and sacrifice.

God is perfect. To dwell with perfection we also must be perfect in our past, present, and future.

So only a perfect replacement for imperfect righteousness would work for us, and only God is perfect.

And God Came Down as the Man Jesus Christ to personally save us Himself.

He lived as one of us.

Dr. Samuel preaches in Arabic with English subtitles and brilliantly shows how God as Jesus was in control through the Betrayal and His trials and the crucifixion.

“No man takes my life but I lay it down freely” said Jesus (The Gospel of John 10:18)

Unlike anything found in human nature Jesus alone showed us ultimate strength present in ultimate humility for our salvation sake through the entire events of his trials suffering and death.

Perhaps strength through humility is not easy for us to recognize because it is so unfamiliar to humanity overall?

Pride, power, and forced compliance are more familiar to us.

But God through Jesus conquers hearts and minds by demonstrating supreme love for us.

Dr. Samuel also points out how Pontius Pilate and Pilot’s wife both testified that Jesus was a just man, thus fulfilling scripture of the Lamb of God without spot or blemish to take away the sin of the world.

Jesus Christ was even sovereign over death and rose from the grave on the third day.

He is the author of life and gives life to all who believe and place their hope and faith in Him for salvation from eternal judgement.

Do you believe that Jesus Christ did for you what you are incapable of doing for yourself?

The Gospel of John 1:

11“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

12But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.“

The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ – from “The Bible” Series on the History Channel – 4 Minute Video- An Easter Reflection

This video from the History channel series ,”The Bible”, depicts Christ’s sacrifice and death on the cross.

It is my hope and prayer that each of us can see God’s love through the suffering Christ endured for us.

He died so that we can live.

But death could not hold Him.

Sunday is coming.

 ^“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

(John 3:16 , The Bible)

Chuck Colson (1931 – 2012) The Authenticity of Christ – “take it from an expert in cover-ups”

Richard Nixon, Time cover April 30, 1973, "The Watergate Scandal" (Photo credit: cliff1066™)

Today , April 21, 2012, Chuck Colson passed from this life to the next. I will miss his influence and encouragement.
I have listened to Breakpoint for many years now.  Free audio and an average length of 2 or 3 minutes. You can search these by subject.    http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries

“nothing less than a resurrected Christ could have caused those men to maintain to their dying whispers that Jesus is alive and is Lord.”

Chuck Colson

The year was 1973 and President Richard Nixon and the closest members of his administration had been accused of corruption.

At the heart of the cover-up was a brilliant member of the president’s cabinet named Charles Colson.

Colson  became a believer in the midst of this scandal and later would start several successful ministries for the cause of Christ.

The following quote is Colson’s first hand insight on human nature as it relates to cover ups, and adds credibility to the claims of Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection according to the Bible.

“The Watergate cover-up reveals the true nature of humanity. Even political zealots at the pinnacle of power will, in the crunch, save their own necks, even at the expense of the ones they profess to serve so loyally. But the apostles could not deny Jesus because they had seen Him face to face, and they knew He had risen from the dead. No, you can take it from an expert in cover-ups — I’ve lived through Watergate — that nothing less than a resurrected Christ could have caused those men to maintain to their dying whispers that Jesus is alive and is Lord. Two thousand years later, nothing less than the power of the risen Christ could inspire Christians around the world to remain faithful –despite prison, torture, and death.”

(Charles (Chuck) Colson ,Breakpoint )

Related articles

• Of Watergate and Christ’s Resurrection (erickbrockway.com)

Joy That Remains – Christ’s Promise

The Good Shepherd (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(John 16:16 )Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” 16:17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 16:18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.” 16:19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 16:20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 16:21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 16:22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. (NIV)

Christ’s Crucifixion According to The Prophet Isaiah – 700 Years Before It Happened

 ¹ Who has believed our message 
   and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 
² He grew up before him like a tender shoot, 
   and like a root out of dry ground. 
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, 
   nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 
³ He was despised and rejected by men, 
   a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. 
Like one from whom men hide their faces 
   he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

 ⁴ Surely he took up our infirmities 
   and carried our sorrows, 
yet we considered him stricken by God, 
   smitten by him, and afflicted. 
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions, 
   he was crushed for our iniquities; 
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, 
   and by his wounds we are healed. 
⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray, 
   each of us has turned to his own way; 
and the LORD has laid on him 
   the iniquity of us all.

 ⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted, 
   yet he did not open his mouth; 
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, 
   and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, 
   so he did not open his mouth. 
⁸ By oppression and judgment he was taken away. 
   And who can speak of his descendants? 
For he was cut off from the land of the living; 
   for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
⁹ He was assigned a grave with the wicked, 
   and with the rich in his death, 
though he had done no violence, 
   nor was any deceit in his mouth.

 ¹⁰ Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, 
   and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, 
he will see his offspring and prolong his days, 
   and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 
¹¹ After the suffering of his soul, 
   he will see the light of life and be satisfied; 
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, 
   and he will bear their iniquities. 
¹² Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
   and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death, 
   and was numbered with the transgressors. 
For he bore the sin of many, 
   and made intercession for the transgressors.

Good Friday-Pslam 22-The First Person Prophetic Account of Christ’s Suffering For Us On The Cross

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 

   Why are you so far from saving me, 
   so far from the words of my groaning? 
 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, 
   by night, and am not silent.

 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; 
   you are the praise of Israel.
In you our fathers put their trust; 
   they trusted and you delivered them. 
They cried to you and were saved; 
   in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

 But I am a worm and not a man, 
   scorned by men and despised by the people. 
 All who see me mock me; 
   they hurl insults, shaking their heads: 
 “He trusts in the LORD; 
   let the LORD rescue him. 
Let him deliver him, 
   since he delights in him.”

 Yet you brought me out of the womb; 
   you made me trust in you 
   even at my mother’s breast. 
 From birth I was cast upon you; 
   from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 
 Do not be far from me, 
   for trouble is near 
   and there is no one to help.

 Many bulls surround me; 
   strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. 
 Roaring lions tearing their prey 
   open their mouths wide against me. 
 I am poured out like water, 
   and all my bones are out of joint. 
My heart has turned to wax; 
   it has melted away within me. 
 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, 
   and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; 
   you lay me in the dust of death. 
Dogs have surrounded me; 
   a band of evil men has encircled me, 
   they have pierced my hands and my feet. 
 I can count all my bones; 
   people stare and gloat over me. 
 They divide my garments among them 
   and cast lots for my clothing.

 But you, O LORD, be not far off; 
   O my Strength, come quickly to help me. 
 Deliver my life from the sword, 
   my precious life from the power of the dogs. 
 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; 
   save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

 I will declare your name to my brothers; 
   in the congregation I will praise you. 
 You who fear the LORD, praise him! 
   All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! 
   Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! 
 For he has not despised or disdained 
   the suffering of the afflicted one; 
he has not hidden his face from him 
   but has listened to his cry for help.

 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; 
   before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows. 
 The poor will eat and be satisfied; 
   they who seek the LORD will praise him— 
   may your hearts live forever! 
 All the ends of the earth 
   will remember and turn to the LORD, 
and all the families of the nations 
   will bow down before him, 
 for dominion belongs to the LORD 
   and he rules over the nations.

All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; 
   all who go down to the dust will kneel before him— 
   those who cannot keep themselves alive. 
 Posterity will serve him; 
   future generations will be told about the Lord. 
They will proclaim his righteousness 
   to a people yet unborn— 
   for he has done it.

Our First Love -God – Whom We All Remember Though We Never Knew Him

“I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.”

Bono-U2

“Our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off , to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is no mere neurotic fancy, but the truest index of our real situation.”

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

C.S.Lewis

God-Our First Love.

Mankind was created by God for fellowship with Him and only a relationship with God will complete us.

We were created in the image of God, and we have a part of us that remains un-satiated by anything but God.

Our problem was that God’s perfection is called Holiness, and His Holiness requires holiness from us as a condition to be in His presence.

But all men were imperfect and none could save us, until God came down and inhabited flesh and bone to live a perfect life and be our Savior.

So God came to personally came to make a way for us back to Him, through His sacrifice for our sins.

And three days after allowing His crucifixion , Christ rose from the died and defeated death to show that He can give life to as many as receive Him.

Our ultimate hope can be fulfilled in a promise that cannot be broken , lost or taken away ;God.

God initiated this event because He loved us.

God offers eternal life as a gift because we could not be the perfect sacrifice.

You need only receive it by faith, just ask with your heart and believe.

 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:9,10)

Christians and seekers take note at what God’s word says,“believe in your heart,” and , ‘It is with your heart that you believe and are justified.”

It all starts with the heart.

But don’t make the mistake that after that the honeymoon is over.

The fact is that you can know God’s love in an ever-increasing way for the rest of your life.

He is our first love who reunited us to himself by the single most incredible sacrifice in all of history; One man died for all the world.

The God who became fully man while remaining fully God ,(Nothing is too hard for God).

God’s has always love us and desired for us to know Him. 

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”(Deuteronomy 6:4,5)

Then God gave us the ultimate reason to love Him with all our heart, mind and strength.

He became one of us and sacrificed Himself for us, releasing us from eternal death and separation from Him.

 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

You can know Him, Just pray to Him to save you and to live in your heart as the scripture says, “with the heart you believe and are justified.”

Christ is our first love.

We really were made for each other.