Near the Cross
1 Cor. 2:2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.The greatest period in the history of the world occurred when Jesus Christ came to planet earth. This greatest period came into its greatest focus at the cross of Calvary. It was for this moment and this purpose that Jesus came into the world. At the cross is where Jesus Christ accomplished his mission of redeeming a people unto himself and the Father. Satan was defeated on the cross and the redemption of the people of God was secured. This is why Paul can say his focus was on nothing else but Jesus Christ and him crucified. All theology flows from the cross as everything points to this moment and this event.
Sin, wrath, love, grace, redemption, faith, and eternal life are all expressed and dealt with at the cross. Praise God for the joy and peace that Christians have when their lives, attitude, and thoughts stay near the cross. In the photo of the cemetery above, a person even wanted their remains to be near the cross. If you are down and face seemingly insurmountable problems in your life, meditate on the words of the hymn below and take comfort in being near the cross.
Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross
Words by: Fanny Crosby
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.
Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o’er me.
Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
posted by jazzycat at 10:10 PM
7 Comments:
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March 19, 2008 3:17 AM
Christ and Him crucified is to be the focus of our gaze. Thanks, Wayne.
March 19, 2008 7:29 AM
That reminds me of a sermon by Rick Holland at a Resolved Conference (last year I think) where he stated that the cross is not only the center of human history, but is the center of all eternity.
March 19, 2008 10:51 AM
"See from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did ever such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?"
Wonderful post jazz.
Cristina
March 19, 2008 1:33 PM
Praise God as we celebrate Easter this Sunday! He is risen!
March 20, 2008 9:49 AM
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March 20, 2008 4:12 PM
This is one of my favorite hymns as it extols in all its glory and shame the beauty and horrow of the cross. The cross where love, holiness and justice meet. Unfortunately today, in our "new modern" church we also have a "new modern" cross unlike the death devise that God employed to bring salvation to His chosen people.
As A.W. Tozer said in his piece, THE OLD CROSS AND THE NEW ...
"The old cross is a symbol of death. It stands for the abrupt, violent end of a human being. The man in Roman times who took up his cross and started down the road had already said good-by to his friends. He was not coming back. He was going out to have it ended. The cross made no compromise, modified nothing, spared nothing; it slew all of the man, completely and for good. It did not try to keep on good terms with its victim. It struck cruel and hard, and when it had finished its work, the man was no more."
The Bible's picture of the cross is sure different than the shiny little piece of jewelry dangling from the ear lobe of some Rock and Roll star.
March 21, 2008 6:50 AM
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