Cross

The Longest Verse

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Some say He wept because of their unbelief. Some say He wept only because He saw them weeping. Some think the Son of God could have never wept as a human because He knew the beginning from the end. Some simply shrug and say it didn’t matter because in just eight short verses He cried out in a loud voice and called Lazarus out from the grave.

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But can anyone really know the depth of the heart of Jesus of Nazareth? Can anyone see the limits of His compassion as He could see the depth of our need? To begin to understand why God’s Son weeps may take a lifetime of heartbreaks to begin to understand. To share in the sorrow of Jesus our Lord is not anything that can be explained or shared in just the sound of those two brief words:

 

Jesus Wept- The Longest verse in the Bible

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poured Out

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I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax it is melted in the midst of my bowels. Psalm 22:14

As a teen ager I always loved the Christmas presents I got from my stepmother. She bought me beautiful expensive clothes. But as a loving reminder she would leave the price tag on! She didn’t mind spending the money but she wanted to be sure that I treated her gifts other special care!

When we are singing It is well with my soul we should always remember the cost of that message. In the garden His soul was sorrowful unto death. On the cross He was poured out like water. When the spear pierced His side the last drop of the lifeblood of Jesus flowed down to the ground. When we always remember the price we will always treasure the gift. 

The Finish Line

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When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

Of the four gospel writers only John records these words. This last intimate communication which John overhears is the final prayer from Jesus to His Father. From the first cry of Jesus in Bethlehem’s manger to His final pain filled words on the cross Jesus had been on a mission. His mission was to seek and save what had been lost (You and Me). Now the healing, the praying, the fasting, the temptations, the teachings, the conflicts and the miracles of Jesus’ earthly ministry are finished. Every disciple who Jesus had called had been commissioned, every earthly relationship fulfilled, every suffering endured and He is ready to return to the place which He left at the right hand of God.

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And it is most amazing to me that at that last moment, and with those final words, “It is finished,” that our own new life begins. Jesus has finished his race. Jesus has run carrying the torch of the light of heaven. As Jesus breathed out his last He passed to John, to His mother Mary and even to all of us who hear His words today that same torch to us to begin to run our own race. Some of us will run for miles and some only one short lap. Each of us has a different race marked out for us in this new year ahead, but we must start at the cross where Jesus finished His course and where we begin ours!