March 3 The One they Pierced

Zechariah 12:10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
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Telescopic. The Old Testament prophet Zechariah looks through his futuristic telescope and says what God reveals.

Jerusalem and the Jewish people have had trouble following God in the 6th century B.C. But God will pour out His spirit. They will understand.

But wait, there's more. The Messiah will come in a few hundred years. Nails through the hands and feet (John 19:37). The Roman guards did it. But the Jews, well, they pushed for it. But didn't my sin and yours drive Him to the cross as well?

But wait, there's more. Fast forward to the end of days. The Great Tribulation. The Apocalypse. Now that's REALLY what Zechariah was writing about and he knew it (see Zechariah 12:1-9).

Someday all will see the One they pierced. "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2: 10-11).

This photograph was taken yesterday at a church near our town. It clearly shows the pierced hands and feet of our Risen Lord.

March 2 Pierced

Isa 53:5 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.

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What does it mean that Jesus was pierced for our transgressions (sins)?

The online Merriam-Webster says pierce means:
1 a: to run into or through as a pointed weapon does : stab b: to enter or thrust into sharply or painfully2: to make a hole through : perforate3: to force or make a way into or through.


In the Hebrew language, which the Old Testament was written in, the word for pierce implies death, often violent with perforation.

Rather ugly thing they did to the God I love.

God's Salvation according to Isaiah 53:5

... He was pierced to death for our sins
... This punishment He accepted brought us peace (with God)
... His deadly wounds on the cross healed* us (from our fatal diagnosis of sin's consequence)

Pierced.
For me.
For you.
This photo was taken at the Catholic Church in our town.

*This verse also tells us that there is physical healing in the work that Christ did on the cross. Some theologians would say it is related to illnesses that are a result of our sin. Others such as A.B. Simpson, founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination, would argue that Christ's healing is in His atonement. This thought is often coupled with James 5:15-16 which says: "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

March 1 When I am Afraid

Psalm 22:16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.
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Lord, you were surrounded by those bent to harm you. As dogs bare their teeth at their prey, you were hounded and snarled at. You must have felt cornered and under assault.

When I feel just a little afraid, looked down upon or under a verbal thrashing, remind me that you understand. Comfort me. I trust you.

Psalm 56:3 3 "When I am afraid, I will trust in you"

This photograph was taken of a painting in the Catholic church in our small town in Germany.

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Notes on Psalm 22. I have chosen passages referring to the Messiah being pierced to focus on this next week. As I studied this verse, I found that the Hebrew word of the original language used for "pierced" in this Psalm is different from all the other ones in the Old Testament and is rather vague. Even so, this Psalm is quoted a lot by New Testament authors and Jesus Himself quoted it while on the cross.

The commentary "Hard Sayings of the Bible" is helpful. It was published by Intervarsity Press in 1996. Editors are Walter Kaiser Jr, Peter Davids, FF Bruce and Manfred Brauch.

"Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David went beyond the boundaries of all his own sufferings as he pictured the one who would suffer an even greater agony.

Yes, David did see the sufferings of that final one who would come in his life; but he also saw that the Messiah would emerge victorious, with a kingdom that would never fail." p 267.

I encourage you to go to the right box for Biblegateway.com and check out the entire Psalm 22.

Feb 28 Intentional

Isaiah 53: 10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him

and cause him grief.

Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,

he will have many descendants.

He will enjoy a long life,

and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.(New Living Translation)

Isaiah 53:10 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.
(New International Version)
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On Purpose. Deliberate. Pre-meditated.

Intentional.

I have been mulling on this all week. God wanted this to happen.

The NIV Bible says "It was God's will to crush him." Why? Jesus' sacrifice on the cross became an offering to God. For me. For you.

Not only that, eternal life for those who accept that offering. The "many descendents"? Who's that? It is NOT the biological children of Jesus (contrary to recent popular media). It is the myriad of spiritual descendants who become God's children by His blood offering.

My heart is grateful, in awe, that God orchestrated this.

This photo was taken at a women's event I attended recently.

Feb 27 Silently to the Slaughter

Isaiah 53: 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.

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Jesus, Son of God was flogged and beaten; marred beyond description. He was God but He chose to take it. The week before He was telling off the Pharisees at the temple. Not so on the way to the cross.

In the movie, "The Passion of Christ," we see Him crawl to place Himself on that piece of wood. He silently and willingly went to His crucifixion. Because it was for me. For you.

Ten Thousand Angels (by Ray Overholt)
Refrain

He could have called ten thousand angels

To destroy the world and set Him free.

He could have called ten thousand angels,

But He died alone, for you and me.

Click here for the rest of the words and the melody of the song:

http://my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/angels.html

This photo was taken about 2 weeks ago. We looked out our back window and saw the meadow filled with sheep and new lambs. I grabbed my camera went out there. They were there for 2 days and we haven't seen them since.

Feb 26 What Lent is All About

Isaiah 52:13-14 See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him --his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness--

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Another Old Testament passage foreshadows the crucifixion.

The disfigurement of Christ's body is not a pleasant thought. Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ," graphically depicted how He was abused. It became visual to many of us for the first time as we watched that rendition of Christ's death on the cross.

But Jesus' abuse and pain is what lent is all about. Remembering. Letting what Christ has done soak into my heart for 6 weeks before the celebration of Easter morning.

Let me remember, Lord, and be thankful.

I took this photograph last Friday in our town. The gnarly bushes illustrate the stifling pain of the cross.

Feb 25 The Curse, The Blessing

Psalm 109:25,27, 28a I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads. Let them know that it is your hand, that you, O LORD, have done it. They may curse, but you will bless...

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They cursed the Christ, but God Almighty blessed their curse. By His act of sacrifice for us on the cross, our sins are forgiven. God allowed it.

"It is your hand... that YOU, O LORD, have done it." (Psalm 109:27)

Why?
For me.
For you.

In church circles we casually parrot, "All things work together for good..." (Romans 8:28) but this is the ultimate example, isn't it?

This photograph was taken after a snowfall at a small lake near our house. The mirror of the tree represents to me how the same event can be seen in two ways.