What Can Be Said?

“Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”

~Jesus, the Christ

And now? After the agonizing, brutal Friday and the dead-silent Saturday? Glory! Jesus rightfully entered into His glory.

The Emmaus-bound travelers tried to make sense of the recent events. They tried to explain it. But they couldn’t see it. The Stranger gently reminded them that it could happen no other way. The Christ had to suffer. But then . . .! Then He would reign in glory!

I find no words worthy of the occasion . . . worthy of the Christ of God. Praise pales in comparison to the reality of Him. Words flail . . . fleet . . . fail. My voice falls silent, but how my spirit shouts; “G l o r i a !”

So, when you have nothing to give, give glory. Today, this Easter that shines bright with His majesty, I simply give Him glory.

"Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, 

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength, 

ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. 

Bring an offering and come before him; 

worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness." 

[1 Chron 16:28-29]

All-Glorious, Risen One; Great are You, Lord, and worthy of glory! We ascribe to You the glory due Your Marvelous Name. From everlasting to everlasting You are God and worthy of all praise, honor, and dominion.

A Reading for Easter Morning

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
[Mt 28:1-10]

Life in the Blood

It’s morbid to talk about blood, isn’t it? It’s the word that sometimes locks jaws and seals lips tight from speaking to strangers of the Cross of Christ. I use to avoid the word with a fancy little side-step. Or I would mumble it softly, moving quickly through the topic. I’ll never forget the time I invited a guest to church when the entire Lord’s Supper revolved around the "drinking of the blood." I felt like I was part of some bizarre cult. I squirmed uncomfortably and avoided eye contact with my neighbor throughout.

It used to be offensive to me—my stomach would turn when I read of the altar sprinkling accounts in the Old Testament. I’d try to dart right past those messy affairs to avoid the gruesome details.

Somewhere something changed in me. I’m not sure when. I’m not sure how. I only know that something is different. No longer do I find the subject revolting. Blood is life, as God had made clear in the Bible. And the shedding of our Savior’s blood gives life….life eternal. It was the price set, the price met.

In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, 

and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

[Heb 9:22]

It saddens me and weighs heavy on my heart to see the wretched reality of my sin’s stripes torn through my sinless Savior’s flesh. I am sickened to see my Savior bleed, but I also see rich beauty in it. I can join with the multitudes in the praise song of Revelation that shouts; “Worthy…for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God.” I see the incomparable blessing of the peace made with God “by the blood of His cross.” I see the unavoidable necessity of it and the remarkable willingness of His sacrifice that offered it to God in perfect love, trust, and obedience.

“Each time ‘blood’ occurs [in the New Testament],
it is theological shorthand expressing the thought of sacrifice for sin.”

~J. I. Packer

Instructions recorded in Exodus 8 for the consecration of the priests deemed that they be marked by the blood of the atonement sacrifice—head to toe. Jesus, our High Priest, was covered in the blood of His own perfect sacrifice—from thorn-crowned head to nail-pierced feet. Covered in the blood to cover the world’s sin—completely. The instrument of wrath toward sin – by grace – became a tree of life. Restoring the man-to-God relationship to a garden-state, when we walked among and feasted from the Tree of Life. That we might have life and be with our God once again.

Blood stains. 

Not Christ’s. 

His cleanses. 

Purifies. 

Restores. 

His purchases freedom.

The blood of Jesus heals our broken relationship with a Holy God. His blood forgives sin. His blood has ransomed a church for God. I want that blood to stain me. Stain me . . . . for life—that I might be forever marked…changed. Tatoo “HIS” upon my heart and soul, seeping deep to course through these veins. Giving a transfusion of life to my dead and dying blood.

Forgive me, if I made you squeamish. But know it was in the hope that maybe the next time you think of blood you’ll be able to offer praise to Jesus, Him Who Shed His Blood That We Might Live.

Only Your precious, unstained blood, Jesus, was worthy to pay the high cost of my sin. Shedding it cost You so much more than I can fathom. What a Savior! This Friday, we mourn our sin, Your suffering, Your blood willingly, painfully given.

Link to previous Good Friday Post:
A Cross of Wrath

That Night

Jesus reclined at the table That Night, to remember and to retell God’s grand story of redemption. He came to fulfill the festival He celebrated, that Passover night. How His human heart must have swelled…His throat choked….His eyes welled with the knowledge of its deeper meaning.

This house He would not pass over. Death would come to the Firstborn here.

He was obedient to His Father’s every instruction in the keeping of this annual festal celebration. He closely observed every detail of His final Seder. Except . . . .

. . . . He did the unexpected. He washed their dirty feet. And He gave them something new to believe. Something new to remember.

He blessed the four cups while reciting the four promises of God regarding the Israelites historical exodus from Egypt. And He replaced them with one cup of His salvation.

He tasted of the salty water—before He cried His garden tears. He ate the bitter herbs—before His oppressors torture. He broke the unleavened bread and drank the fruit of the vine—before His body was torn and bleeding. And He gave thanks. And He went out—singing a hymn of praise.

That night the holy dined with the sinful,

That night the Lamb supped with the wolf,

That night the Lord lifted up the Cup of Redemption.

It was a night full of rich symbolism and sacred tradition,

It was the night God would celebrate the Pesach in the flesh with His friends.

The Pure with the wicked;

Love with the unlovely;

Light among darkness.

The same night Jesus was betrayed, He communed with the enemy,

That same night He humbly washed his feet,

That same night, giving thanks, He broke the bread and served His betrayer.

The Obedient faced the rebel;

The Righteous and the wretched;

Living among the dead.

That night….this night. A blessed night to remember.


Our Lord and Savior; We bless You this night and give our humble thanks.

Impossible Claims Made Possible in Christ

The subject line of the e-mail read; "Get Rich Off Your Debt." Undeniably, this was spam and I wasn't about to open it. It's just absurd, I tell you! I mean, who can possibly do that?! But my, how it set my mind to thinking with the click of the delete key.

Hasn't Jesus done just that? Hasn't He paid the debt of my sin? And hasn't He made me rich in so many ways? Isn't that precisely the unexplainable mystery of the Gospel? Of course! Jesus...only Jesus!

Only Jesus can take us from the trenches of debtors prison and set us eternally to feast at the King's heavenly table. Only Jesus can stamp that accounting record "Paid in Full" and transport us to heavenly glory.

"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us,not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

[Tit 3:4-7]

Oh, the riches of God's grace in Christ Jesus! The children of God are so very rich, indeed! Rich--spiritually, in the extravagant Fruit of the Spirit. Poured out generously upon us through Jesus. Rich--in the promises of God. Promises made from the beginning of time. Rich--in the hope of eternal life. Rich--as co-heirs in the Kingdom of Christ. Rich--in the grace that has paid the insurmountable debt of the world's sin.

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."

[Eph 2:6-7]

So, technically the claim in their e-mail is not impossible--but it's only possible through Jesus Christ. Rejoice this Easter, that your debt has been turned to riches by the Redeemer's blood shed on the Cross.


I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which God has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints.


Link to past related post:
Forgiven Debts

The Healing of Forgiveness

Forgiveness did not die on the cross with the Crucified Christ. It was resurrected with Him and is alive today through the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Spirit keeps that forgiveness alive in and through us to heal, to reconcile, to set free, and to change hearts.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them,

for they do not know what they are doing.”

[Lk 23:34a]

The forgiveness Jesus asked for on our behalf in His final gasps from the cross, when practiced in our relationships as commanded, has power to effect real change in our world. To quote Johann Christoph Arnold, as written in Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter; “Forgiving is not ignoring wrongdoing, but overcoming the evil inside us and in our world with love. To forgive is not just a command of Christ but the key to reconciling all that is broken in our lives and relationships.”

Is there a broken relationship in your life that can be healed by choosing to forgive? Won’t you consider this Easter-week the perfect opportunity?

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.

[Jms 5:16]

Travel Back in Time Through Song

A Hymn for Palm Sunday

From Bethany, the Master

Marion F. Ham (1867-1956)

From Bethany, the Master

Comes down Mt. Olive’s slope,

And all the world is singing,

A glad new song of hope;

Cry out, O stately cedars,

Along the rugged way!

Ye vineyards, shout hosanna,

To greet this happy day!

The King of Love, in triumph

Rides through the city’s gate;

Rejected, scorned—yet Victor,

The Conqueror of hate;

O wave your green palm branches!

Exalt His matchless worth!

This King of Love shall conquer

The nations of the earth.

Not of this world His kingdom;

His power is from above;

His realm is of the spirit,

His scepter—Truth and Love;

He calls us to His service,

His banner is unfurled;

With Thee we march, O Master,

To overcome the world.

Post from Palm Sunday past

A Royal Welcome

Lift Up Your Eyes

“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.”
[Zec 13:1]

The fount of cleansing released on That Day flows still. It flows far—beyond the walls of Israel’s ancient city. It flows long—through centuries beaten and bruised.

“Salvation flows for every soul

To make the wounded spirit whole”

Nicolaus Selnecker (1572)

Lift your eyes to look upon the Servant of God and receive His soul-cleansing; His healing transcendent of any physical iniquity.


Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. [Mt 4:23]

-----

Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. [Mk 3:9-10]

-----

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. [Jn 20:30]

Though many of the healings Jesus did are recorded in the Gospels, there really is no way of knowing just exactly how many He performed during His earthly ministry. Innumerable more will be completed that Great and Glorious Day when all in Him are resurrected.


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. [Is 53:5]

-----

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. [1 Pt 2:24]


He assumed our crushing blows. The penalty of sin He suffered, He suffered to heal the relational gash with our Father and Creator. Our sins that brought us death He bore on His broken body. The deadly wound of unforgiveness healed by His purifying blood.

That monumental Crucifixion Day the floodgates were opened, the fountain set to flowing. Lift Your eyes to the Great Physician that suffered, died, and saved us there and be cleansed. Let the waters of His grace wash over you and heal your wounded heart.



Fount of Living Water; Cleanse our hearts and heal these gaping wounds.

Not Always Looking

Eyes dart. They skim the shelves, the walls, the display cases. I scan a local Christian bookstore, dashing in for a particular item on the fly. Eyes glance over a crucifix hung on the wall, roam past a painting of the Suffering Servant. I'm unmoved by the vision. S T O P!  I feel a tug on my heart, a lump in my throat. How could I have just looked right over them with barely a notice? I scold myself, “Especially at Easter?!” Eyes scan back – this time connected to my heart. I zoom-in and apologize.

“When was the last time I really bothered to look?,” my self-speak carries a tone of condemnation. A prophet’s words echo; “Look on Me, pierced.” A heart-whisper beckoned me, “Come, see your Savior.” I sought out that passage later that night to tote into slumber. It was bubbling on low-simmer when I awoke. I carried it with me through the day, attempting to focus spiritual eyes to see. Because I’m not always “looking.”

The crumb of the verse that popped in my head was from Zechariah 12:10:

"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.”

That’s God speaking. And the “Me” He’s referring to is none-other than Himself! It could almost seem a riddle at first glance; “…when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced…” Those that view Jesus as God know otherwise.

God’s Spirit, full of mercy and grace, is poured-out that we may see Him in Christ and have the proper response. Only if we look…really look. And when we do, we mourn at the sight.

I ask myself, “When I look, do I truly mourn?” We only mourn those we love. Those whom our eyes and hearts have beheld. I close these eyes to better see this “Lamb for sinners slain.”

Will you answer the whispered call to . . .

Look

Look upon Him

Him Whom we have pierced

Look upon God

Pierced

Look upon the horror

Suffering God slain

And mourn

Mourn

As for a firstborn

Look

Weep

And pray

God; Pour out Your Spirit of revelation and conviction. O Holy Spirit; soften this heart and widen these eyes. Remove every callous. Extend Your grace for me to see – really see – with the eyes of a Spirit-filled heart. To see my sin on the Cross . . .Your Son on the Cross. To bitterly mourn our God pierced. Oh, but without Your mercy, how could I bear it? May I never look past You there so casually again. Forgive me for not always looking.

A Day To Remember, Again . . . Always

"You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed;

all my enemies are before you.

Scorn has broken my heart

and has left me helpless;

I looked for sympathy, but there was none,

for comforters, but I found none.

They put gall in my food

and gave me vinegar for my thirst."

[Ps 69:19-21]

Jesus, "counted among transgressors," hanging between two thieves. At birth, surrounded by lowly shepherds. In life, He hung out with sinners. In death, criminals to His left and right. He was born, lived, and died among the common. God with us.

The lofty, those He also came to save, remained detached...removed...distant. In the temple, on the royal throne of the king's palace, on the judgment seat. Places traded, skewed. Roles reversed, perverted. Sinners in seats of honor. The Honorable among the sinners.

Hung on the place God created to resemble death itself, for it was called "Place of the Skull," Golgotha.

He died a legally guilty man for He took upon Himself the judgment of guilt for all man's despicable sins. The innocent, pure in heart, holy; "counted among the transgressors." Counted as one of us.

He took my sin, my shame.

He carried my sorrow, my guilt.

He absorbed my penalty, my blows.

He paid my price, my debt.

He died my death.

Remember with me the crucified Christ:

The sign of mockery haloed His gruesome altar.

Embedded garland of thorns pierce Godly-flesh.

His tear-streaked face in anguish.

Streams of cleansing, clotting blood.

Bare flesh, torn and bruised.

A blood-soaked tree.

Pools of God's saving blood muddied hallowed ground, stomped carelessly underfoot.

Repulsive cries and unjust cruelty.

The lavish price of redemption.

Buried.

From cave to cave - manger to tomb,

Everlasting to Everlasting,

Lamb of God slain.

Holy God; I pray the prayer of Jesus this day. For the masses that look to the Cross of Christ and see nothing more than a Jewish criminal, forgive them, for they know not. May I teach just one otherwise.  In Christ, Amen.

"But I,

when I am lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men to myself."

[Jn 12:32]

Edited from the Archives

One Garment

“One garment,” some would say,

“is all He had to show for His life.”

“One garment,” some would say,

“a sad legacy for all His strife.”

“One garment is all He acquired,

one garment was all that He owned.”

“One garment for all of His efforts,

one garment was all could be shown.”

The faulty world’s measure misjudged His great wealth,

His possessions at death, a shallow standard of man.

Faith deficient to believe all He had to His Name,

blind eyes couldn't see the richness in God's plan.

One garment forsaken,

laid down with His life.

One garment ill-begotten,

with one roll of the dice.

Once viewed a failure in His one earthly garment,

now crowned in glory and robed in majesty.

Victorious King, wearing His heavenly garment,

all the riches of earth rightly laid at His feet.

Use by permission only

Copyright Debbra Stephens

Before the Tables Turned

Before the light shined on my soul, before the truth flooded my heart, before I took the hand extended to pull me from the pit, the only discussions I carried on with God were negotiations.

Before conversion to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, before knowing God as Father, before receiving the transforming Holy Spirit--before loving them--I viewed God as a Diety you bargained with. And prayer was merely an instrument for bartering.

That was before I realized I have nothing to bring to the table.

Before Jesus entered this temple, overturned the tables, and drove out the merchant attitude within me, the claws of commerce clung hard and fast.

Only when I stop bargaining with God over preferred acts of "sacrifice" that profit me, will the merchant truly be driven out. Only when I serve unconditionally, will the money-changer in me be poured out. Only when I give of myself, asking nothing in return, will this temple be cleansed and pure.

The zealous act of cleansing the temple framed Jesus' ministry. He passionately confronted the irreverent practices that corrupted His Father's House on two necessary occasions.

He vies for our unconditional service and surrender. And He is intolerant of corrupted religious attitudes that pollute the dwelling place of God.

Jesus is the only perfect sacrifice worthy to be left standing in this temple.



Lord Jesus; Over-turn and drive-out every counter-kingdom attitude in me -- clearing the way for You to dwell unhindered.

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade." [Jn 2:13-16 ESV]

Over Crowded

…”wishing to satisfy the crowd.”

[Mk 15:15 ESV]

“The crowd.” When I resume my “Idol Awareness” post series after Easter I may need to revisit “the crowd.” Would “the crowd” qualify as an idol? If it shoves God out of the way, I personally would say yes. Even if it doesn’t qualify, it doesn’t mean it’s any less dangerous!

“The crowd.” Pilate wanted to satisfy the crowd. As a self-confessed people-pleaser I can empathize with his plight. Was it for approval? Or out of fear? Does it even matter? Even if he wanted to keep the peace and prevent a riot, does that make a decision justifiable?

“The crowd.” I’ve “scourged” Jesus to save face before the crowd. Made choices to not do the right thing to keep from having to answer to the crowd. In Pilate’s defense, they were a stirred up mob shouting; “Crucify!” I’ve cowered under less pressure.

“The crowd.” Pilate saw the crowd. Jesus saw the very same crowd...but for their sake. It may have swayed Him toward, but it didn't deter Him from going to the cross. He saw the crowd but didn’t try to please the crowd. (He knows we’re a fickle lot!) He saw the crowd through the lens of love, fully understanding their desperately lost state.

“The crowd.” Pilate wished to satisfy the crowd for his own self-interest. Jesus acted in the best interest of the crowd…but only to satisfy 1.

Facing an enormous trial? "The crowd" ever before us, seek only to satisfy One.


Give me strength to withstand the crowd—to satisfy a Glorious, Gracious Crowd of 3…
The 3-in-1.




Artwork:  William Hole

Kutless Video

In need of a refuge? Or of One to carry you through this day?

Be reminded...encouraged: Jesus is everything you need!

To silence music: scroll to music player on sidebar and click the pause button.

Kutless DVD "It Is Well" - a new favorite!

The Power of Love

There is a power uncontainable...unbreachable...unfathomable.

It is the power of God’s love.

That mighty power kept Jesus on the cross.

That mighty power freed Him from death.

The power of the love of Jesus stayed Him.

And the power of the love of the Father raised Him.

Peter testified; "Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through Him," this Jesus is the embodiment of the power of that Love. And even death could not restrain it.

The obedience that kept Jesus on the cross was no less a love-feat than the miracle that raised Him from death's hold. Mighty works and wonders, indeed! Mighty and wondrous is the loving arm of God!

His power made it "impossible for death to keep its hold on Him." Death’s Victor is mighty in power!

He is the Love of God, poured out and lifted high.

Praise the Power…the Lord’s power of love!


May Your power of love course through Your people this day, Lord, and stream unto all those about us.

Roving Eyes of Love

Do you remember the feeling you would get as a child when you broke a household rule? Or worse yet, when you broke a valuable heirloom? A strong desire to hide would well up within from knowing that if my parents saw me they would instantly see my guilt.

I often thought that my parents were only looking to catch me doing something wrong rather than to notice me doing anything right.

Imagine the major paradigm shift I experienced when I read this verse:

"For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro

throughout the earth

that He maystrongly support

those whose heart is completely His."

[2 Chronicles 16:9 NASB]

My heart seemed to skip a beat...just before it leapt for sheer joy! I took a deep breath then read it again. This was the most wonderful news!

In my excitement, I just had to dig deeper into this treasure. My study revealed that the Hebrew verb for “to and fro” is shuwt. The definition for shuwt is; "go, move, range.” This expresses a diligent action. I imagined an active God roving the earth, constantly searching to catch His children doing something right.

How this one verse reveals so much of the heart of our Father! I had to digest this verse--bit by delicious bit.

God’s eyes range the earth. Nothing is hidden or unseen. Nothing overlooked. He sees it all. His searching does not compare to that of our earthly parents…for He sees our hearts.

He desires to bless those committed fully to Him. The NASB translates the Hebrew word into “completely.” Further word study unveiled the meaning of the original adverb as; “altogether, indeed, truly, or surely.”

If our hearts are altogether, truly His, He has His eyes on us to bless. To support with Almighty strength to keep these hearts sure and steady.

The Lord our God longs to encourage the hearts of His sons and daughters with the truth of His Word. A Word that reveals His very heart and strengthens those to believe in His goodness and grace.

I pray this thought bolsters your spirit in realizing God’s roving eyes of love are upon you—that He may strengthen your heart.



Father God; Keep the pulse of this child’s faith beating strong after You, confident that Loving Eyes see into the depths of hearts fully Yours.

She Speaks Conference is "about women connecting the hearts of women to the heart of our Father God."

This hearts longs after Him. From a growing gratitude for His grace, how I desire to serve Him in love and encourage the hearts of His precious daughters. I give Him praise for how He faithfully leads and provides!

My expressed thanks to Ann, full of grace, at A Holy Experience, for offering a scholarship to attend this Conference. For an incredible opportunity to learn and grow in this ministry, I am sincerely thankful.