Calvin Synod Herald, 2014 (115. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2014-03-01 / 3-4. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 3 The Mystery and Reward of the Death of Jesus John 12:23-34 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ! The cross of Jesus has the greatest attraction. A friend of Sir Isaac Newton was proud about his unbelief and expressed his doubt about resurrection, claiming that the body disintegrates in the earth and becomes dust. Isaac Newton mixed dust with metallic powder and approached it with a magnet. All the iron powder stuck to one arm of the magnet, leading Newton to testify that God has the power to raise life from dust and death. Jesus attracts not with the power of magnetism, but He nonetheless draws us near to Himself. He attracted the 12 and 70 disciples, those who believed in Him, those who saw His miracles and heard His teachings, those who experienced healing and forgiveness, the women on Easter morning, and all the believers throughout the history of the Christian church. Although demonic powers are fighting against Him, He said, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself' John 12:32. Why is Jesus, who was crucified and died on the cross of Golgotha, the greatest attraction? Why did He need to die? What was the meaning and purpose of His death? As a magnet has two poles, positive and negative, on the negative side we find Jesus' suffering, humiliation, and death on the cross, which was a shame and curse. On the positive side, His death is obedience to God, fulfilling God’s plan of salvation and glorifying His eternal grace and love. There is a paradox between the two. Jesus, as a human, felt loneliness and expressed in prayer, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" But Christ became victorious, trusting God in this situation and committing His soul to His merciful hand. Damnation and hell is the place where there is "suffering and the gnashing of teeth." This is irreversible sadness and horror. On the positive side, sadness caused by God results in true repentance. We often complain if the world treats us with disrespect because we are disciples of Jesus Christ. We should learn, instead, to accept these struggles in obedience to Him. "If, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him." Romans 8:17 "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:29 With God’s strength, we believe, trust, hope, and love. These Christ-like virtues are ours by faith and by God's grace. With the believers we confess that the attraction and grace of God is irresistible. How can it happen that people reject God, despite the attraction of His love and salvation? His first disciple, Peter, denied Him. His last, Judas, betrayed Him. Other disciples fled away. The crowd requested the release of Barabbas, the murderer, 128 év óta sziwel-lélekkel szolgálja tagjait, egyházakat, óhazát és a Magyarság ügyét XeCCemes Jfúsveti 'Ünnepeket Kívánunk WILLIAM PENN ASSOCIATION Fraternal Life Insurance and Annuities Phone: 1-800-848-7366 w w w. williampennassociation.org The Only Hungarian Fraternal Benefit Society and asked for the death of Christ by crucifixion. How could this have happened? Even the High Priests ridiculed and mocked Him. "He saved others, He cannot save Himself." "Come down from the cross and then we will believe." Jesus remained on the cross although He had the power to come down. He stayed on the cross for our sake and for our salvation. Without His crucifixion and death, there would be no resurrection and life eternal. He died that we might live. He paid the ransom for many. It was the will of God for Him to die for sinners. He died in obedience to God's will and to fulfill the plan of God's salvation. We willingly experienced the ultimate negative to provide us with the ultimate positive of resurrection. The cross of Golgotha became the hilltop of God's salvation through the self sacrifice of Christ. He knew that He would suffer and die and His soul was disturbed. But He concluded His prayerful struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Not mine, but Your will be done." He prayed, "Father, glorify Your name. Then a voice came from heaven, 7 have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.' The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, 'An angel has spoken to Him.' Jesus answered, 'This voice has come for your sake, not for mine.' Now is the judgment of the world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 'And I, when I am lifted up from the earth will draw all people to myself." John 12:28-32 Thanks be to God! Amen. A blessed Easter to all! Bishop Poznan
