He Gave His Life For Many

           As we read the scripture below, we read in the last verse Jesus is prophesying His future, telling us what He already knows will happen.  

              That is one advantage of being God; He knows, and you and I suppose we know.  When I make our plans for the future, for example, I have 2010 pretty well planned out.  Yet, not being God, any prophesy (planning) on my part as to what will actually happen in 2010 is just a guess on my part.  It all might happen as planned, or changes may come about.  (Jesus may come before 2010 and none of what I planned will happen.)

              Yet, Jesus, our God, our Lord, and Saviour died on “The Old Rugged Cross” for not only my sins, but for the sins of many (all).  He intentionally planned the date and the time of His death.  He knew before the beginning of time the date, the hour, the minute and the second that His human spirit would be removed from His earthly body.

              You and I are not required to climb on that “Cross.”  We are not required to martyr ourselves physically.  However, we as Christians are to die spiritually, and martyr our souls for the cause of Christ.

(Romans 12:1-2)  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We are to present our bodies (the container of our soul) a living sacrifice. We are to transform our minds to the likeness of God, to be what is “The Perfect Will of God.”  We both know we will never achieve a complete likeness of Him, but we have to prove, grow in the Lord, and seek that acceptable “Perfect Will of God.”  

              We have used the Wordless Book in our children’s classes to descriptively show them the stages: Our Sin, His Blood, His Salvation, and Our Growth in the Lord.  Once we have accepted Jesus as our personal Saviour, our next step is to Glorify God in all manner of our walk.  Our first step is repentance, and then Baptism, now our task is to grow in Him.  We are to seek Him in the Word of God, seek Him in the Preaching, and seek Him in the teaching.

(2 Timothy 2:15)  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Bro John R. E Chastain

(Mark 10:35-45)  And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.  36  And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37  They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.  38  But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?  39  And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:  40  But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.  41  And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.  42  But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.  43  But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:  44  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.  45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.