Sunday, January 13

Near the Cross

1 Cor. 2:2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

The greatest period in the history of the world occurred when Jesus Christ came to planet earth. This greatest period came into its greatest focus at the cross of Calvary. It was for this moment and this purpose that Jesus came into the world. At the cross is where Jesus Christ accomplished his mission of redeeming a people unto himself and the Father. Satan was defeated on the cross and the redemption of the people of God was secured. This is why Paul can say his focus was on nothing else but Jesus Christ and him crucified. All theology flows from the cross as everything points to this moment and this event.

Sin, wrath, love, grace, redemption, faith, and eternal life are all expressed and dealt with at the cross. Praise God for the joy and peace that Christians have when their lives, attitude, and thoughts stay near the cross. In the photo of the cemetery above, a person even wanted their remains to be near the cross. If you are down and face seemingly insurmountable problems in your life, meditate on the words of the hymn below and take comfort in being near the cross.


Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross
Words by: Fanny Crosby

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory
ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o’er me.

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.

6 comments:

donsands said...

Thanks Wayne. The Truth helps to set us free. Satan does come to hinder, through his lies and schemes, but the Truth, and prayer to our Lord, will set us free.

Nice hymn. I went and listened to it here: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/n/e/nercross.htm

jazzycat said...

Don,
Thanks for the visit. I love the words in these old hymns.

mark pierson said...

"Sin, wrath, love, grace, redemption, faith, and eternal life are all expressed and dealt with at the cross."

Amazing how some blind folk preach a crossless gospel and also teach how one must work hard to be an overcomer - amazing, or consistent...

Maalie said...

> Near the cross I’ll watch and wait Hoping, trusting ever

Is it by the cross in your picture that you expect to wait and hope and trust for ever? Which is the most powerful do you think, hoping or trusting?

jazzycat said...

Maalie,
This is a metaphor to represent the bottom line of the Christian faith.

Do you ever hope or trust in or for anything? Paul said the following:

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,...........
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”


There is your explanation of the "uncaused cause" and his directive to mankind. Have you ever truly investigated these claims?

Halfmom said...

thanks for coming by Jazzy - and for your comments.