And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” And Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. And it was the third hour when they crucified him. Mark 15:12-15; 25
______________________________________
And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O Lord, have given me.’ And you shall set it down before the Lord your God and worship before the Lord your God. And you shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you. Deuteronomy 26:10-11
______________________________________
And there you shall build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. You shall wield no iron tool on them; you shall build an altar to the Lord your God of uncut stones. And you shall offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God, and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and shall eat there, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God. And you shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.” Deuteronomy 27:5-8
An altar. The Cross.
Was, and is, and always will be…
The greatest sacrifice…made by God…made for me.
Extraordinary silence against accusations spat in His face.
A broken body swathed in purple; a barbed circlet on His bloodied head.
The weight of my sin on His shoulders.
A heavy burden to carry.
The King brought low, brought to death. Perfection crucified.
Giving everything of Himself. Always willing. Always loving.
His death, His life, a gift of grace, a first fruit offering.
Redemption. Restoration. Relationship.
He gives all, and all He asks of me is all of myself.
A living sacrifice, prepared to worship, ready to rejoice.
Remembering His goodness. Recalling His faithfulness.
No longer bruised and battered. No longer a slave.
Suddenly, His reaffirmed treasure.
Suddenly, holy unto Him.
Walk into the land of milk and honey.
Enter into God’s promises. Enter into His peace.
Blessings – Julie (writing from Sholavandan)
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Sixty-six books in a year 