The night Jesus was betrayed, he tried to tell his disciples the inevitable and what was about to take place. He already knew they would abandon him. He knew that Peter would deny him three times, before the rooster crowed. He knew, and yet, he tried to comfort and encourage them. “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion,” says the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.” (Zechariah 13:7) The death of Jesus Christ has been foretold, and what took place is simply a fulfillment of what has been prophesied. Jesus was there before the foundation of the world. He is the Word made flesh. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1-2 NKJV) Jesus took upon himself the iniquity of us all, to save us. Once and for all, our sins are forgiven and we are reconciled back to the Father. Jesus is one with our Heavenly Father, and we are one with him, as he is one with the Father, and we are all united in Christ Jesus.

After the disciples were scattered, the Lord Jesus himself went ahead of them to Galilee and revealed himself to the disciples. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17: 24) After Jesus suffered a gruesome and cruel death on the cross to save us from the curse of sin that leads to death, Christ is risen! “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” (I Corinthians 15:20-26) We are assured of eternal life in him because he is risen from the dead.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-6 NKJV) We have such a promise of redemption and eternal life! Jesus has conquered death! And though we die in the flesh, we shall live forevermore and will be caught up in heaven in a twinkling of an eye!

 

Querido Padre Celestial,

I am a sinner. All my righteous acts are as filthy rags. My lips are unclean and I utter lies and deceive people with my outward appearance. They think I am pious and without fault. You know all things and nothing is hidden from You. My heart is far from You and my mind races with thoughts of murder and rage. Father forgive me, release me from my self-imposed prison of religiosity and unforgiveness, bowing before idols and thinking these will save me. Forgive me for pursuing material things, amassing wealth and trying to gain recognition and the praise of men. I lay everything at your feet. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Though our sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow. God’s forgiveness cleanses and redeems, and we are washed in the blood of the Lamb. Every failure, fear and defeat, every addiction, and everything that is wrong in our life, sin, every curse upon our family, we have been delivered from. We are delivered from the curse because Jesus took it upon himself. He cleanses us. He is telling You today: “I’ll give you a past forgiven; a purpose for living, and a home in heaven and eternal life if you will just take what I have done for you in Calvary.”