GOD Morning! November 6, 2016 / Up Close and Personal

GOD Morning!

November 8, 2016

Up Close and Personal

Luke 23:26-56

Amplified Bible 

26 And as they led Him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross and made him carry it behind Jesus.

27 And there accompanied [Jesus] a great multitude of the people, [including] women who bewailed and lamented Him.

28 But Jesus, turning toward them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

29 For behold, the days are coming during which they will say, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the breasts that have never nursed [babies]!

30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us! and to the hills, Cover (conceal, hide) us!

31 For if they do these things when the timber is green, what will happen when it is dry?

32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be executed with Him.

33 And when they came to the place which is called The Skull [Latin: Calvary; Hebrew: Golgotha], there they crucified Him, and [along with] the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.

34 And Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they divided His garments and distributed them by casting lots for them.

35 Now the people stood by [calmly and leisurely] watching; but the rulers scoffed and sneered (turned up their noses) at Him, saying, He rescued others [from death]; let Him now rescue Himself, if He is the Christ (the Messiah) of God, His Chosen One!

36 The soldiers also ridiculed and made sport of Him, coming up and offering Him vinegar (a sour wine mixed with water)

37 And saying, If you are the King of the Jews, save (rescue) Yourself [from death].

38 For there was also an inscription above Him in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew: This is the King of the Jews.

39 One of the criminals who was suspended kept up a railing at Him, saying, Are You not the Christ (the Messiah)? Rescue Yourself and us [from death]!

40 But the other one reproved him, saying, Do you not even fear God, seeing you yourself are under the same sentence of condemnation and suffering the same penalty?

41 And we indeed suffer it justly, receiving the due reward of our actions; but this Man has done nothing out of the way [nothing strange or eccentric or perverse or unreasonable].

42 Then he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come in Your kingly glory!

43 And He answered him, Truly I tell you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.

44 It was now about the sixth hour (midday), and darkness enveloped the whole land and earth until the ninth hour (about three o’clock in the afternoon),

45 While the sun’s light faded or was darkened; and the curtain [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two.

46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit! And with these words, He expired.

47 Now the centurion, having seen what had taken place, recognized God and thanked and praised Him, and said, Indeed, without question, this Man was upright (just and innocent)!

48 And all the throngs that had gathered to see this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned to their homes, beating their breasts.

49 And all the acquaintances of [Jesus] and the women who had followed Him from Galilee stood at a distance and watched these things.

50 Now notice, there was a man named Joseph from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council (the Sanhedrin), and a good (upright, advantageous) man, and righteous (in right standing with God and man),

51 Who had not agreed with or assented to the purpose and action of the others; and he was expecting and waiting for the kingdom of God.

52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

53 Then he took it down and rolled it up in a linen cloth for swathing dead bodies and laid Him in a rock-hewn tomb, where no one had ever yet been laid.

54 It was the day of Preparation [for the Sabbath], and the Sabbath was dawning (approaching).

55 The women who had come with [Jesus] from Galilee followed closely and saw the tomb and how His body was laid.

56 Then they went back and made ready spices and ointments (perfumes). On the Sabbath day they rested in accordance with the commandment.

My Lord and Savior. His visage was beaten more than any man. Ever before or since.

“Just as many were astonished and appalled at you, My people,
So His appearance was marred more than any man
And His form [marred] more than the sons of men.” Isaiah 52:14 AMP

Simon of Cyrene. He was up close and personal. He walked behind Jesus, carrying His cross.

This morning Jesus is asking me, “Will you do the same? Will you walk behind me, carrying my cross?”

The centurion. He was up close and personal as well. He saw and heard Jesus cry out with a loud voice, as he took his last breath.

“Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit!”

No one yells as they are breathing their dying breath. They have no breath or strength. Jesus’ cry was one of victory. The centurion knew. That’s why Scripture says he thanked and praised God.

Joseph of Arimathea. He took Jesus body. I can’t imagine. Taking my Lord’s bloody remains for burial. Beaten more than any man ever before or since.

Up close and personal.

Exactly how close do I want to be to my Lord? Just close enough to get my prayers answered?

“Dear Jesus, You are calling me to Gethsemane. I don’t know precisely what this call involves. I awakened this morning with the thought of simply groaning with You for the sins, pain, and suffering of humanity. That is something that I can do. It’s not fun or easy. When I groan, I feel deep pain. Okay, Yes. I can groan with You. My answer is yes. How I love You, Jesus. AMEN.”