Easter: "I Have Seen the Lord"

 "I Have Seen the Lord" John:20:18

The Resurrection of Jesus is the central event in all human history  With out the Resurrection all that ever has or will be has no real meaning.

All that went before or ever will follow only has merit or value due to the truth that Jesus Christ has come again from the grave.

Without the Resurrection of Jesus all human existence is meaningless. 

The Apostle Paul address this futility of life without the fact of Resurrection of Jesus, especially , to those who believe and call themselves Christians.


"and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise.For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished"   1Crth:15:14-17

 This tells us,  that If Jesus have not indeed risen from the dead then all of life, all of human existence  is meaningless. Having only death and extinction  ultimately to look forward to both individually and as a race.

Wittiness of the Resurrection

Some might ask "how do we know that Jesus is Resurrected ?"  The answer is,  there are witnesses of the truth of the Resurrected Jesus. The whole Gospel message  is an eye witness account and testimony  throughout history of those who have encountered Jesus outside of the tomb, that is those who know that he lives outside of the bounds of death. That is,  Jesus was by God the Father brought forth from the tomb to triumph over the last and greatest enemy of us all which is death.

…"As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: 'I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY and SURE blessings OF DAVID.' "Therefore He also says in another Psalm, 'YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.'"Acts:13:34-35

 "Mary"

 

These witnesses of the Resurrected Jesus  throughout  history are like Mary who,  while at the tomb of Jesus Mary finding that Jesus is no longer there  , she is perplexed and uncertain as to what has taken place at that moment of grief Mary encounters the Resurrected Jesus, through not recognizing that it is he himself.

"Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” .Jhn:11-15

There out side of the very tomb in which the lifeless body of laid , outside of the bounds of death , Mary encounters the Resurrected Jesus. In her uncertainty , Jesus,  even as she does not recognize him,  whispers her name, and it is as if the vale is lifted from Mary's eyes and she sees the living Lord and Savior Jesus.

"Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).(16)

 "I Have Seen the Lord"

Jesus than gives to Mary what is in truth the very truth and commission delivered to all Christians; to go and tell the others , in this case Jesus' disciples , that Jesus lives.

" Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her."(17-18)

Mary takes the truth that Jesus is Resurrected to the disciples, Mary knows the truth that Jesus lives and  she tells them "I have seen the Lord".  She shares the truth that Jesus is Resurrected, that Jesus has triumphed over death and grave. Mary has "Seen the Lord".

 "They Saw the Lord"

  Even  as the disciples are at first skeptical  it is Jesus himself who dispels all to doubt that he is Resurrected. Jesus appears  to the disciples as they in fear gather together behind locked doors. 

"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord." (19-20)

This is the the heart of the Gospel message , to they and we and all people need to hear that Jesus is Resurrected, that they "have seen the Lord". They have seen Jesus outside the tomb and  bounds of death, they know that Jesus lives.

 Declared the Son of God

The power and work of the cross has been vindicated and validated by the Resurrection, for without the Resurrection the cross is meaningless, Jesus would have been just another martyr who died for a cause. The Resurrection confirms the truth that Jesus is the very Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity this truth was central to Paul message which he proclaimed that through the death of the Son of God upon the cross sin has been dealt with and his Resurrection confirms the power of the cross.
 
 "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared  the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord."Rm:1:1-4
  

Paul 

How did Paul know that Jesus was Resurrected, he was not among the Disciples when Jesus came to them and showed they his hands and feet, telling them to be at peace?

Paul had his own encounter Jesus, that is he "saw the Lord" on the road to Damascus, that is , Paul met Jesus outside of the bound of death .

"Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,"Acts:9:1-5a

Paul , the great persecutor of the Church, those who are witness of the truth that Jesus is Resurrected , now himself  comes to be a wittiness and powerfully proclaims that he has "seen the Lord" to the ranker of the Jews whom he once held fellowship with.

"Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah."

"After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus." (20-27)

Now Paul shares with the world that he has "seen the Lord". This message of the Resurrected Jesus , this Gospel even brought Paul before the courts of the Empire. Festus a Roman official  informed King Arippa of the case against Pail and the crux of the case and Paul's message was the Gospel assertion that Jesus is alive

"When the accusers stood up, they began bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting, but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive" Acts:25:18-19

Many Witnesses

The eye witnesses of the Resurrected Jesus is not limited to just a few , Paul cited that many in the Apostolic Church could rightly claim to have seen the Resurrected Jesus. Paul writing to the Church at Corinth, Greece , and to Christians down through the ages of this truth that Jesus was seen by Peter, and the other Apostles and to five-hundred others and lastly to Paul himself.

 "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born." 1Crnth:15:3-8

All these saw Jesus and knew that he lives and many went to death proclaiming  proclaiming this truth. If Jesus was not seen by them why would they chose to suffer so great a price, if it was lie what would have been gained, for  men do not die for a lie  but for truth.

Christians Have Seen the Lord

Through the witness of the Scripture and the proclamation of the Gospel message  we are like Mary who arrived at the tomb early that Sunday morning  and have found it empty, Jesus is there, maybe unrecognized at first by us until he  whispers our name and  then we too come to see that Jesus is out side the tomb, outside the bounds of death , we come to know that he is Resurrected.  filled with is truth we too become witnesses of the Resurrection,  and like Mary we are commissioned  go and tell others. 

Easter is a yearly reminder that it  is the commission of  all Christians  to go forth and tell the world,  as did Mary and the Apostolic Church,   that "I Have Seen the Lord" . Amen

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor 

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link under our Helpful Links 

Holy Week:The Triduum

 For many Christians Holy Week is an important reminder of the work of salvation undertaken for each and all of us by and thru our Lord Jesus Christ. Holy Week is about much more than just a chronological account in the week leading up to the arrest , crucifixion ,  death and resurrection of Jesus , it is about the salvation that Jesus has brought to each and all who will but freely receive it. Holy Week is noted for the observance of three important events, these three observances are called are called collectively  by some more liturgical Christians  as  the Triduum, meaning the three days. Holy/Maunday Thursday, Good Friday and Easter.

 Holy/Maunday Thursday 

The First day of the Triduum is Holy/Maunday(meaning mandate)Thursday

Jesus gathered with his disciples in the upper room to eat what many call the "Last Supper" . The reference to this gathering as the "Last supper"  is generally understood as being Jesus' last supper before this death, but there may be more for us to understand than just a final gathering before Jesus was to face the cross.

The last Supper

 

Jesus told his disciples that it was was very important to him personally to gather with them to share in this highly symbolic and meaningful "Passover" meal, Jesus describes it as a  "desire" to eat with them.

"And he said to them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:"Lk:22:15

This supper was held the evening before the Jews would typically be gathering to Share in the Old Covenant Passover which commemorated from Egyptian slavery, when the "Passover Lambs" blood was smeared upon the door posts of the Houses of the Israelite slaves preserving their lives from the death angel as it passed thru Egypt taking the lives of the Firstborns in the land.(Exodus:11-12)

 The Lord's Supper

Jesus however, during his supper with the Apostles refocuses the whole meaning.  Jesus introduces new meaning to the gathering , there is now a transposition, it has become simpler,  yet much more profound.

This Old Covenant Observance is redefined , not thru Israel's history, but thru himself.  The symbols are now, not a "Passover Lamb", but Jesus himself,  represented by the Bread and Wine symbolic of his death that we might be forgiven of sin, and the introduction of a whole New Covenant offered to us all. 

"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body. Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins". Matt:26:26-28

 It is no longer the "Passover" but rather it is the sacrament of  "the Lord's Supper" representing not only the death of Jesus, but all the more it is the introduction to an all new relationship with God thru Jesus, the past ritualistic ordinances and ceremonies of the Old Covenant are now gone, every everything they symbolized Jesus is. In may Respects this supper was the Last Supper of the Old Covenant and simultaneously the First Supper of the New Covenant.

Jesus Gave Thanks

When we see the new elevated meaning of the "the Lord's Supper", that it speaks of  his very death  to accomplish the forgiveness and atonement for humanity, we notice that Jesus gives thanks as he introduces the new symbols or Brad and Wine representing his death. This tell us that Jesus was literally thanking the Father that he might die for us to bring to pass our salvation.

Good Friday

The Second day of the Triduum is Good Friday.

There have been some over the years questioned whether the Crucifixion took place on a Friday or not, some believe that it was actually a Wednesday. Regardless as to what day the Crucifixion took place on, the fact that it occurred is the important issued and the resulting "Good" that was done on all of our behalf by Jesus.

Good Friday  looks to the Cross of our Lord and what Jesus and Jesus alone has done for us.Good Friday is  a  day of sober contemplation as we are confronted with the truth about our selves we are all sinners and need a Savior. We could not save our selves.No matter how good we are it is not good enough, as the Prophet Isaiah wrote.

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." Isa:64:6

 We,  not even the most virtuous, upright , moral and ethical among all of humanity could have saved us.  Only Jesus and alone could and did.

 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." Rm:8:2-4

  

While We Were Sinners

Jesus came to die for us, he did this out of his love for each and all of us. Jesus did not wait until we were "good enough" but acted on our behalf even while we lived in our sins. Even before we knew of, or knew him Jesus acted on our part simply because he loves us.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Rm:5:8

The Cross

Crucifixion shows us how far our God would go that we might live in an eternal relationship with him. God loves and wants us to the point that this perfect Holy God would come as one of us, taking on our very humanity and then accept upon himself the judgement of all of our sins resulting in our forgiveness and redemption.

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" Eph:1:17

This God show us that he loves us more than he loves himself and proves it by dieing  for us in the person of his Son Jesus Christ.This is what the Apostle Peter wrote about in his General Epistle to the Church

"Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed." Ptr:2:24

Thur His Blood

It was thru the pouring out of his own very life, symbolized in his shed blood,  in  order to atone for all humanity, that is,  to bring us back into the relationship which the great God.  His blood was his life. The power and value of the blood is found in the live that the blood sustained, the blood of Jesus sustained the life of God intranet, the Son of God the second person of the Holy Trinity.

"For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life." Lev:17:11

Are Forgiven

Jesus does far more then we could even imagine, he just does not deal with our sins but our very natures that is we are forgiveness of who we are. 

As the ancient Church Fathers taught "what is not assumed is not redeemed" , in the incarnation Jesus assumed our full humanity that we could be fully redeemed.  Jesus has literally removed all of our excuse from being left out of eternal life . He did it  and brought us forgiveness once and for all.

"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins", Col:2:13

The work of the Cross, was a complete sacrifice, Jesus did not leave something undone , for which we are no responsible to  finish. His was a complete and perfect sacrifice which saves us completely and perfectly. His dieing word on the cross of "it is finished"  alluded to the accomplishment of our forgiveness. in the Greek the word mean "paid in full" .

No More Sacrifices

All the sacrifice offered at the Temple under the Levitical Priesthood made no atonement for us, the only showed what our real need was to have sin dealt with once and for all, those ceremonies could never take away sin. Jesus did  forever on the cross what theses ritual could not.

"Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."Heb:10:11-14

We are now forgiven by the work of  Jesus on the Cross, this has made it a Good Friday for us all.

Easter or  Resurrection Sunday

The Third and Final day of the Triduum is Easter or Resurrection Sunday.

The name Easter, is generally understood as referring to the east, and the sunrise, it  , however,  when understood does not speak regarding direction , but rather to the time of day when the Resurrected Jesus was first encountered.

Jesus in the Tomb

After Jesus' death on the cross a Pharisee name Joseph of Arimathea who began to follow Jesus asked the Roman Governor Pilate if he might take Jesus' body and place it in a tomb, Pilate agreed and Jesus was placed in Joseph's tomb.

 "As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb"Matt:27:57-61

  Posting of a Guard Unit

The  religious leaders heard that  Jesus was now entombed and went to Pilate themselves asking that a Roman Guard be placed  there to prevent the disciples from removing Jesus and therefore claiming that the Resurrection had occurred.

Pilate agreed to their request and ordered a guard to be made available and placed on watch at the Tomb itself.

"The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard" (62-66)

A Roman Guard unit consisted of twelve soldiers , six slept while six stayed on active duty. The penalty for falling asleep, while on active duty  or being negligent , was death.

The Roman Guard unit, representing the power of Rome was , the first to actually witness the  supernatural events surrounding the Resurrection of Jesus. Rome which was he embodiment of the world system could not prevent the Resurrection of Jesus.

"There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men." Matt:28:28:2-4

 the  Empty Tomb

The Gospel of John record that a group of woman went early in the morning to the Tomb of Jesus before  sunrise. This  actually places his Resurrection sometime before the sunrise while it was still dark. It was their plan to prepare his body to be entombed

"When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” Mk:16:1-3

 When the group of woman arrive at the tomb they find that Jesus is not there and are greeted by an angelic messenger, who tells them that Jesus is risen and no longer in the tomb and that they should go tell the others that Jesus is risen.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you. "(6-7)

Again, regardless as to the what the actually time of the bodily resurrection  of Jesus was, the main point is that Jesus was Resurrected and was seen by many of his disciples, first by Mary, as she encounters Jesus outside the tomb while still in the burial garden, thinking that Jesus was the grounds keeper to Jesus' post resurrection appearances to his disciples,  to a crowd of at least five hundred who witness the resurrected Jesus to the Apostle Paul who met Jesus  on the Road to Damascus. The point is Jesus is Resurrected because he is the Resurrection. 

 "I am the resurrection and the life"Jhn:11:25a

Jesus speaks these word even before his own bodily Resurrection, this tells us that His Resurrection only shows us what is, and eternally is true; that Jesus is the Resurrection. 

The Resurrection is central to the Gospel Proclamation.

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord"Rm"1:1-4

The Resurrection of Jesus declares that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is not the Son of God because he was Resurrected, but rather , Jesus was Resurrection be causes He is God,  the Son of God.

If Christ Be Not Raised

The  Easter event of the Resurrection, is also an ongoing reminder of the faithfulness of God to each and all of us, that the Great God, the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is faithful to each and all of us. That the Resurrection of Jesus is God's verification that all he has promised us will be ours that our faith is not in vain.

 "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith".1Crnth:15:14

As Christians commemorate Holy week and the keeping the thee days,  which reminds us of the saving acts of God thru his Son Jesus Christ for each and all of us, let our faith be refreshed and strengthen as we look only to our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor 

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link under our Helpful Links

The Lenten Season:The Annunciation of the Lord

"  God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke:1:26b-28

The Annunciation

During the Lenten Season many Christians who are part of more liturgical fellowships will observe the "Annunciation" which recalls the Angel Gabriel being dispatched by the great God to the village of Nazareth to  announce to Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah.

 The Visitation

The Doctor-Historian turned Evangelist,  Luke,  records the conversation in his Gospel narrative between the Angel Gabriel and Mary of Nazareth. Mary was young girl from a small rural village that was of no special  importance, yet it is this quiet setting that Mary is told of God's purpose for her that she would be the mother of humanities Savior.

" God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Lk:1:26b-28

The angelic visitation startles Mary , and Gabriel give her assurance that there is nothing for Mary to fear. That he is there  acting on  a Holy commission from the very God, the Creator  who had made the Covenant(s) and promises to her and all of Israel's for fathers.   

"Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God" (29-30)

The Calling

Gabriel , delivers to Mary the calling and  commission upon her life to be the life thru which the Messiah would be birth into the world, that she would be what some Theologians call the "Theotokos" meaning "God-bearer", "Birth-Giver of God" and "the one who gives birth to God."

"You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end."(31-33)

As the calling which  God has determined for Mary  is presented to her Mary   is uncertain and sees at first her own human limitation and those which the culture of that time have imposed upon woman in general.

Mary attempts to grasp how she , a young woman from a small rural village,  a person of no great import living in a place of little notice,  would be able  have and fulfill such a calling. This is reflected in  her initial response to Gabriel's words.

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”(34)

The world needed a Savior , and Mary was the one thru whom the Savior would enter human history.

 The Working of God

Gabriel gently tells her that God will see to the fulfillment of Mary's calling thru the power of the Holy Spirit, that God himself will accomplish this calling ,  to birth the Messiah into the world. That it is all dependent upon the Great God and is not accomplished thru human strength or abilities, wisdom or power but thru the Holy Spirit of God.

"The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.For no word from God will ever fail.”(35-37)

Mary's Response

Mary accepts what the angel Gabriel has said and yield her life to the call of God upon her , for she believes that God will be faithful to bring to pass all that he has decreed and called her to be , to birth the long awaited Messiah into the world. Mary's trust and yieldedness and reliance upon God are seen in her simple yet profound words of faith and trust. She responds simply.

"I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”(38a)

Our Calling

Sometimes, we even today are like Mary, we are seen in our own hearts and minds as being of and from no place of any importance. Unequipped  and with no special giftings or talents to fulfill some great commission and call upon us. We can't see how our God call us to a "Theotokos" , that is, to birth some great thing of God into the world.  

It is God's intent that we Christians,  each and all of us to be what Mary was a "Theotokos" , to be a bearer God's saving purposes into the world that others might come to believe  in Jesus the Messiah of all to be participants in the world of salvation upon the Earth.

 But, I am a Virgin

Yet we might feel uncertain,  as was  Mary , about God's call upon our lives, we might believe that we are unable to be or do what God has called you us to be a part of we might say as did Mary

“How will this be since I am a virgin?. 

We might think that our inexperience or lack of resources , ability , education or what ever it might be, will keep us from being used by God to "birth"  something that God's purposes, but as it was for Mary it is for us today. We, like Mary may not see how God can effect the lives of those around us.

The Holy Spirit

 It is all dependent upon the power of the Holy Spirit  not on us. We like Mary can trust in the power of God to work in our lives to fulfill our calling to "birth" God's purpose of presenting Jesus  in the world. 

“The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God."

The Visitation

Is God visiting us? That is,  is he calling us to be "pregnant" with his Salvation purposes?  Is our Lord calling you  to be active in participation in the work of the Gospel in you community? What Angel is he using to speak to your heart ,that God is visiting you with,   that is ,  what means is the Lord using to get our attention,  to give us an "Annunciation"  , that is our calling and commission  to be apart in the work of Salvation. 

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What needs do we see in the lives of those around us? Are they sick, poor, need encouragement or just prayer or someone to just be with them or to work within a local church to work with young people or lead a ministry? What is our Lord calling you to "birth" into the life of your local church or community? Our responses should be as Mary's,  "I am the Lord’s servant,”.

God will give us the means by the Holy Spirit  to "birth" into the lives of others his salvation work as he did for Mary.

This Lenten Season let us each and all believers yield to the Annunciation that God wants each and all of us to be his "Theotokos" , to "birth"  his purposes in the world and lives of the people around us. This is our calling and commission. Amen

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor 

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link under our Helpful Links

The Lenten Season:The Cross Among the Palms

 

"They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! ”“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”“Blessed is the king of Israel!”Jhn:12:13

Palm Sunday concludes the Lenten Season which is followed by Holy Week, which recounts the events leading up to Jesus' arrest ,trial, crucifixion death and resurrection.

The Palms and Passion

In many Churches Palm Sunday is a two part observance, many churches, especially the more liturgical fellowships, divide the  service into two parts; the first part will be called "the Liturgy of the Palms" and the second part being "the Liturgy of the Passion" , for this reason some churches might call this observance "Palm-Passion Sunday" . 

 Palm Sunday is sometimes referred to as the "Triumphal Entry"  , but in many respects this is not really accurate,  for some of the same people who waved the palm branches and shouted "Hosanna!" on that Sunday at Jesus' entry are the same ones  who by Friday were calling out "crucify him!"  as Jesus stood before the Roman Governor and the assembled religious leaders. 

 Your King Comes

 For some in the crowd that day, as Jesus rode  into the city of Jerusalem  it may have seemed so, it may have seemed as if all the hopes of Israel were about to be fulfilled . They all had their hopes and expectations. To the Jerusalem crowed and even to Jesus' own disciples, Jesus' entry into the city was filled with an air of rejoicing and the prospect of hopes fulfilled the Messianic Kingdom was they hoped, was about to be established. They saw Jesus fulfilling the prophecy of Prophet Zechariah, before their own eyes. 

"Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" Zech:9:9

To the crowd Jesus represent better days to come, they saw this as their moment and hoped to share in all that their king would produce for them. They had lived under oppression far too long, the glorious days of the house of David and Salomon had  faded.

It was their hope that all the things which they desired would now be realized,they saw this as their time of restoration; of recompense,  they they wanted change and they wanted it now.

The people had heard the Prophetic writings read to the in the Synagogues and in temple worship, they knew that the Messiah's kingdom meant reward for the people of Israel.

"The LORD has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: "Say to Daughter Zion, 'See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.'" Isa:62:11

The hope that the Messianic kingdom had arrived is seen in the waving of the palm branches. The Palm branch was used to build the Tabernacles, or booths,  in which the people of Israel stayed during the eight day  Feat of Tabernacles. This Old Covenant Holy day observance  had become identified with the Messianic kingdom thru it being mentioned by the Prophet Zechariah as being observed at Jerusalem during the Messiahs reign. 

" Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The Lord will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles." Zech:16-19

Now!

 Even the joyful shouts of "Hosanna" speaks of this desire to have what they want, "Hosanna" literally means "save now!".  It was not just a shout of acclimation but, a demand. They were telling Jesus what they wanted from him and when they wanted it.The people  wanted to benefit from Jesus ascension to power.

 The Cross

But fortunately for all of us  Jesus did not come that day to ascend the Throne of David  and become the King of Israel that the people who shouted in the streets that day. Jesus came not to bring a political solution and military might. Jesus came to Jerusalem to ascend the cross not the Throne, not to wear a golden crown but a bloody crown of thorns, Jesus was there to suffer the Passion of the cross . The cross was ever present ,even there among the palm branches which were waved in streets that day among the shouts of "Hosanna" , the cross was there and Jesus knew it.

 Jesus came into Jerusalem to deal with the estrangement between God and humanity which was  brought on by humanities individual and collective sin. The cross was there among the palms.

I Must Go

Jesus knew why he was come to Jerusalem .Jesus had no delusions , he was not beguiled by the celebratory procession, and the acclimation and rejoicing . Jesus had come knowing his fate,  that cross lay ahead in a matter of a few days but rather than shunning it; Jesus  was determined to face it and finish the work that Father had given him.

   

 Jesus was resolute to go to the Holy City,  he was fixed upon accomplishing for us what none of us could accomplish for our selves so great his love for the Father and each and all of us and for him the time was drawing near, knowing what lay beyond the passion of the cross and  his saving work, he knew his time of glory was come.

"As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem."Lk:9:51

 

Jesus said "I must go"  , for only in Jerusalem would he die, Jesus knew the necessity of his going to Jerusalem, he was determined to face the passion of the cross and atone for the sins of humanity.

"Nevertheless I must go on my way to-day and to-morrow and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem." Lk:13:33

For weeks he had begun to prepare his disciples for what was to come.

 "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." Matt:16:21

Laid it Down to take it Up

So great was, and is,  the love of Jesus for each and all of us that he willing laid his life down so that none be left out from entering into eternal life. It was by his will and choice that Jesus would die, he would  face the passion of the cross. Jesus was not compelled by law or any power , or any force which could induce the very Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity to condescend to our humanity that we might have life. 

Jesus laid his life down willing  in the death of the cross  to take it up again in the glory of the resurrection. All of this was the will God the Father.

"The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."Jhn:10:17-18

 The Cross Among the Palms

The passion of the cross was there super-imposed upon the entry of Jesus  into Jerusalem, he was come for that purpose to face the passion of the cross and to finish the work of salvation for each and all us that glory be given to Father and life to each and all of us. Jesus saw  the Cross among the Palms...Amen

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor 

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link under our Helpful Links

The Lenten Season: Jesus Lifted Up

"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”John:12:32

For centuries in the Western church the focus was fixed in many ways upon the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation work which he wrought thereupon. This focus is called "Theologia Crucis" or "Theology of the Cross".

In the Eastern Church the focus is on the Resurrection and the Glorification of Jesus. This focus is called "Theologia Gloria" or "Theology of Glory".

 The Lenten Season in which we are now in , give us a time to reflect upon our Lord Jesus Christ and all that he is and has accomplished for each and all of us.

Our whole salvation is dependent upon the cross, the Gospel message has in large extent been paraphrased even by the Apostle Paul  as "preaching Christ and him crucified" .  It is impossible for us to separate the cross from our salvation and the glorification of Jesus Christ one can not be without the other,  without the work of the cross our salvation would not have been accomplished and without the resurrection the cross would be absolutely meaningless, Jesus would have been just another Messiah want-a-be or a martyr of a movement attempting to bring reform to Judaism. The resurrection demonstrate the power of the cross and verifies that Jesus is the Son of God.

 "the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord."Rm:1:2-4

 Jesus Lifted Up

Upon entering Jerusalem  the shouts of "Hosanna"  rang out by the assembled crowd of citizens , who had hoped that now would be the time that the kingdom of Israel would be restored.

"On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.”Jhn:12:12-13

   Jesus begins to speak regarding as to why he has come and that the hour of the cross drew near ; Jesus began to speak his crucifixion   and his glorification all in the same discourses, telling us that one can not be separate from the other the suffering of the cross preceded the glory of the resurrection; the two can not be separated.
 
     “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.”Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die"(27-32)

Jesus knew and understood what he was to face but he also knew what lay beyond and all that would be accomplished for all humanity.The Crucifixion event and the Resurrection event are eternally bound up together, inseparable from one another. Both,  Death and Resurrection are joined as one in Jesus.

 "For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God":Heb:12:2b

Jesus knew what the cross was all about, this place of deepest humiliation was also the way  to the greatest  glory for him and the drawing of all humanity to himself and the provision of salvation for all who will but freely receive it.

Exulted Humiliation

In speaking of his death upon the cross Jesus uses the phrase "lifted up" , in the Greek this phrase means the same thing as  "to exult" or "to be exulted". This means far more than to just be place upon an erected stake or cross in public view . Jesus is telling us that as as he is humiliated in the death of the cross he is simultaneously exulted as the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed one of God,  for only his death would accomplish the ransom for all humanities sins and sinfulness. 

Jesus' Death

He is the only one in all humanity or in all the History of salvation  who's death could have accomplished this work of redemption for each and all of us. No other person's  death could have this impact of salvation for the human race but Jesus'.

 Jesus,  in his conversation with the Pharisee  Nicodemus Jesus alludes to his "lifting up" and the accomplished salvation for all humanity.


"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."Jhn:3:14-18


The writer of Hebrews speaks of Jesus' death for all of us, becoming  like us and sharing our humanity in death, that we might share in his humanity in eternal life. 

"But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone" Heb:2:9

The Apostle Paul addresses Jesus taking on our humanity,  setting aside the "glory of deity",  yet still in complete retention of his deity, in the Epistle to the Christians at Philippi, the Apostle  quotes from an ancient hymn sung in Christian worship to the glory of the Son of God.


"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!" Philp:2:5-8

This ancient hymn displayed the very humility of Jesus, who is fully God yet, in the incarnation, he condescends  to our lowly humanity to become not just "one of us", but all the more to be "one with us" . In this, and for this , the Father in Heaven exults Jesus above all others. The ancient hymn continues in this praise of Jesus.

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father".(9-11)

As even Jesus himself quest the ancient proverb that speaks to this very truth.

"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted."Matt:23:12

None Greater has come lower , to be exulted higher then Jesus.

For Us All

The Apostolic Church in its understanding that in the coming of Jesus, something had been changed in humanities relationship with God .What did Jesus' life death and resurrection accomplish for humanity? This was a subject that they prayed about, thought about  , debated and discussed and then arrived at a understanding and a "Theology" which informed the Apostolic Church view of all things and their relationship with God and humanity.

"For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 2Crth:5:14-15

They saw that Jesus died and was raised "for all". They understood "all"  to be "all". That none need to excluded from entering eternal life,  if they will but freely receive it when they hear the word of the Gospel preached to them.  By faith they might experience salvation.  

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand" Rm:5:1-2

ReCapitulation;  Jesus' Choice for Us

Jesus came to undue the choice of humanities father Adam, which unleashed sin and death and all suffering upon humanity. Paul wrote to the Church at Rome about this very thing, that Adam's choice brought condemnation to all.

"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—"(12)

As Adam who was reckoned as the Head of the human race, and as such,  chose sin and death for all humanity and all humanity has followed suit,  so has Jesus, who Scripture calls the "Second Adam",is the New Head of the human race ,  chose righteousness and life for all humanity, this is what the ancient Church called  ReCapitulation, which means humanity has been given a New Head. Jesus as being one of  us ,even as Adam was one of us , could chose for all of us as did Adam.

 "But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." (15-19)

 Jesus has chosen life for each and all if we will but freely receive it none need be excluded, but for their own unwillingness.

The Lenten Season reminds us of this truth that thru Jesus alone is salvation ours, and that he and he alone,  even in  his death  is gloried, and in his resurrection he is proclaimed as the Son of the Living God , that he has "drawn all men to himself" that we might share in the righteousness and life that is his alone. For this he is and eternally will be exulted  therefore Jesus is "lifted up". Amen

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor 

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link under our Helpful Links

The Lenten Season: Healing for Sin

The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived" Num:21:8-9

When we read the Scripture thru the view as to who Jesus Christ is we see Jesus and his saving acts symbolized and prefigured in all the Holy Bible.

We can also see in the lives of many Biblical personalities and the struggles that they faced,  many of the very things which each , and all,  of us face as well for we like they are all human facing the great common enemies of sin and even death.

The people of Israel as God's Covenant people had a unique relationship with God. God had drawn them out of the slave pits of Egypt and led them forth, thru Moses ,  to what they had longed hoped for the Promised land  which the Lord had given to their Fathers  Abraham, Issac and Jacob. 

Turned Against Moses 

As Israel sojourned thru the wilderness,  the way became long and the Promised land seemed afar off, the people of Israel began to focus on the difficulties of the journey and became inpatient and   began to complain and turn against  God's servant Moses and even against the Lord God who had set them free.  Moses became the object of Israel's anger.

"They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” Num:21:4-5

They condescended to their base nature, that is the adversity of the journey brought out the truth which was in their hearts all along,  and they behaved accordingly.  The people of Israel lifted  voice against Moses and put the blame upon him for the situation which they all shared in.

 Snakes in the Camp

God responded to the ranker which they displayed thru an act of divine discipline sending snakes thru the camp of Israel which bit at the complaining Israelite resulting in the deaths of many.

"Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died".(6)

It became obvious to the people of Israel that God's hand was involved in the plague of  venomous  snakes among them, caused by their bitter complaints stemming from their inpatients to let God work in their lives as he will.  They approach Moses and ask him to intercede with God  on Israel's behalf that the plague might come to and end.

"So Moses prayed for the people." (7c)
   

A Healing Provided

When Moses went to God in prayer the Lord answers and by instruction Moses to make a Bronze Serpent  and affix it to a pole, that who ever looks upon it will be  miraculously healed of their snake bites. 

"The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived".(8-9)

We Like Them

In so many ways we, each and all of us , are like the people of Israel. God intervenes in our lives  we come  to believe in  Jesus;  and he  and sets us free from Egyptian slave pit of sin and fear and leads us out with promises of an whole new life awaiting us, yet when our journey in the wilderness of this life  to all that our God has for us becomes difficult or we find ourselves disappointed with how God is handling our lives,  we like Israel can begin to complain at the adversity and the truth about  us all comes to the surface; we are all sinners, bitten by the snakes of sin with it's venomous effect upon our lives and those around us.   

 Jesus Lifted Up

But God has given us answer and a healing to the very issue of sin in our lives; his own Son Jesus Christ. Jesus himself likened his crucifixion to be like the lifting up of the Bronze Serpent  fashioned by Moses for the healing of the bitten.

"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up",Jhn:3:14



Jesus is the answer to all human sin even when believers stumble or fall into regression,  even as the bronze serpent that was lifted up so that all the people could look to it for healing ,was the the answer to the snake bites that the Israelites received so is Jesus' death is for all our sins, to bring us forgiveness. 

When the people of Israel looked upon the bronze serpent healing came to them, there was nothing else that they had to do just look to it. This speaks  to regarding the grace of God extended to each and all all due to his love for us.That we might be healed of sin. he has saved us all we need do is look to him even when we are bit by the temptation and pressures  we face in our journey thru the wilderness.

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God"—Eph:2:1-8

The healing thru Jesus by his cross was looked ahead in the writings of Isaiah when he wrote of the suffering servant in his prophecy regarding the coming Messiah who would be lifted up for all. The Apostle Peter address the Prophets words regarding the healing that Jesus accomplished for us on the cross

"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed."1Ptr:2:24


The context of this verse is our spiritual healing which the Messiah would accomplish
 "For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.(25)

  Jesus Intercedes for us

When we find ourselves going astray, bitten again by the snakes of our carnal nature  we need only look to Jesus who is there to interceds  for us as our High Priest as Moses did for the people of Israel.
 
"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." Heb:7:25

Jesus,  as the one who has saved us completely,  has healed us of our need, even when we stumble we we can confess to him our need and thank him for the accomplished healing that is already ours in Jesus, we are healed, of sin. The Lenten  season reminds us of the finished work of Jesus upon the cross that heals us of all our sins...Amen

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor 

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link under our Helpful Links