At the Cross

by Tammy Karasek @TickledPinkTam

An important day in history happened at a wooden cross. The cross that held the Son of God. 

Christmas is also a special day because believers in Christ celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. But, without a cross, it’s just the birth of Joseph and Mary’s son. 

The event at the cross happened on a day we call Good Friday, the beginning of what was completed three days later.  

At the cross Jesus fulfilled the prophesy of His death for sins—my sins, your sins, our sins. 

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last.  Luke 23:44-46 ESV

Because He was the Son of God . . .

He could have stopped the soldier from making the crown of thorns He knew was going to be pressed onto his head.

He could have stopped the men from making Him drag His cross through town – the cross He knew He would die on with nails holding Him on it hammered through His hands and feet. 

He could have stopped the men from spitting on Him, mocking Him, putting a purple robe on Him, shouting King of the Jews and then stripping it back off. 

He could have saved Himself when they doubted His deity. But He didn’t. 

He chose the pain of those nails. 

For me. 

For you. 

For all. 

He chose the long suffering of hanging on a cross in the hot sun, His body pierced and in pain. 

And in this choice, Jesus offers grace, forgiveness and salvation to all. It is through our acknowledgement of our sins, in receiving the gift of grace and forgiveness and the acceptance of salvation through the Savior Jesus Christ that we are secure in our eternity with God in Heaven. Not by being perfect. Not by doing good works. But by the simple act of accepting salvation through Him, because of His sacrifice on that cross. 

And at the crucifixion on the cross, the beginning of another prophecy began to unfold. 

Jesus was buried. A large stone was rolled in front of the tomb by men. Plural – men. On that third day in the morning, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled to the side. She ran to get a couple disciples, and when they returned, they saw that Jesus was no longer in the tomb. 

Jesus rose to life again, just as He said He would. He walked the earth again for a short time then ascended to Heaven where He waits for all believers to eventually join him.

I don’t know about you, but I can hardly wait!

What can we do with this as writers? Can we share about this in our stories? Can we share the Hope that only comes from knowing Jesus and that our eternity can be secured in Heaven? Or, might we share our faith-story in our work? 

Let’s challenge ourselves to do this as much as possible.

Because, as believers in Christ across the world proclaim on this Resurrection Sunday…

Jesus is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

TWEETABLE

At the Cross - an Easter Devotion from @TickledPinkTam on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

You’ll find Tammy seeing humor and causing laughter in every aspect of life. Her past, filled with bullying and criticism from family, is the driving force of her passion to always encourage others and give them The Reason to smile. She’s been married to her college sweetheart, Larry, for 37 years, a mom to their grown daughter, Kristen and wrapped around the paw of a little dog named Hattie. Born and raised in Ohio, her family now resides in South Carolina. She is the President of Word Weavers Upstate SC, member of ACFW and member of My Book Therapy/Novel Academy. She’s the Blog Coordinator/Editor for Florida Christian Writers Conference. She was a contributor in the 2018 Divine Moments Compilation Book—Cool-inary Moments. She’s been a contributor to several other blogs.

Connect with Tammy on her blog, http://www.tammykarasek.com, through Twitter and Facebook.