Friday Worship - 04.09.2020

'Matchless Sacrifice!'

by Deacon Crimson

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First Reading: - Galatians 3:13

Second Reading: - Numbers 16:48

Gospel Reading: - Matthew 5: 17

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Galatians 3: 13.

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

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Dear Brethren

Greetings to you from Church of Christ the King, Libya.

People are afraid curse and its effects. Lord Jesus Christ tells people not to curse but to bless others. Sometimes generation's curses runs in families. I came across a family of five brothers. All of them were mentally retarded. Some say, their grandfather was wizard and so the curse bothered these grandsons.

In the Bible, we find a lot of blessings, as well as the curses. The first part of Deuteronomy 28, starts with excellent blessings with a prerequisite condition of obedience to God's commands. The second part of the chapter, speaks of the misfortune or the curse on people disobeying God's commands. We love to listen to the messages of blessings; but, we hate to hear messages of rebuke, meant for the unfaithful and disobedient.

In today's meditation, we reason, why Jesus accepted the curse of our sins and failures.

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A story is told of a steamer returning with more than one thousand five hundred souls, from London to New York. The ship's captain announced a serious engine problem caused due steam leak in the broiler room. It required a volunteer to plug the steam leak and that his life would be at risk.

A waiter volunteered. He went in, but never came back alive. All the souls on the ship were saved. Many came forward to help the bereaved family with donations. His wife refused them saying, “He died not to collect donation but to save you all and that cannot be compensated with any sort of donation.”

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We have seen many people who come forward to sacrifice their lives for the nation, especially in times of war, or critical moments. In the Bible, we see Aaron standing in the gap between the living and the dead. He interceded with God. The plague stopped (Numbers 16: 48) .

But Lord Jesus Christ, did more than Aaron. He bore the curse upon himself and accepted the punishment-death. Now humans are free from the curse of sin and death.

Did Jesus break any laws? No, not at all. All the time, his gentle hands were either healing, or blessing, or feeding the people. He voluntarily chose the punishment of death on the cross, so that the world would be free from the eternal condemnation. When no prophet or priest was there to fill the gap of eternal death, Jesus stood on the gap. And sacrificed himself.

Jesus never broke any laws. We read that he came to fulfill all the law (Matthew 5: 17). In the Pharisees’ eyes, the special day of Sabbath was more important than the life itself. But for Jesus each person’s health and life was so important. So, he healed many people on the Sabbath day.

But rather than appreciating his good work, Jesus was condemned to death. Today, Jesus' sacrifice has redeemed us. Let us exalt our Lord with our heart, mind and souls.

2 Corinthians 5: 21

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Prayer

Loving heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your Son Jesus who has taken away all our pain, curse and death assuring us eternal life of joy. Lord, we thank you, for your grace and mercy. Help us to remember your matchless sacrifice always.

We pray for those who are suffering under the pandemic and many other diseases., Lord touch and heal them. We pray that all curses that bothers your children may be broken out in the Name of Jesus. Help us Lord. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Amen!

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