Issue #12
Memorial Day
What or who do you think about this Memorial Day? I think about the men and women who gave their lives at Pearl Harbor on May 7, 1941. My dad served in the Navy and was sent to Pearl Harbor after the attack. Thankfully, he made it home safely after the war. Watching movies about Pearl Harbor brings back the horror of that surprise attack as men and women scrambled to find safe shelter.
We hear the phrase “ultimate sacrifice” over and over on Memorial Day. Yes, those men and women at Pearl Harbor and during World War II gave their lives for their country. We remain forever grateful for their sacrifices and for the freedom we enjoy today because of their sacrifices. Yet, there is One whose sacrifice overshadows all others. Jesus Christ did not scramble to come down from the cross, which He could have done. He died for our sins and rose again so that we could bask in the freedom from our sins. Listen to these verses:
“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)
“Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.” (Romans :34)
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1)
Is that not an incredible thought” And why does Jesus need to intercede for us? Here is a great explanation:
”Jesus is interceding for us while Satan (whose name means “accuser”) is accusing us, pointing out our sins and frailties before God, just as he did with Job (Job 1:6-12). But the accusations fall upon deaf ears in heaven, because Jesus’ work on the cross paid our sin debt in full; therefore, God always sees in His children the perfect righteousness of Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, His righteousness (perfect holiness) was imputed to us, while our sin was imputed to Him at His death. This is the great exchange Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 5:21. That took away forever our sinful state before God, so God can accept us as blameless before Him.” https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-interceding.html
What a great blessing to live in a free country. However, the greatest blessing comes from our salvation in Christ! “Therefore there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:28)
See you next week!
