Friday, March 14, 2008

SACRIFICE

Every year when I travel to West Virginia I see three crosses placed on the mountains throughout the state. The first time that I ever seen that was many years ago (18yrs or so), and I was amazed and how that it moved me so. I was reminded of that day over 2000 years ago that God sacrificed His Son Jesus for all of us. God knew how wicked we would be and that He wanted us to be rewarded with a heavenly home. So, in order to do this He has to sacrifice his Son for all of us. I really don't know if I could sacrifice my children that way. In fact, I know that I would not be able to. I would be able to sacrifice my life for my children. You know, God was not losing His Son. He gained him to sit by him at his Right hand on the throne. When I first started becoming a believer this was all hard to imagine. Sometimes it still is. God knew all of this before he created all creation. It is so interesting how he knows all. He knows what decisions we will make in our lives. Interesting how he puts certain circumstances in your life to see how you will choose. He knows already, but he gave us freedom of choice to do with it what we want and hopefully we choose the right path. If we do not, there are ways that He is always with us and guides us through our lives. As long as we let him. He is in control. Sometimes it is hard for me to let God be in control of my life. I am so independent and want to do things my own way that it makes it difficult. But, sometimes I do listen.

So, next time you travel to West Virginia, take notice on the mountainsides. I wonder who put those all up anyway?! There is one spot on the way to my Dad's in WV that is a scenic overlook and at the top of a very high mountain you can see the crosses and that is on route 19.

JESUS MOCKED: Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked Him. "hail king of Jews!" they said. They spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head again and again. After they had mocked Him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on Him. Then they led him away to crucify Him.


THE CRUCIFIXION: As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of the skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall (Gall:Tradition says that the women of Jerusalem customarily furnished this pain-killing narcotic to prisoners who were crucified. Jesus refused to drink it because he wanted to be fully conscious until his death), but after tasting it He refused to drink it. When they crucified him they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Then they sat and watched over him. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Then two robbers were crucified on each side of Jesus. People kept making insults and wondered why he could not save himself if he truly was the son of God.

Jesus cried out: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" After he cried out he gave up his spirit. Then the earth shook and rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of the many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. The people were terrified when the earthquake happened and the exclaimed--"surely he was the Son of God".



Jesus was put into the tomb and on the third day rose from the dead.



There was a violent earthquake, for the 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.


The angle told the women to not be afraid, for Jesus was risen. They had to gather the disciples and then Jesus spoke to them to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

5 comments:

Mari said...

I have never been in West Virginia. We may travel through it on our way home from Andys graduation if it works out. If we do, I'll be looking for those crosses. It sounds very moving.

Unknown said...

What a great post Shelly, I have been in WV but never noticed any crosses, I will watch closer next visit... Thanks

Unknown said...

I loved your post Shelly. I have seen these crosses.It is a wonderful site.Thank you for visiting my blog and for the nice comment.Come back soon. Hugs. Lisa

Cheri said...

Hi Shelly,
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
I had Jennisa do my blog look- her website is:
http://jennisajoy.blogspot.com/

She's very very reasonable and does a great job.
Have a great day!

Joanne@ Blessed... said...

I love this post. You are making me want to pack up our Suburban and take a road trip cross country. Now how long would my husband and I have to be in our car to get from California to West Virginia???

Warmly, Joanne

I found you through Mari, I enjoyed my time here!