A KJV only devotional blog, written as a ministry from home, by preacher's wife. Marcie Hudgins. I pray it is an encouragement and blessing to you and your walk with the Lord!
A few weeks back, I had to have some bloodwork done. I showed that I had a problem that had returned from last year when I had surgery. This meant I would have to have surgery again! Ugh! I wasn't looking forward to it, as it would have been the 12th time I have gone through surgery. I went to have further testing done three weeks later, and to the doctor's and my amazement, the problem was GONE! Nothing showed anywhere on my tests, as it did in the bloodwork before! The Lord answered a lot of prayer that day for me, and I am still soooo very grateful for His Grace. My point in saying all of this is, that the first thing the doctors ever do when looking for answers to health problems is run bloodwork tests. Why? Because our blood shows EVERYTHING ABOUT US! It is the first place that health problems show in our body, because as the Bible says, it is our LIFE! (Leviticus 17:11). But just as our blood reveals what state our physical condition is, it also shows what our spiritual state is. Jesus' Blood also tells ALL about HIM!
His Blood is PURE, where ours is polluted! Romans 3:23 says, "For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." But, Jesus Blood is sinless! Matthew 27:4 says "the innocent blood." Hebrews 9:14 says, "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself WITHOUT SPOT to God,...". Jesus' Blood is pure and sinless because He is the Son of God! He lived His life here on earth and was "in all points tempted like as we are, yet WITHOUT SIN!" (Hebrews 4:15). Peter tells us "Who did NO SIN, neither was guile found in his mouth:) I Peter 2:22.
His Blood Purges! Our Blood Procures, or reaps to ourselves sin and unrighteousness. Ever since Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, everyone born has gained his sinful nature or blood. Sinning is not what makes us all sinners. We all sin because we ARE SINNERS. We were born that way. But, praise the Lord, Jesus was born to take away that sin! "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith IN HIS BLOOD,, to declare HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS for the remission of sins..." Romans 3:25. "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is NO REMISSION.' (Hebrews 9: 22). "For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation(life) received by tradition from your fathers; But with the PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, as of a lamb without spot; Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." (I Peter 1:18-20).The Lord knew that man would sin and need a Saviour, and had already planned to offer His Only Begotten Son to purge our sins away!
Lastly, His Blood is Perpetual, where ours is a prognosis of death. Our blood will only last as long as we live here on this earth. It will perish with us. But, Jesus' Blood is Eternal! "...but by HIS OWN BLOOD He entered in ONCE, into the holy place, having obtained ETERNAL REDEMPTION for us!" Hebrews 8:12. "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins FOR EVER, sat down on the right hand of God...."For by one offering He hath PERFECTED FOREVER them that are sanctified." Hebrews 10:12 &14. His Blood will NEVER LOSE ITS POWER! It has provided Salvation once and for ALL for all that will accept it!
Have you had a blood transfusion? Have you received Jesus' Holy Blood as the ONLY payment for your sins? Salvation is all about the Blood. We cannot rely on ourselves for salvation because we are polluted, procure sin, and have a prognosis of death. Jesus' Blood is pure, purges and is perpetual. Call on Him for forgiveness of your sin, and receive the healing of His Precious Blood. If you have received His free gift of Salvation already, thank Him today that "by whose (Jesus) stripes ye were healed." (I Peter 2:24).
When Jesus cried "It is Finished" and the Roman soldier declared that He was the Son of God, the evening was approaching. Since it was the the preparation , or day before the Sabbath, the Lord's body had to be taken down quickly, due to the law. No one was allowed to do any servtile work on the Sabbath. His body needed burying. This need was Providentially provided by the Father for His Son. Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrian group, honorable counsellor and secret disciple of Jesus came to Pilate. Mark 15:43 says that he "went in BOLDLY unto Pilate, and CRAVED the body of Jesus." Now that His Lord had been crucified, he was no longer in fear of the Jewish council. He boldly professed his love and faith in Jesus as Lord. Sadly, sometimes it takes tragedy or problems to soften our hearts and give us the holy boldness we need for Jesus. Verse 43 also tells us he "waited for the kingdom of God, " which meant he was living for the Lord and believed on Him, but was a secret believer. God NEVER wants us to be a SECRET AGENT! We should boldly take a stand for the Lord. Proverbs 28:1 says, "The wicked flee when no man pursueth, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS ARE BOLD AS A LION." If we trust Jesus for His help, He will give us His boldness! When we openly take a stand for the Lord, we will encourage others that may have been sitting quietly as well. John 19:39 also states another secret disciple, Nicodemus, that first came to Jesus to talk to Him by night, came with Joseph. Joseph's now bold stand encouraged Nicodemus to come forth as well. Who are you influencing? Someone is ALWAYS WATCHING YOU! Believers are either watching you for example, or unbelievers just to see what you will do! We need to stand boldly for our Lord and help each other to do the same as well. "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;( for He is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works:". Joseph also CRAVED the body of Jesus, Mark 15:43. He knew this is what He was supposed to do. God put this desire in his heart so strongly that he would do so. What are you craving? Galatians 5:16 says to .."Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Are we craving the things of God, or of the world? We will never be as strong as we should be spiritually if we feed on the world's "junk" food instead of God's spiritual Manna. "For he that soweth to his flesh SHALL of the flesh reap CORRUPTION; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap LIFE EVERLASTING!" Galatians 6:8. Just as what we physically crave and feed on affects our health, what we feed upon Spiritually or Fleshly will affect our Spiritual health as well. After the two men were given leave of Pilate to take the body of Jesus, they wrapped it with fine linen and spices and placed it in Joseph's own tomb he had prepared. It was hewn out of rock and had never had anyone inside, (Mark 16:46, Matthew 27:59&60, Luke 23:53). The women that followed Jesus from Galilee also went with them and saw where they laid his body, (Luke 23:55). They returned home upon the dawning of the Sabbath and prepared spices to bring back after the Sabbath to finish the Jewish burial custom, since it was done in haste because of the Sabbath's dawning. "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them." Mark names some of the women as Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James (Jesus cousin), and Salome-Mary the mother of Jesus' sister.) So two of the women were Jesus' aunts. As they went, they wondered who would roll the stone away for them. But when they arrived, "they saw the stone rolled away:for it was great." (Mark 16:4). Upon entering the tomb, there was an angel that told them, "Be not affighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen; He is NOT HERE: behold the place where they laid Him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee;there shall ye see him, as he said unto you."(Mark 16:6&7). They ladies left, and Mary Magdalene went to tell the disciples as they were told to. She returned with Peter and John. John made it to the tomb first, but stooped down to look inside, but did not enter in. Peter came next, but entered the tomb. When he did, he saw that the tomb was empty, and HOW the linen clothes were lying. "And the napkin, that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but WRAPPED TOGETHER IN A PLACE BY ITSELF, "John 20:7. The napkin was used in burial to cover the face and tie the chin up to keep it closed in Jewish burial custom. This was the same kind used as mentioned on Lazarus in John 11:44. This napkin was wrapped together in a place by itself. When Jesus resurrected, He LOOSED THE GRAVE CLOTHES HIMSELF. He had been wound in the linens now laying by themselves. HE REMOVED THE FACE NAPKIN HIMSELF WHEN HE AROSE! This is why they were separated. He didn't disappear out of the clothes! He literally got up and loosed Himself! When Lazarus arose, he was still bound, hand and foot, and the napkin still over his face, because he didn't have the power to resurrect or free himself. JESUS DID! PRAISE THE LORD! "Whom God hath raised up HAVING LOOSED the pains of death; because it WAS NOT POSSIBLE that He should be holden of it." Acts 2:24. "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" I Corinthians 15:55. After the disciples returned, Mary Magadalene stayed behind weeping at the tomb. As she did so, she stooped down and looked in the tomb again. She saw two angels clothed in white, sitting at the head and foot where Jesus had lain. They asked her," Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid him.", still not fully understanding what had happened. (John 19:12&13). When she turned around, Jesus was there behind her, but she did not know it was Him, being risen in a glorified body. He asked her, "Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?"(John 19:15). Supposing Him to be the gardener, she asked Him to tell her where He had taken Him if He had moved Him, so she could take Him away. Then "Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself and, and saith unto Him, Rabboni, which is to say Master." (John 19:16). As soon as Jesus spoke her name, she knew it was Him. John 10:27 says, "My sheep HEAR MY VOICE, and I know them, and they follow me." When Jesus calls our name, or speaks to us, WE KNOW IT IS HIM! There is no mistaking His voice. And just as we know His voice, He knows OUR NAME! Praise the Lord the God of Heaven knows each one of His children by name, and calls to each of us! He spoke peace to Mary Magdalene so long ago, and He will speak peace to us in our time of sorrow. Just as He wanted to let her know He was still there with her, He wants us to know that "...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5). What a loving, comforting Saviour we have! Jesus instructed Mary to return again and let the disciples know she had talked to Him! I can only imagine the joy she felt as she ran to tell Peter, John, and the other disciples that she had talked to the Risen Saviour! Thank God, that just as she had talked to Him, we STILL CAN TODAY! Our Saviour now sits at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us (Heb.4:14-16). He wants to speak to us just as He did Mary that day. We should "pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17) to our Lord. We need to read His Word daily so He can do so. If we don't spend time talking to the Lord, and listening to Him speak to us, how will be have the faith, boldness, and message we need to tell others, just as Mary Magdalene did?
Easter, first called so in Acts 12:4, is not just one day a year for a believer, but EVERYDAY! BECAUSE HE LIVES, WE CAN FACE TOMORROW! "..if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins... But now is Christ risen from the dead... (I Corinth. 15:17 & 20). Praise the Lord He lives! Everyday WE should LIVE FOR HIM! Let us Crave Him, Boldly stand for Him, Seek Him everyday, talk to Him, and listen as He speaks to us daily. Have you talked to Him today?
After the Last Passover Supper with the 12 disciples, Jesus and 11 of them went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, as He had done many times before. (John 18:1-2). Judas Iscariot had already left to betray Him into the hands of the chief priests, elders, and scribes. "Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I AM HE. And Judas also, which betrayed Him, stood with them. As soon as He had said unto them, I am He, they went BACKWARD, AND FELL TO THE GROUND." Notice the first two words Jesus responded with- I AM. This IS THE NAME OF JEHOVAH GOD, and it was not by accident that He answered them this way. This was a providentially timed question HE ASKED THEM, so that one more time, He could proclaim to them who He was! He said it with such power and authority, that it scared the life out of these men! They had seen Him in the Temple and heard Him preach. These even may have been the same officers that told the chief priests and Pharisees that "Never man spake like this man." (John 7:46). Jesus spoke the Word to the people and "taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes, " (Matthew 7:29). God's voice IS POWER AND AUTHORITY, and these men heard it thunder through them like they had never heard Him before!
Even after Jesus' declaration to be the Great I AM, "..the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound Him." (John 18:12). Jesus was then led before Annas the priest, Caiaphas the high priest (John 18:13-14),Herod (Luke 23:15) and then before Pontius Pilate. Pilate was the ruler that sentenced Jesus to death, even though he proclaimed, "...I find in Him NO FAULT AT ALL." (John 18:38). "Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and smote Him with their hands." (John 19:1-3). This was the second time that day that Jesus had been smote upon with their hands. The first time was by the Jewish Leaders themselves, (Matthew 26:66-68). The very hands that the Creator had formed were now being used to smite the One who had given them. Instead of using those hands to raise in praise to the Lord in true worship, they were used to mockingly bow and press the crown of thorns into His brow. They also plucked the beard from our Lord's face, (Isaiah 50:6). Isaiah 52:14 even tells us that His visage, or face, was so marred that He didn't even look like a man anymore. "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. BUT HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, HE WAS BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES..." Isaiah 53:5. How do you use your hands for the Saviour? Are they used in praise and thanks given to Him for the strikes He received for us? Or, are they used to slap Him as well in disregard for His Word and rejection of It?
They mocked the Lord, and put His own rainment back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. Golgotha, or the place of a skull, is where they led Him. On the way there, Simon a Cyrenian, was compelled to help the Lord carry the cross behind Him. (Mark 15:21 & Luke 23:26).They had beaten the Lord so, that His human side was weak in carrying the cross. The verse says that Simon passed by. He was not there to see the Crucifixion. The soldiers chose him providentially to help carry the cross. He was at the RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME and the Lord wanted Him there. This ultimately lead to Simon's salvation, as he is named the father of Alexander and Rufus, saints later mentioned in Paul's epistles. No doubt he went home that day forever changed and told his family the story of the Saviour and the cross. What better heritage to leave our children than the Message of Salvation and how Jesus changed our life the day WE met Him at the Cross?
"Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin." (John 19:19.) This was done in accusation of Jesus' supposed crime in claiming to be King, but also in Pilate's declaration of Who Jesus was, (vs 21&22). It was written in the language of every nation present at Calvary, so that they were all aware of Who He was and are without excuse.(Romans 1:19&20). The soldiers nailed Him to the cross, parted His garment into four pieces and cast lots for it. They also took His coat, that was without seam, and left it whole, and cast lots for it as well to fulfill scripture. (Psalm 22:18). "Now the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour." Matthew. 27:45 This darkness was the sin curse the Lord was bearing for us there on the cross. Isaiah 52:4 says, the Father had to turn His back on Him because He was made sin for us, and the Lord cannot look upon sin. ( II Corinthians 5:21). "..My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt.27:46) Jesus bore our sin and separation from God the Father so that we would NEVER HAVE TO! We can be a child of the King and He will NEVER LEAVE US, NOR FORSAKE US (Heb. 13:5), because Jesus become our curse! (Galatians 3:13). Jesus then yielded up the Ghost, of His own accord, and cried with a loud voice, "It is finished." (Matthew 27:50.)
The veil of the Temple was rent in half from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the graves were opened. The centurion and those that were with him, after seeing all that was done, feared greatly and said "Truly this was the Son of God." (Matthew 27:54).
What do you say when you look upon the cross? Can you with say with the Roman centurion that truly Jesus is the Son of God? Or, do you say that if Jesus was the Son of God that He could have saved Himself, just as the scribes and thief cast in His teeth? Friend, JESUS came for THIS REASON! TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY! (MATTHEW 20:28). "For God SO LOVED THE WORLD, that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELEIVETH IN HIM, SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE!" JOHN 3:16. How can we look upon the cross and NOT SAY THANK YOU? What will you say when You look upon the cross?
