The letter of the apostle Paul to the church in Rome is one of the most complete and most comprehensive manifestos of the Christian gospel. In it, Paul unwraps “the whole counsel of God” – man’s sin and utter lost condition, Christ’s death to save him, faith in Christ as the sole condition of his acceptance, the work of the Holy Spirit for his personal growth in holiness, the place and purpose of Israel in God’s plan, and the ethical implication of being a Christian.

What are we going to do without him? Ignore him? Work for him? Follow him? It seems to me that we should struggle to find out what Jesus would do if He were living my life in my setting with my friends, family, and acquaintances with my strengths and abilities? Based on that information, how should I adjust my life to meet His example? Instead of looking into the sky, we, too, have things to do in the kingdom of God.

Death laid his hands on Jesus. It put Jesus in a tomb. There was a stone at the mouth of that tomb, and the seal of the Roman government was placed upon that stone. But on the third day, Jesus Christ stirred within Himself. He rose from the sleep of death.  Jesus Christ passed through the walls of that rock-hewn tomb into life everlasting. He conquered that which no man had ever overcome on his own – death.

Life is indeed a risky business but be not dismayed, rather, be encouraged! If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, the Catcher is waiting at the end to take you safely home. If God were to call you home at this very moment, could you, with confidence, say as Jesus did in His final statement before He died upon the cross, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”?

This week, as we continue our series, Words from the Cross, we will be looking at John 19:30 and the final words of Christ before He gave up His spirit, dying upon that Roman cross. We will discover the heartbreak of His friends and family, who like Susan and Lucy, could not have been more miserable, or more confused by the seemingly defeat of the One they called Lord. We will also look at the glimmers of light, scattered across thousands of years, all pointing to the imminent victory achieved in this moment.

Those who are thirsty – truly thirsty – know what it is to seek something with a great desire. That level of desire should characterize our walk with God. We should seek Him above all others. He should be our greatest desire. And He has promised that when we seek Him in this way, our search will be rewarded. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, (Matthew 5:6) "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

Jesus would find himself abandoned on the cross with his Father turning His favor from him, His own Son, for a moment in which all hell would let loose against him, claiming victory. But the victory was short-lived because God would not look away long and would once again look with favor upon His one and only Son and life would triumph.

Jesus understood the importance of family better than anyone else. Even while He was dying upon the cross, His thoughts weren’t on His own needs but the ever-present and ongoing need which His mother would have in His absence. His concern was for her care once He goes to heaven.

Since Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to heaven, He has been preparing a place for all who will acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior. Heaven, a paradise not of this earth but one created for us to enjoy for all eternity.

We all struggle with forgiving others, don't we? Often times, because of the hurt we've been caused, we want others to hurt as well. But Jesus challenges this way of life and offers us freedom when we do forgive. How do we know that? Because he not only forgave those who crucified him on the cross, but God has forgiven us in His Son.