IT IS FINISHED

"IT IS FINISHED!" Jesus cried from the cross! and having completed everything required for man's salvation plan; He committed His Spirit into the Father's hands, hung His head, and died. As His life left the earth, darkness fell upon the earth, the ground was shakened causing a great earthquake, and fear fell upon those nearby; His body was taken down and placed in a tomb and sealed by Roman Soldiers to assure no escape, but while sadness was upon His mother, Mary, and all his followers, there was a great celebration going on in Heaven. Jesus had accomplished His Father's will and the separation between sinful man and God was torn down; Eradicated by the blood of the Lamb! When Jesus died, the veil in the Holy of Holies was torn in half, from top to bottom; an act that could have only come from heaven above, since the top was too high for man to reach(almost 60 ft in height). No longer would man be separated from God; no longer would they be required to offer up blood offerings yearly by a High Priest of the temples: "For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf.  And He did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal.  If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, He has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by His own death as a sacrifice."(Heb 9:23-26). Jesus was now the High Priest for all mankind, once and for all time sake. His ultimate sacrifice broke down the barrier between sinful man and God. Man could now come before God, just as he was, through Jesus' name, and ask forgiveness of his sins, with full assurance that through God's Son, Jesus, his sins will be forgiven (I John 1:9), "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Jesus became the bridge between God and man! No longer would man be separated from God by the great gulf of sin. 

As we continue to celebrate this life altering Passover; from Jesus's ultimate sacrifice on the cross to the grave, let's not forget that a new dawn arose, and they found His tomb empty! Jesus was gone from the tomb. But where was He? Where had they taken Him, "Where was He", Mary inquired! And  there He was, in front of Mary, Jesus was alive! He had risen from the dead and He was alive!!! Jesus is Alive, and He reigns forevermore! 

And "because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all sin is gone, Because I Know, He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!"  A new day had arisen!  A new day bringing hope and freedom from sins!  A New Hope found in Jesus Christ, Lord of Lords, King of all Kings! New Hope assuring that we no longer have to bear burdens, oppression, grief, or pain; deliverance is ours through the stripes He bore on His back! No more do we have to carry a sinful nature; Jesus paid the ransom with His own blood that frees us from all our sins! All covered by the precious blood that flowed from His sacrificial body on that old rugged cross. His sacrifice made it possible for us to have fellowship with God the Father, through His Son, Our Savior and Lord, Jesus!!! And because He lives, we live!!! Forever and ever in Christ Jesus, and Him alone. No other name but the name of Jesus! What a price He paid, willingly, for you and me! Make Jesus Lord of your life and live in Him forevermore! Be Blessed, dear friends, Jesus loves you and so do I~~~