WEEKLY
DEVOTIONS
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Click Here for more devotionals!! Click Here to hear the RealAudio version of this message!! "THE POWER
OF THE CROSS" "And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him." The
Bible does not go into detail concerning the crucifixion
of Jesus. However, since He died for the sins of the
world, we should be very interested in exactly what He
had to endure for us. The following is a medical doctor's
physical description of what Jesus went through so we
could have eternal life: The cross was placed on the ground and Jesus, beaten and exhausted, was quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square wrought-iron nail through the wrist deep into the wood. Then he quickly moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement. The cross is then lifted into place. The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees flexed. Jesus is now crucified...hanging between Heaven and Earth.
As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through his muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, and throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward to breathe. Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled. He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen. Hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-renting cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, and searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against rough timber. Then another agony begins: a deep, crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serium and begins to compress the heart. It is now almost over. The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level. The compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissues. The tortured lungs are making frantic efforts to gasp in small gulps of air. He can feel the chill of death creeping through his body. Finally, he says, "It is finished," and he allows his body to die. What wondrous love is this? God gave His only Son to pay the price for your sins, mistakes, and wrong decisions. But Jesus didn't stay dead...after three days He arose from the dead, appeared to over 500 eyewitnesses, and then ascended to Heaven where He is praying for you right now! He wants to meet you personally in Heaven one day! I hope you've enjoyed this study. I encourage you to get your Bible and read the story of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection in Matthew chapters 27 & 28 or simply use the Bible Study Tools at the bottom of this page!
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