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Showing posts from July, 2016

Grace from His Wounds

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They throw a robe over His shoulders, these soldiers of a foreign creed. He does not defend Himself when they spit and swear. They crown Him with thorns of mockery and then lash His flesh open with their whips. He is humiliated and condemned, forced to carry the tools of His execution. He bleeds, He falls and new wounds are opened. The robe is wagered His hands and feet are bound. He is a criminal, born to die. And as He breathes His final breath all truth is laid out for the spectators. He loves them all. He forgives the soldier who swung the hammer. He forgives those who cast lots. He forgives those who forsake Him and He forgives those who condemn. Unwittingly, the hatred of the many has given love to more. And the grace that pours from His wounds will forever change the world. copyright 2016 - Donald P James Jr

For God So Loved the World

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So this is a rambling: In the third chapter of John's Gospel we have perhaps one of the most well know passages in the Bible. "For God So Loved the World."  As John tells us, Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to see Jesus at night, as opposed to during the day.  He probably came under the cloak of darkness because he was afraid.  He did not want to be seen, by those of his sect, with the itinerant preacher. And Jesus tells him that His Father loves the world so much that He is going to give His Son, His only Son as a sacrifice.  Like a Lamb to be stretched out on an altar, Jesus will be stretched out on a cross.  This is love.  This is a love we... in our human thoughts... have difficulty comprehending.  The Father gives His Son to be killed and in doing so every sin (past, present, future) is washed away.  Jesus takes every sin onto himself, for us.  He does this of His free will.  All we have to do is accept this as truth. I don't know about you, but I can't fat