Did you read last week’s Sunday school paper? It was the story about when God saved the people by stopping the fire, because He loved them and wanted to win their hearts. And we have an even better story today.
This story is not about a bull that was killed as a sacrifice and laid on an altar of stones and then fire from heaven burned it all up. This story is about a much, much better sacrifice than that. Read on and see.
There was a time when Jesus Himself was nailed to a wooden cross as a sacrifice. In last week’s story there were twelve barrels of water, but there was no water here to make the fire any less. Jesus Himself was the Sacrifice, but He was not dead—He was alive on that cross. There were many there to watch Him die, but God did not allow them to see.
No one prayed and asked God to send this fire, as Elijah did in last week’s story. Jesus Himself, the sinless One, asked that the fire of God’s wrath against sin might pass from Him, but He added, “Thy will be done.” The fire of God’s judgment is far worse than any fire that your eyes can see. God brought darkness over all the earth at noon that day, so that no one saw that fire.
Do you remember that in last week’s story the sacrifice was burned and the stones and water were also burned up, and the people fell on their faces and admitted, “The Lord, He is the God”? But at the cross, when the fire of God’s judgment was over, Jesus Himself was still alive and was able to say, “It is finished!” The wooden cross was still there, and the Sacrifice was not consumed. The fire was not held back, but rather the judgment was FINISHED! Jesus bowed His head and gave up His spirit. No one else on earth ever died like that!
What judgment then is left for me? None at all! The work is finished. After Jesus died, the Roman soldier pierced His side, and the blood and water flowed and demonstrate that the work is finished. He died for me, and His blood has washed away all my sins.
Jesus rose from the dead the third day, and He lives forever to tell you that He died for you. That is why He has sent you this message today. No one but Jesus will ever offer you a full and free forgiveness, because His sacrifice is enough.
Will you come to Jesus now? He knows all about you and the wrong things you have done. But He loves you anyway, and He is listening for your answer. Right now is the time to say “Yes!” to Him. If Jesus is not your Saviour, then you don’t have a Saviour. He said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). “Behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)).
ML-01/27/2008