An excerpt from "The Cradle and the Cross"

In Romans 1:1-4 we see Paul's approach. He refers to "the gospel of God, (which he [God] had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures)." Christianity is not a first-century invention. It is, in fact, the fulfillment of that which, with one voice, the Hebrew prophets consistently foretold for centuries.

There are more than 300 Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. Why? So Israel could identify Him, when in the fullness of time God would send forth his Son (Galatians 4:4). The third chapter in the Bible contains the first prophecy of the Messiah's coming, His virgin birth ("the seed of the woman") and His destruction of Satan (Genesis 3:15). The prophets declared that He must be of the "lineage of David" (Jeremiah 23:5; 2 Samuel 7:10-16; Psalms 89:3-4) and rule upon David's throne. To prove that Jesus met this criteria, Matthew and Luke begin with the genealogy of Joseph and Mary.

Having rejected Jesus, the Jews still hope for their Messiah to come-but they hope in vain. Jesus Christ fulfilled Malachi 3:1 ("the Lord [Messiah], whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple") when He cast out the money changers and merchants (Mark 11:15). The destruction of the temple 38 years later in A.D. 70 made it impossible during the last 1,923 years for any would-be Messiah to fulfil that scripture. Moreover, all genealogic records were lost in the destruction of the temple, so a future "Messiah" would not be able to prove the necessary descent from David.

Yes, the temple will soon be rebuilt. Instead of cleansing it, however, as Christ did, Antichrist will defile it with his image and force the world to worship him as God: "he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

Jacob prophesied, "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah...until Shiloh [Messiah] come..." (Genesis 49:10). Shortly after the birth of Jesus, about A.D. 7, the sceptre departed when the Jews lost the right to enforce the death penalty. Thereafter, it was forever too late for Messiah to come. By God's grace, however, He had already come; and He will come again to rescue at Armageddon those who rejected Him the first time. They will know Him by the marks of Calvary ("they shall look upon me whom they pierced"; Zechariah 12:10). The sceptre having departed from Judah, Christ, instead of being stoned by the Jews, was executed by the Romans, whose supreme penalty was crucifixion. Thus was fulfilled yet another prophecy: "...they pierced my hands and my feet" (Psalms 22:16)!

But back to the cradle. Caesar Augustus had no inkling of the momentous effect of his decree "that all the world should [return to the city of one's birth to] be taxed" (Luke 2:1). That decree brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem in time for the birth of her "firstborn son" (so she had other children) in fulfillment of Micah 5:2: "But thou, Bethlehem...out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel...."

What depth of meaning there is in the simple statement, "when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son" (Galatians 4:4)! His birth had to occur before the sceptre departed from Judah; His death, after. His birthplace was determined by a Roman decree; His death and its method of execution, by the Roman occupation of Israel. He had to come before the temple was destroyed and with it the genealogic records.

The "fullness of time" has passed. No one else can meet the Messianic criteria laid down by the Hebrew prophets! That simple phrase, however, carries a much deeper meaning than we have seen above. If the timing of His birth causes us to marvel, the timing of Christ's death is even more precise and full of meaning...

Dave Hunt

Hymn 809

If I could only tell Him as I know Him,
My Redeemer who has brightened all my way;
If I could tell how precious is His presence,
I am sure that you would make Him yours today.

If I could only tell you how He loves you,
And if we could through the lonely garden go;
If I could tell His dying pain and pardon,
You would worship at His wonderful feet, I know.

Redemption songs

Gems from my reading

Well, it will be strange to find myself in heaven; but it won't be a strange Christ - one I have known these many years. How little I know of Him! I am glad He knows me. - J. N. Darby contemplating his death (11th April 1882, 18 days before his death)

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. - the Lord Jesus Christ (John 10:14)

Thy word is like a garden, Lord, with flowers bright and fair;
And everyone who seeks may pluck a lovely cluster there.
Thy word is like a deep, deep mine; and jewels rich and rare
Are hidden in its mighty depth for every searcher there.

Thy word is like a starry host: a thousand rays of light
Are seen to guide the traveler, and make his pathway bright.
Thy word is like an armory, where soldiers may repair,
And find for life's long battle day, all needful weapons there.

O may I love Thy precious word, may I explore the mine,
May I its fragrant flowers glean, may light upon me shine.
O may I find my armor there, Thy word my trusted sword;
I'll learn to fight with every foe the battle of the Lord.

Edwin Hodder

It is Jesus

Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. - Matt. 11:28
And I will give unto them eternal life; and they shall neverperish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. - John 10:28

There is a voice through earth's wild clamor calling,
To all the heavy laden and oppressed
Sweet as the cooling dew at even calling:
"Come unto Me and rest."
It is the voice of Jesus, still entreating,
To all the comforless and all sad;
Day after day His tender call repeating,
"Come unto Me and I will make you glad."

There is a hand outstretched in tenderest pity
Where all the weary and the wondering roam.
Waiting to lead them to the heavenly city,
To bring the homeless home.
It is the hand of Jesus, still upholding,
Strong to deliver, mighty still to keep;
And none shall pluck from out that safe unfolding
The weakest one of all His blood-bought sheep.

There is a Form that walks life's stormy ocean,
Bidding the noise of tempest cease;
Crying along through all the wild commotion,
"In Me ye shall have peace."
Oh it is Jesus comming o'er the waters,
As once He walked the waves of Galilee,
Speaking to all earth's shipwrecked sons and daughters,
"Be not afriad, have faith, have faith in Me."

There is a Love that longs with deep affection
To gather all the sin-sick sons of men,
Beneath its wings of shelter and protection,
And give them health again.
It is the love of Jesus, sweet with longing,
His full salvation to the world to give;
Crying to all the dead, earth's highways thronging,
"Come unto Me, come unto Me and live."

Annie Johnson Flint

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. - John 16:33

In the world, tribulation; but in Jesus -- peace;
The heart of the whirlwind where its roarings cease,
A little home waiting, still and light and warm,
A safe sanctuary from the night and storm.

In the world, tribulation; but in Jesus -- rest;
A sure place of refuge for the sore-opprest,
A guarded pavilion no device can take,
A strong-walled fortress no assault can shake.

In the world tribulation; but in Jesus -- joy;
A full cup of gladness that can never cloy,
A sweet fountain rising out of Marrah's tide,
A spring of rejoicing that is never dried.

In the world, tribulation; but in Jesus -- peace;
A deep, quiet harbor where the high waves cease,
A long-desired haven on a friendly shore,
Where the wild winds of oceans sweep the soul no more.

In the world, tribulation, trials all around,
For on earth no resting and no joys are found;
Let us flee to Jesus where all sorrows cease;
Here alone is gladness, here alone is peace.

Annie Johnson Flint

The dried sea

(God) turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in Him. - Psalm 66:6

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Thy watersprouts: all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over Me. - Psalm 42:7

The sea of God's wrath upon sin is now removed completely for us to pass into God's presence without worry. However, though easy for us, it meant that the waves and billows of that righteous wrath fell upon Christ. He took the full force of that wrath upon His sinless self. He endured it for us (who can imagine what He endured!). In the end, He came out triumphant! Now at that very place, we rejoice in Him!

The tempest’s awful voice was heard,
O Christ, it broke on Thee!
Thy open bosom was my ward,
It braved the storm for me.
Thy form was scarred, Thy visage marred;
Now cloudless peace for me. - Anne R. Cousin

Lord, to whom shall we go? - John 6:68

I bring my sins to thee, the sins I cannot count,
That all may cleansed be, in thy once open’d fount;
I bring them Saviour, all to thee, the burden is too great for me.

My heart to thee I bring, the heart I cannot read;
A faithless, wand’ring thing—an evil heart indeed;
I bring it, Saviour, now to thee, that fixed and faithful it may be.

I bring my grief to thee, the grief I cannot tell,
No words shall needed be,Thou knowest all so well;
I bring the sorrow laid on me, O suffering Saviour, all to thee.

My life I bring to thee, I would not be my own;
O Saviour, let me be Thine, ever thine alone:
My heart, my life, my all, I bring, to thee, my Saviour and my King.
To Thee, my Saviour, and my King!

Frances R. Havergal

Song of songs

The form of words in the title of the Song is a Hebrew way of expressing its superlative excellence. It is the Song of Songs. It is the best, the sweetest, the greatest of all songs. The same form of words is used in other places and always helps to exalt the Savior. In His deity He is "God of gods" (Dan 2:47). He is greater than the "Heaven of heavens," which cannot contain Him (2 Chron 2:6; 6:18). In wondrous grace He became a "Servant of servants" (Gen 9:25), the greatest of all Jehovah’s servants. Those who know Him and love Him have found Him to be the answer to earth’s "Vanity of vanities" (Eccl 1:2; 12:8). He is the grand antitype of that place of glory which we call the "Holy of Holies" (Exod 26:33). One day His true greatness will be universally recognized when He appears as "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" (Rev 19:16). It is a "Song of Songs" indeed, that sings of such a One as He! - Jim Flanigan, Truth and Tidings

It Shows in Your Face

You don't have to tell how you live each day;

You don't have to say if you work or you play;

A tried, true barometer serves in the place --

However you live, it will show in your face.

The false, the deceit that you bear in your heart,

Will not stay inside where it first got a start;

For sinew and blood are a thin veil of lace --

What you wear in your heart, you wear in your face.

If your life is selfless, if for others you live,

For not what you get, but how much you can give;

If you live close to God in his infinite grace --

You don't have to tell it, it shows in your face.

Author unknown

More from Choice Gleanings

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. - Isaiah 1:18

The infinite LORD of Glory requests to communicate with sinful man. “Deity stoops to speak to dust.” Look again at Calvary and see our Saviour, bearing in our stead, the “consuming fire” of judgment that we deserved. Now the scarlet sins have been forgiven and God sees us as white as snow. Listen now to the Saviour, “Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matt. 9:2). —Milton Haack

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Saviour made me whole;
My sins were washed away, and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul. —John Peterson

Wait

God's delays are not denials,
He has heard your prayer,
He knows all about your trials,
Knows your every care.

God's delays are not denials,
Help is on the way,
He is watching o'er life's dials,
Bringing forth the day.

God's delays are not denials,
You will find Him true;
Working through the darkest trials
What is best for you.

Grace E. Troy

Borrowed from Choice Gleanings

Then shall the man bring...an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance. - Numbers 5:15
But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. - Hebrews 10:3
Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. - Hebrews 10:17

The memory of past failures can haunt us. It is good for us to remember that although we are failures because of Christ we can leave those sins at the cross—under the blood. May God give us grace to enjoy the fact that our sins are gone.—William H. Gustafson

Gone, gone, gone, gone, yes, my sins are gone.
Now my soul is free and in my heart’s a song.
Buried in the deepest sea, yes, that’s good enough for me;
I shall live eternally—praise God, my sins are G-O-N-E. —Helen Griggs

Savior! We love Thee!

Saviour! we love Thee, long for Thy return;
The night is dark, and oh, our spirits yearn
To hear the call out from the radiant sky,
The calling Home, the resurrection cry.

This thrilling word that ends this night of gloom,
That binds death’s power, and triumphs o’er the tomb;
When in a moment we shall mount above
And know the fullness of Thy heart of love.

Oh, wondrous call that bringeth to Thy side
In unmarred beauty Thy beloved Bride,
To know Thy love, its wonders to explore,
In rapture bow, and worship evermore.

Oh, wondrous love! to see Thy face divine,
To know the whispered joy of being Thine.
Oh, tell me not of glories I shall see,
This is the deepest—being near to Thee.

Lord Jesus, come! Thy Bride her Lord would see,
And know the joy of being like to Thee;
So worlds on worlds will see what grace has done,
As long as everlasting ages run.

Samuel Trevor Francis, 1834-1925

More gems from my reading

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. - Genesis 3:4-5

Scripture tells us that we "...are not ignorant of satan's devices." In this passage we see...the enemy's great tactics. Incredibly, they work to this very day...He flat out denies that God's word is true. God told Adam that in the day that he would eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he would surely die. Here, while speaking to Eve, satan tells her, "... ye shall not surely die." Jesus told the Pharisees that the devil was a liar from the beginning. Here is the lie; whereas God said Adam would surely die, satan says he would NOT surely die. There certainly is a big difference.

The reason that this worked is that God often speaks of matters from His own perspective, and always tells the truth. Satan, perhaps knowing God's perspective, tells only enough of the truth to make us think he is right. For, it is true that in the day that Adam and Eve ate from the tree they did not collapse to the ground, and breath their last. But the more important perspective in this matter, the thing about which God was speaking, was spiritual death. From that day forward Adam and Eve ran from God: spiritually dead, not desiring Him or His ways. This desire to run from God and ignore His ways has been passed on to all of their descendants, the whole human race. Physical death is the result of spiritual death. Had Adam and Eve remained spiritually alive, they would also have remained physically alive.

Herm Klingenberger

Blessed are those who give without remembering and receive without forgetting.

Gift by grace

Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD. - Ezekiel 14:14

Noah was said to be a just man and perfect in his generation (Genesis 6:9). When the rulers desired to find fault with Daniel concerning the kingdom, they could find none occasion nor fault for he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him (Daniel 6:4). Job is described as perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil (Job 1:1). These were spiritual giants of their time. But all their righteousness could only deliver but their own souls when faced with God's righteous wrath upon the sin of the people. For the Lord says elsewhere that all our righteousness are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

There is yet one Person who stands out above all. Paul says to the Romans that by the righteousness of this Person, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. By the obedience of this Person, shall many be made righteous (Romans 5:18-19). Noah, Daniel and Job could barely save themselves by their own righteousness. The Lord Jesus Christ saves ALL by His righteousness. If only I would accept that free gift!

Come unto Him

David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. - 1 Sam 22:1-2

David reminds me of the Lord Jesus in this account.

So many of us would be able to relate to the one in distress. Our hearts rage a war as the good that we want to do, we do not, but the evil that we do not want to do, we keep on doing. All of us should be able to relate to the one in debt. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death and since we're all sinful then we owe the payment for our sin. We'll need to clear the debt of death that we owe. Again many of us could relate to the one that was discontented or, more accurately, bitter in soul. Bitter and callous from the harsh environment of this world. Sore and wounded from the treatment of the people of this world. These verses call out to all.

Note the action! They gathered themselves unto him. The Lord Jesus calls us to come unto Him...and He will give us rest. Whether in distress, or in debt, or even in bitterness, we are to gather ourselves unto Christ. We look to Him for comfort and victory from distress, for redemption from our debt and for sweetness to our souls.

Now note the reaction! It was an all gracious response. All these gathered themselves unto David in their present condition no matter how bad it was. He doesn't turn them away nor refuse their gathering unto him. The Lord Jesus receives wretched, sinful, unworthy men and women. Oh what grace! He does not reject us as we come to Him. We are accepted in Him who is the Beloved.

Now note the result! He became a captain over them. As we understand the grace that the Lord has bestowed upon us then there can be no lower response than Him becoming Lord over us all!

Is it because...?

Is it because the sea is calm that waves are uninspired reaching shore?
Is it because the wind is hushed that the whistling is dulled to a bore?
Is it because the path is smooth that rocks stimulate no more?
Is it because the storm is stilled that rain falls as if a chore?

Nay, it cannot be!
For the sea billows still restlessly roll,
the wind still piercingly howls,
the path with jaggedness strewn,
the storm with ease doth take it's toll.

Unworthy

Unworthy was I,
His love I denied.
Yet "Father forgive,"
Were the words that He cried,
As He hung in my place;
And bore all the pain;
For my sins He suffered,
For me He was slain.

Unworthy was I,
Yet he stooped so low;
Yes, for me He came
To this world below,
From the throne of a King
At the Father's right hand
To the Cross of a felon,
His life in demand.

His brow cruelly beaten,
A spear pierced His side,
In love he extended His arms
When He died.
And in that embrace
My comfort shall be,
For God looked at Him
And then pardoned me!

Still unworthy am I
As I live day by day,
Unconcerned by His claims,
Of His will for my way.
But although I am weak,
And my faith is oft dim,
Unworthy through self,
I'm found worthy through Him.

Beth Peppler

Life Means So Much

Everyday is a bank account
And time is our currency
So no one’s rich, nobody’s poor
We get twenty-four hours each
So how are you gonna spend
Will you invest or squander
Try to get ahead
Or help someone who’s under?

Chris Rice

Sinner, dost thou care?

The hearts of the saints
Are moved for thee;
O sinner, dost thou care?
And oft and again thy very name
Is breathed to God in prayer.

The heart of the Savior
Is moved for thee;
O sinner, dost thou hear?
As thy name He speaks, His precious cheeks
Are stained by falling tear.

Hell from beneath
Is moved for thee;
O sinner, stop and think!
If thou refuse, thy soul thou'lt lose
Thou'rt standing on the brink.

The heart of thy God
Is moved for thee;
And O, His love's been proved!
His Son He gave thy soul to save,
O sinner, art thou moved?

Bernie Payne

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our fev'rish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind;
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper rev'rence, praise.

In simple trust like theirs who heard,
Beside the Syrian sea,
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word,
Rise up and follow Thee.

O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee
The silence of eternity,
Interpreted by love!

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe thro' the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak though the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still small voice of calm!

John G. Whittier

So near, so very near to God, I cannot nearer be;
For in the person of His Son, I am as near as He.
So dear, so very dear to God, more dear I cannot be,
The love wherewith He loves the Son: such is His love to me.

C. Paget

The Will of God

Laid on Thine altar, O my Lord Divine,
Accept my gift this day, for Jesus' sake;
I have no jewels to adorn Thy shrine,
Nor any world-famed sacrifice to make:
But here I bring within my trembling hands
This will of mine, a thing that seemeth small,
Yet Thou alone, O Lord, canst understand
How when I yield Thee this, I yield Thee all.

Hidden therein, Thy searching gaze can see
Struggles of passion, visions of delight,
All that I have, or fain would be,
Deep loves, fond hopes, and longings infinite:
It hath been wet with tears, and dimmed with sighs,
Clenched in my grasp, till beauty hath it none:
Now from Thy footstool, where it vanquished lies,
The prayer ascendeth, "May Thy will be done."

Take it, O Father, ere my courage fail,
And merge it so with Thine own, that e'en
If in some desperate hour my cries prevail,
And Thou give back my gift, it may have been
So changed, so purified, so fair have grown,
So one with Thee, so filled with love divine,
I may not know or feel it as my own,
But gaining back my will, may find it Thine.

(found among the papers of an African missionary after his death)

Oh, spirit o'erwhelmed by thy failures and fears,
Look up to thy Lord, tho' with trembling and tears;
Weak faith, to thy call seem the heav'ns only dumb?
To thee is the message, "Hold fast till I come."

Hold fast when the world would allure thee to sin;
Hold fast when the tempter assails from within;
In sunshine or sadness, in gain or in loss,
to falter were madness, oh, cling to the cross.

Thy Savior is coming in tenderest love,
To make up His jewels and bear them above;
Oh, child, in things anguish, despairing or dumb,
Remember the message, "Hold fast till I come."

Mrs E. W. Griswold (Paulina) - 1876

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/o/l/holdftic.htm

For All the Morrows

Has the year brought sadness?
Joy is yet in store.
Has it given gladness?
Next year giveth more.
Let your Father measure
All your pain and care,
Let Him weigh the burden
That your heart must bear,
Sending light or shadow
As He deemeth best,
For in His sure wisdom
You can safely rest.
Peace for all the morrows,
Strength for all the days,
These shall be your portion
Through the New Year's ways.

Annie Johnson Flint

BLESSED NEW YEAR EVERYONE!