Brown's Daily Word 3/23/15

Praise the Lord for this Holy season of Lent. The Lord blessed us in His House yesterday with His love and grace. It became sunny and brilliant in the afternoon. Alice and I walked on one of the local trails, listening to the birds and gazing at the sunset in the colorful and majestic western sky.
 Sunita is flying to Seattle, Washington today for her work. Please keep her in your prayer.
 Next Sunday is Palm Sunday, leading into Passion week. I am, in my devotions, in reflection on the Cross and the last days of our Lord on earth. In his book "Once upon a Tree", Calvin Miller writes about an experience years ago when he went to a movie. This was in a day (that some of us don't know existed) when people dressed up for movies, and at the intermission they go out just like they do at the theater or a concert. He was attending an epic biblical movie that came out in the sixties. He writes, Just before the intermission the crucifixion was presented in breathtaking color and drama. As Jesus died on the screen there in that movie, a terrible dark storm formed behind him. The camera caught rivulets of blood flowing from the wounds in Jesus' hands. The rivulet of blood would flow down the cross and into a depression in the stone at the base of the cross. Then the rain began to fall. The rain accumulated in that small basin and mingled with the red. Soon the pool filled to overflowing and began trickling down the mountainside. The small red rile combined with other torrents of rushing water, and finally it became a great crimson tide for this world's salvation. But more than that, for my salvation.
    Suddenly it was the intermission, and Miller jostled his way to the theater lobby. In the lobby men laughed and chattered as though nothing had happened. Jewelry-bedecked women tossed their heads with lighthearted caprice. Children clamored for a drink at the water fountain. A noisy line formed at the concession booth. It was not that I had gone to that lobby expecting everyone to be collected in little prayer groups or hear them singing "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." Most people who see the cross are not impressed with it. They can see it and walk away and forget it.
    There is mystery and wonder that surround the cross on which the Prince of Glory died. We can not fully comprehend or can we understand all that transpired at the cross. It is written 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
There are untold millions around the globe and around the corner , through out the ages have experience the grace, mercy and the power that is associated withe cross. Because of the empty Cross and the empty grave we have been given life, life eternal and the victory over the grave.
  One of my favorite books is "The Pilgrims Progress " by John Bunyan. During the Lenten season I love to read it. As I read this timeless classic I am provoked to love the Lord and serve with zeal and fervor. I love the way John Bunyan describes the efficacy and the power of the cross in the life of a Christian, "Now I saw in my dream, that the highway up which CHRISTIAN was to go was fenced on either side with a wall; and that wall was called "Salvation". "In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks." Isaiah 26:1 Up this way, therefore, did burdened CHRISTIAN run; but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back. He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending; and upon that place stood a Cross, and a little below, in the bottom, a sepulchre.
So I saw in my dream, that just as CHRISTIAN came up to the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble; and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more. Then was CHRISTIAN glad and lightsome, and said, with a merry heart, "He hath given me rest by his sorrow, And life by his death." Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him, that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burden. He looked therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters down his cheeks.
"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." Zechariah 12:10
Now, as he stood looking and weeping, behold three shining ones came to him, and saluted him with, "Peace be to thee!" so the first said to him, "Thy sins be forgiven thee"; "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." Mark 2:5 the second stripped him of his rags, and clothed him with change of raiment; "And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." Zechariah 3:4 the third also set a mark in his forehead, and gave him a roll with a seal upon it, In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" Ephesians 1:13 which he bade him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in at the Celestial Gate: so they went their way.
Then CHRISTIAN gave three leaps for joy, and went on singing: Thus far did I come laden with my sin, Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in, Till I came hither. What a place is this! Must here be the beginning of my bliss! Must here the burden fall from off my back! Must here the strings that bound it to me crack! Blest cross! blest sepulchre! blest rather be The Man that there was put to shame for me"
In Christ, Brown
https://youtu.be/H5-yTzY1dn4