House of Palms

Here are the books I have mentioned on @house.of.palms. I’d love to hear what your favorite books and studies are! Leave them in the comments.

Will of God

Fear

Spiritual warfare

Bibles

house.of.palms

Why did Jesus die on the cross? Jesus lived a per

Why did Jesus die on the cross?

Jesus lived a perfect life and died willingly on the cross as a substitution for those who believe in him, breaking the barrier between sinners and God, changing our eternal home to Heaven.

What is sin? Why do I need saved from it?

Our purpose in life is to glorify God. A sin is when we miss the mark, when we fall short, when we do not glorify him. And the Bible tells us that we have “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

We’ve discussed the 10 commandments: Have you worshipped anything other than God? Have you taken his name in vain? Have you ever dishonored your parents? Have you ever murdered someone in your heart? Or looked at someone with lustful intent other than your spouse? Have you ever stolen something? Or lied? Or coveted?

Clearly no one can no to all of these — or most of them. Some years ago, as a newly-committed Christian, I wasn’t sure what a sin was. I googled for a list. The list I found was expansive, but I quickly found out, not exhaustive. So I began to ask myself this question I heard on the radio: Can God bless this? It’s not a perfect definition, but it can put new perspective on our smaller, everyday actions.

Can he bless this tv show? This drink? This computer time? The way I’m treating my family? The white lies to avoid things? The gossip I just shared? …

So we all sin, but why do we need saved from it? Because our sin keeps us separated from a Holy God. Sin is a decimation to his creation. We are endanger of hell if we chose to reject Jesus’ offer and remain in our sin. God will judge us one day, but there is one who paid the price for you. All you have to do is accept it.

I heard this once: The person doing the rescuing has something the rescuee does not. We cannot earn our way back to God.

The solution is to turn toward God, not away from him, and ask forgiveness. You are now granted a full pardon, for your debt has been paid in full by his son. It’s true we don’t stop sinning this side of Heaven, so this will be a repeated process, but with the help of the Holy Spirit we can grow from our mistakes, learn and leave sinful habits.

What supernatural events happened on the cross?

◾️Darkened sky from 12 to 3pm: The darkness symbolized judgement — God pouring down judgement on the unblemished lamb for the sake of humanity. Remember that the ninth plague God sent the defiant pharaoh was three days of darkness and then the final plague was the killing of the firstborn sons.

◾️Curtain torn from top to bottom: Jesus has torn down the barrier between us and God, from top to bottom, from Heaven to Earth, so we may all be in the presence of the Lord.

◾️Earthquake and rocks split: An earthquake represents the presence of the Lord (Judges 5:4 ; 2 Sam 22:8 ; Psalms 77:18; 97:4; 104:32). Earthquakes are common in Judea due to tectonic plate shifts located there. In 2011 geologists found sediment evidence from the Dead Sea evidence of an earthquake occurring during the timeframe of Jesus’ crucifixion. There are historian accounts of an earthquake during this time as well, namely by Josephus.

◾️Saints resurrected and coming out of tombs: The tombs could have been opened by the earthquake. This miracle authenticated Jesus once again as the Savior who would raise the dead to eternal life. The people went into the city to tell others so they might believe. What might have all those who rejected him thought then?! 1 Thessalonians 4:14 says, “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”

Printable on FaithQandA.com

What did Jesus say on the cross? ◾️“Father,

What did Jesus say on the cross?

◾️“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Even in horrific physical, emotional and spiritual suffering, he desires forgiveness for the people beating, mocking, spitting, gambling for his clothes.

◾️“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.“
The criminal who believed in Jesus is assured he will see Heaven that very day.

◾️“Woman, behold, your son! Behold, your mother!”
As we talked about in Part 1, Joseph may have died at this point, so Jesus is asking John to care for his mother. John says, “And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”

◾️“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

God left him in that moment and took all man’s punishment and put it on his shoulders. Jesus experienced the undeserved wrath from his dear Abba even though he had done no wrong.

He is referencing Psalm 22:1-2:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.

◾️“I thirst.”
He is offered vinegar wine a second time after he says “I thirst” by the way of a hyssop branch.

He fulfilled prophesy in Psalm 69:

You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you.  Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.

◾️“It is finished.”
John used the Greek word “tetelestai,” which is translated “it is finished.” Interestingly it was also written on business receipts then, indicating that a bill had been paid in full.

◾️“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”
Jesus is referencing Psalm 31:

Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. He is returning to the Father, his refuge and redeemer.

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM

Leave a Reply