My Morning Devotional - The Cross

You're listening to The My Morning Devotional Podcast, episode 1500, today's

Divo is called The Cross.

Hey there, we're the Alessis, a ministry family working together in our church in Miami, Florida.

And if you're like us, when days get busy and to do lists get longer, it can be hard to find devotional time.

That's why we've partnered with our friend Allison to produce a five-minute daily dose of heaven.

This is The My Morning Devotional Podcast.

Well, Happy Friday, everybody.

It feels a little disingenuine to say Happy Friday because it is good Friday.

And we are coming to the end of Holy Week when really this is just the beginning of our celebrations, which is Friday.

The day that it all happens.

We've been going through the week of Holy Week.

We've been talking about what Jesus would have been doing leading up to The Cross.

But now we want to talk about The Cross.

What might have seemed like the end was just the beginning for our faith and for Jesus.

And, you know, even for our show, what might feel like the end or feel like a completion or an accomplishment

really is just the beginning for us.

Yes, we've hit 1500 episodes, but we have a lot more in store for all of us.

Because every day we are opening God's word and receiving something new.

It's the daily bread that we need.

And today's daily bread is found in John 19 verse 28.

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, he said, I thirst.

A jar full of sour wine stood there.

So they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hisip branch and held it to its mouth.

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, it is finished.

And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

So what happened on this day?

What was going on in the city?

But what was happening internally?

What was happening spiritually?

You see, what happened was Jesus was arrested.

He was falsely accused.

He was beaten and he was sentenced to death.

Then he carried the cross that they would have given him.

He carried his cross to Galgotha.

And there he was crucified between two criminals.

And like we are reading now, he hung up on the cross.

He said, Father, forgive them.

And finally, he declared it is finished.

The price for sin was paid.

And you see, on a good Friday, it's the darkest day of history,

but also the most hopeful day of history.

What felt like the end, what felt like a completion,

what felt like, wow, all of this is over,

was really just the beginning.

It's the beginning of freedom.

True freedom from sin, where we can approach the Father,

one on one, and have a relationship with him.

You know, the Bible talks about the veil was torn.

That's what happened on this day.

The veil that separated us from the presence of God

was now torn and was removed that now we can approach him.

Yet, it might have felt like an end of an era for them.

But it was the beginning of a new relationship.

There was freedom, there was hope, there was redemption,

there was true salvation.

And there was a one on one relationship

that now we have with the Father.

You see, sin was defeated.

The thing that separates us from God,

the thing that puts a divide and that keeps you

from having a relationship with God.

Now it was defeated.

Jesus took that on his back, so we don't have to.

Sin was defeated, forgiveness became available.

And God's love was fully revealed.

I think that last line is truly our biggest takeaway.

If you didn't think God loved you before,

the cross reveals that his love is available to you,

and it is real, it's genuine.

God didn't just send anyone.

He sent his only son, his one and only son for you and I,

to die the most brutal death.

It wasn't a quick death, it wasn't an easy one.

It was the most brutal death, but he did it for you and for me.

So what's our response today?

How do we spend this day?

Well, number one, I think we all need to go to church tonight.

I know that's very, very practical,

but all of us should go and honor this night

and remember this night by gathering

with the group of believers that were a part of the church

that were a part of to go and remember together.

But number two thing we need to do

is just sit and remember what Jesus did

and have a heart of gratitude and be grateful.

Yes, if you want to be somber today, you can be somber.

If you want to have a moment of silence,

have a moment of silence, whatever it is that you want to do.

But take time to remember what Jesus did for you and I.

It's hard to remember when you're at work.

It's hard to remember when you've got school.

It's hard to remember when you've got kids

because the routine doesn't change.

But that's where we have to be intentional with our day

and say, I'm going to put everything on hold.

And I'm going to remember what Jesus did for me.

It might have seemed dark for the night.

Best part about it is Sunday was coming.

And so we might not get to talk on Sunday

because I know this devote doesn't air on Sunday mornings.

But let this be your reminder,

whatever is dark in your life,

whatever you feel like has reached the end of its rope,

whatever you feel like is over and it's finished

and it's not starting again.

Because of what Jesus did,

it is truly just the beginning for you.

And God has so much in store for you

because Sunday is coming.

Let's pray.

Father, I just thank you for today.

Lord, we thank you for your sacrifice.

Jesus, thank you for the sacrifice.

Thank you for the completion of the work on the cross, Lord.

Thank you for defeating sin.

Thank you for conquering death.

Thank you for raising again and bringing us new life

that we can be born again, filled with your spirit

and live a life that pleases you.

We thank you for it all and we remember you today

in Jesus' name, amen.

So there you have it, your five minute daily dose of heaven.

Thank you so much for tuning in today.

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but your love for Jesus is stronger.

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