After yesterdays blog I did some thinking and feel necessary to continue more on the subject of death in Christ, but lets first look at Christ's death first. To start out we see that Y'shua was betrayed by those that said they would follow him where ever he went, He was betrayed by the Jews, after this He was brutally whipped by what were commonly called "cats claws" (this would be a wood stick about 1- 1/12 feet long with would be a rope like substance with small claws on the end to dig into the skin and rip it to shreds) and they would do this 40 lashes minus 1 which basically is getting you as close to death as possible without killing, He was then traded by the Romans at the request of the Jews for a murder (so he then was placed in murder row in the eyes of the people), He was lead to die on a cross all while having to carry that very cross about 2-3 miles to his death. Mind you this death was capital punishment (death on a cross) and VERY painful. First they would nail your wrists and feet to this cross (literally nails though your body) and if bleeding to death wasn't bad enough you would suffocate also. So while death is at the door you have to lift yourself up to catch a solid breath. And if that wasn't enough if you still weren't dead after a 5-6 hour process they would brake your legs so you then for sure die of suffocation. This process of bleeding and suffocating was long and painful process while people watched you die the death of a murder.
This was a sick, ugly, brutal, painful and shameful way to die in the 1st century. Again it was capital punishment and not meant to be friendly to the one going through it. The Romans came up with this system to sway others from committing the same crimes. The way that Y'shua died was not friendly, but necessary for him to complete the work the Father called him to do. He was called to humble himself to the point of death on a cross (Philippians 2:8) to the glory of God and the elect. Ephesians 5:1 says we are to imitate Christ in the manner of love. Y'shua went to the cross in love of the people He created and for the fulfillment of God's righteous glory (1 John 4:8-12, Romans 3:21-26, Ephesians 1:3-10). This was all for the sake of the kingdom of God and the glory of God. Imagine that, Y'shua died for everyone but himself. Amazing, beautiful, stunning and convicting all in one shot!
As a follower of Y'shua I am called to this very same thing. Y'shua says......
"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or for fits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:23-27)
I love this cause it said directly after Y'shua speaks of His own death, suffering, rejecting and resurrection. Not only is that on the disciples minds but I would have to say there own death also could very well be. There is something scary about this but also very refreshing as a follower of Y'shua. I am called to die daily of myself which is scary, but also living to God on the refreshing side. Death means my wants and desires get put in the back seat, laid aside for God's will, forgotten in a way so others my be lead of Y'shua. Living with 3 other guys this isn't as challenging as I thought it would be but yet it is cause we are all very different in many ways. We all respond and react to situations in different ways. In general its just not the normal from what I'm told and see in this world. Its all about you, your money is yours to do as you wish, you need to live the American dream and so on. This is a joke in reference to following Y'shua.
All this said in light of Y'shua's death i am called to not live comfortable, welcomed by all and so on. My life is not my own, but God's to do as he wills. This could be a missionary in a foreign country, a pastor, a math teacher, a garbage man, a pool chemical vendor and so on. I'm at a point in life of seeking God leading me in a few different ways but no matter where he leads I must die to Aaron and live to God as Y'shua did (Romans 6:10). It might not be pretty, comfortable, happy (outward), controlling on my end or even something I wanted in the long run, but its not my life, its God's.
Blessings to you all!
This was a sick, ugly, brutal, painful and shameful way to die in the 1st century. Again it was capital punishment and not meant to be friendly to the one going through it. The Romans came up with this system to sway others from committing the same crimes. The way that Y'shua died was not friendly, but necessary for him to complete the work the Father called him to do. He was called to humble himself to the point of death on a cross (Philippians 2:8) to the glory of God and the elect. Ephesians 5:1 says we are to imitate Christ in the manner of love. Y'shua went to the cross in love of the people He created and for the fulfillment of God's righteous glory (1 John 4:8-12, Romans 3:21-26, Ephesians 1:3-10). This was all for the sake of the kingdom of God and the glory of God. Imagine that, Y'shua died for everyone but himself. Amazing, beautiful, stunning and convicting all in one shot!
As a follower of Y'shua I am called to this very same thing. Y'shua says......
"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or for fits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:23-27)
I love this cause it said directly after Y'shua speaks of His own death, suffering, rejecting and resurrection. Not only is that on the disciples minds but I would have to say there own death also could very well be. There is something scary about this but also very refreshing as a follower of Y'shua. I am called to die daily of myself which is scary, but also living to God on the refreshing side. Death means my wants and desires get put in the back seat, laid aside for God's will, forgotten in a way so others my be lead of Y'shua. Living with 3 other guys this isn't as challenging as I thought it would be but yet it is cause we are all very different in many ways. We all respond and react to situations in different ways. In general its just not the normal from what I'm told and see in this world. Its all about you, your money is yours to do as you wish, you need to live the American dream and so on. This is a joke in reference to following Y'shua.
All this said in light of Y'shua's death i am called to not live comfortable, welcomed by all and so on. My life is not my own, but God's to do as he wills. This could be a missionary in a foreign country, a pastor, a math teacher, a garbage man, a pool chemical vendor and so on. I'm at a point in life of seeking God leading me in a few different ways but no matter where he leads I must die to Aaron and live to God as Y'shua did (Romans 6:10). It might not be pretty, comfortable, happy (outward), controlling on my end or even something I wanted in the long run, but its not my life, its God's.
Blessings to you all!
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