Hello Everyone,

Jesus was born with the shadow of the cross on Him. With the shadow of the Cross on His heart He learned to walk, He learned to talk, He learned to work.

The shadow of the Cross was on:

1. The Bethlehem swaddling clothes.
2. The walls of the carpenter shop.
3. Gethsemane’s garden.
4. Him when they came with lanterns and torches to arrest the light of the world.
5. Him when Judas betrayed Him with a kiss
6. Him when Caiaphas condemned Him
7. Him when Herod mocked Him
8. Him when Pilate condemned Him
9. Him when the Roman soldiers whipped Him
10. Him when they crucified Him

The Cross was the cruelest instrument of death known to man.

Suspended between heaven and earth, the victim of the Cross waited helplessly for death.

After a matter of hours on the cross, the victim would look forward to the arrival of death, to be relieved of his awful pain and suffering.

There was only one way to come down from the cross, and that was by the hands of those who were appointed to carry you to your grave.

Such horror associated with the cross. The Hebrew writings gave this warning: "Cursed is the man that hangeth on the tree".

The cross was hell on earth!

Yet, Jesus, God’s Son was born under the shadow of the Cross!

All the challenges of His life would vanish in significance when compared to the challenge of the Cross.

In the garden of Gethsemane, He asked the Father to "let this cup" pass from Him if there might be another solution to the sin problem.

Still, He committed Himself to the will of God. Scripture tells us He "endured the cross, despising the shame ..."

I doubt we will ever fully understand the awfulness of Christ’s crucifixion.

At Calvary we find the CREATOR being put to death at the hands of the CREATION.

Let me make it even plainer: The sins of Phillip Sears caused Jesus Christ to be crucified. It was my sins that caused Him to go through such torment.

A debt had to be paid --- one I was unable to.

Is it any wonder then, that the great Apostle Paul said "But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world"!

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil