FOOLISHNESS OR POWER

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“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

1 Corinthians 1:18

Death on the Cross was the worse punishment that a person could receive. Pilate did not find the guilt of a single crime committed by Jesus in order to sentence him, so he thought of setting him free. He was especially inclined to set Him free when his wife told him, “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him” (Matthew 27:19). However everything Pilate thought of was done so in vain because the multitude was already against Jesus. They told Pilate, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar” (John 19:12). Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the ultimate authority of the whole Universe, was judged by a human council. People turned against Him, even those who had received a miracle from Him. Pilate ordered that He be flogged. His hands were tied to a post and the executioner used a roman whip that had several strings of metal and sharp bones tied to it. He was whipped until his skin was ripped to shreds. He suffered whip after whip, lash after lash, but He never complained.

Usually, many of the convicted died when they were whipped, but Jesus could stand on His feet and bore the punishment with humility. Satan’s entire wrath was placed upon Jesus until there was no more skin on his back. “From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness— only wounds and welts and open sores …” (Isaiah 1:6a)

Jesus, why did you have to experience such a curse? Why didn’t that executioner have any mercy? Couldn’t they understand You were the Author of Life? Why didn’t the soldiers have a clear vision of who they were mocking? Here is the answer to all these questions: Jesus voluntarily accepted the curse to give us total redemption. Now, we clearly see that every stage of great affliction to the body of the Lord is actually a message of deliverance.

He received thirty-nine lashes that tore His back. With every lash He received, sickness was being destroyed and all Humanity’s pain was being condemned. It is not a coincidence that scientists have discovered thirty-nine different root diseases in the human body.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Referring to Jesus’ work at the moment of that curse for our redemption, an anonymous writer commented, “This painful work would have broken the heart, the back, and the nape of every glorious angel of heaven and of all the most powerful men on earth.” If Jesus had not wanted to offer His life for our redemption, no one else would have been able to do it. That is the reason why the living creatures, the twenty-four elders, millions and millions of angels and all Creation bow down before Him admitting He is the Lamb who was slain and is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise! (Revelation 5:12)

TODAY’S DECLARATION
“I’ve been healed and my life has been restored by the power of Your Blood.”

Today’s post is an excerpt from Pastor Cesar Castellanos’ book, Declarations of Power for 365 Days of the Year: Volume Three.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING

    • Old Testament: Isaiah 29-30; Proverbs 23:19-35
    • New Testament: Luke 22:47-53; Hebrews 7:1-10

FOOLISHNESS OR POWER