Psalm 30:11-12 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."You Have Turned For me my mourning Into Dancing; You Have Loosed my sackcloth And Clothed me With Gladness, That my Glory May Sing Your Praise And Not Be silent. O Lord my God, I Will Give Thanks To You Forever!"....
PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160319 - John 19:30 (emphasis added/jaj)...."When Jesus had received the sour wine, He Said, 'It Is Finished,' And He Bowed His Head And Gave Up His Spirit."....
"It Is Finished."....One might say these are words of discouragement, or of depression, or of total defeat. As we enter into 'Holy Week' where we as Family of The Faith Remember our Lord Jesus' Passion - His Betrayal; His Trial; His Humiliation; His Crucifixion; His Burial....So easy to hear the forces of darkness clapping in glee that God The Father has lost the battle, the epic struggle for the Soul of Mankind has been completed and God The Creator of All Life has tossed in the proverbial towel...."It Is Finished."
BUT (Behold the Underlying Truth)....Not So FAST....
"It Is Finished." Yes, said at that moment when our Lord Jesus Surrenders up His Own Spirit, The True Meaning can NOT be overlooked. Yes indeed The Battle of Battles has just ended, but NOT in defeat. Absolutely not - No, I would say that our Lord Jesus is clearing the way for God The Father to Proclaim in Total Victory - "IT IS FINISHED". Three days later, on that First Easter Morning, our Lord Jesus added the Exclamation Point! As He Arose from The Tomb, our Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, having looked not only death square in the eye, BUT also having broken down the gates of Hades themselves - could Say in Total Triumph - "IT IS FINISHED!"
Thus, my Prayer of Thanks for us today is simply - Lord Jesus Thank You that You did End This Battle Once and For All and For All Time! Holy Spirit, Guide us that we May ever Walk In Your Way. Father God, Empower and Embolden us to Reflect Your Victory in All we Think, Say and Do, thus Being Your Lighthouse to those who have Not Yet Claimed Your Victory for themselves by Your Son's Loving and Saving Grace. In Your Precious Name we Raise our Thanks....Amen/Amen....jaj
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