“Unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” John 3:5
“Every now and then a drover would find a waterin’ hole or ride up on a creek or river where he could wash off the trail dust. Just like us he could only get the outside of his body clean. Soap n’ water can’t clean the inside. Our thoughts, our lusts, our sinful desires can only be changed by a spiritual transformation.
Jesus calls it ‘being born again’. Ya see, if we are going to heaven we’re gonna have to have a second birth. The first birth is physical (‘whoever is born of account of the flesh Continue reading “The Second Birth”
“When Jesus had done tasted the sour vinegar He said, ‘It is finished!’ And He bowed His head and died.” John 19:30 (The Gospel of John Cowboy Style)
On our little ranch, there was always work to be done, so my father would assign chores for me to do, like feed the cattle, repair a broken fence, dig up prickly pears, clean the barn, and whatever else he could think of. Later he would ask me, “Son, did you get it all done?” And I’d usually say, “yep, I finished the work you gave me to do.”
Jesus came to earth, sent by His Father to perform an assignment He had given Him. That assignment involved being nailed to a cross to die as our perfect substitute in order that Continue reading “It is Finished!”
Jesus said that if He was lifted up from the earth on a cross, He would “draw all men unto Himself.” There is a magnetism to the cross of Jesus Christ. The cross has a drawing power . . . it draws all men to Christ? What is it that gives the cross such appeal?
I. The Cross Has the Magnetism of Love . . .
“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (perfect sacrifice) for our sins”–I John 4:10.
The surest and purest place where the Love of God can be seen in all its dimensions is the cross of Calvary. That’s why folks regardless of ethnicity, social stratus, economic standing, and cultural environment are drawn to it. We are drawn to the cross by the drawing power of God’s Love–See John 3:16.
II. The Cross Has the Magnetism of Forgiveness . . .
The greatest need we have is the need for forgiveness. The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”–Romans 3:23. Jesus’ death on the cross is God’s answer to man’s sin. In and through His death God offers us forgiveness and cleansing–See Romans 5:8.
III. The Cross Has the Magnetism of Victory . . .
The cross of Calvary was a struggle between God and Satan, between light and darkness, between good and evil, between two rulers contending for world supremacy. Jesus emerged the victor. We too seek victory over sin and death, so we also are drawn to the cross of Christ. In it we discover ultimate victory.
The geographical heart of 19th century London was Charing Cross. Locals referred to it simply as “the cross.” A story circulated at that time among evangelical preachers about “the cross.” It seems a London police officer found a sobbing little boy who was lost and unable to tell the officer where he lived. Finally amid the tears he said, “If you will take me to the Cross, I can find my way home.”
It is believed that Jessie Pounds, an Ohio woman, who wrote over 400 hymns, heard that story and penned the classic, “The Way of the Cross Leads Home.”
I must needs go home by the way of the cross, There’s no other way but this; I shall ne’er get sight of the Gates of Light, If the way of the cross I miss.
“This was the beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” John 2:11
John records turning of water into wine as Jesus’ first miracle or sign. Jesus performed lots of miracles when He was on earth. The gospel of John records seven . . .
“By believin’ you can have everlastin’ life in His Name”
Turning water into wine—John 2:1-11
Healing of a boy—John 4:46-54
Healing of a man by a pool—John 5:1-9
Feeding of the 5000—John 6:5-13
Jesus walking on water—John 6:19
Healing of a blind man—John 9:1-7
Raising Lazarus from the dead—John 11:38-44
John picked out these miracles as proof that Jesus is truly God, the very Son of God. He states this in John 20:30-31 “Now there’s a whole lot more signs and miracles Jesus did when He was with His disciples that ain’t wrote down in this book, but these here are a Continue reading “Turning Water into Wine ~ Beginning of Miracles”
“Without Jesus nothin’ was made that has been made”
“Before time was ever started, Jesus was there. Jesus was with God and Jesus was surely God. Before ever any woods or prairies, outfits or herds, He was there. At the very first rodeo when the chute opened He was right there with God. Everything as far as eye can see was made by Jesus, and without Jesus nothin’ was made that has been made. In Jesus was the spark of life, and that life is the light for all folks. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can’t do anything about it”—John 1:1-5 (The Gospel of John Cowboy Style).
The first person we meet in the Gospel of John is Jesus. John wants us to know right away that Jesus has always existed, even from before the very Continue reading “In the Beginning”
