“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.
Finding water on cattle drives was an absolute necessity for both cattle and drovers. Most trails like the Good Night Loving Trail, the Great Western Trail and the Chisholm Trail over which cattle were pushed to rail heads in the north had well marked watering places. These watering places whether it was a muddy pond or a fast-moving river were often called ‘watering holes’ by the cowboys.
Watering holes for travelers in the days of Jesus were just as necessary and sought after as those of the wild west. One such watering hole is that
An old watering hole
described in the 4th chapter of John. It was an ancient well dug by Jacob. It was located at a historical and spiritually significant parcel of land located
between the twin mountains of Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim. At the time of the writing of John’s Gospel it was still in use and provided life-giving water to the residents of the little Samaritan village of Sychar.
Jesus Blesses a Meager Lunch and With it Feeds Thousands
Jesus hardly sat down ‘til He looked up and saw a huge herd of folks a-comin’ for more teachin’. He tested His pardner Philip by askin’ him, “Where do you reckon we’ll buy bread to feed all these people who are a-comin’?” . . . ol’ Andrew, Peter’s brother, he spoke up, “All we got is this little cowboy here that’s got five biscuits and a couple of little perch packed for his lunch . . . Jesus gave thanks for the biscuits and they started passin’ them around. Then He did the same with the fish ‘til every single one had plenty–John 6:5-11 (The Gospel of John Cowboy Style).
“What a miracle, when Jesus took that young lad’s lunch that consisted of a handful of biscuits and a couple of small fish and with His blessings fed thousands. By this miracle we can know the way it is when Jesus blesses something. He can take that which is small and make it big. He can take the offering of our service and use it to the grater good for His Kingdom. Never underestimate what God can do with what little we hand to Him in faith.” Searching Heart and Scripture, page 49.
up, “All we got is this little cowboy here that’s got five biscuits and a couple of little perch packed for his lunch . . . Jesus gave thanks for the biscuits and they started passin’ them around. Then He did the same with the fish ‘til every single one had plenty–John 6:5-11 (The Gospel of John Cowboy Style).