Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Tuesday, 10 October 2017 "Jesus, My Hero" by Amy Crofford - Mark 15:21-32

Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Tuesday, 10 October 2017 "Jesus, My Hero" by Amy Crofford - Mark 15:21-32

Mark 15:21 A certain man from Cyrene, Shim‘on, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country; and they forced him to carry the stake. 22 They brought Yeshua to a place called Gulgolta (which means “place of a skull”), 23 and they gave him wine spiced with myrrh, but he didn’t take it. 24 Then they nailed him to the execution-stake; and they divided his clothes among themselves, throwing dice to determine what each man should get. 25 It was nine in the morning when they nailed him to the stake. 26 Over his head, the written notice of the charge against him read,
THE KING OF THE JEWS
27 On execution-stakes with him they placed two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 28 [Mark 15:28 Some manuscripts include verse 15:28: And the passage from the Tanakh was fulfilled which says, “He was counted with transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12)] 29 People passing by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! So you can destroy the Temple, can you, and rebuild it in three days? 30 Save yourself and come down from the stake!” 31 Likewise, the head cohanim and the Torah-teachers made fun of him, saying to each other, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself!” 32 and, “So he’s the Messiah, is he? The King of Isra’el? Let him come down now from the stake! If we see that, then we’ll believe him!” Even the men nailed up with him insulted him.
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In literature, the hero is the character about whom the story revolves. This main character faces difficulties that challenge either moral or physical strength. The climax comes when the character makes the decision to remain steadfast to a higher principle–or not. Often, the character must make a sacrifice for a greater good.
Jesus is the hero, not in fiction, but in nonfiction. History is dated by His life. He faced difficult temptations and trials in the desert and throughout His ministry. He was misunderstood by just about everyone during His lifetime. People expected that He would somehow break the reign of the Roman Empire and set up an earthly kingdom. His disciples followed, but only after His death did they really comprehend His mission, and even then it took some time to catch the vision. Jesus sacrificed himself even as He was being ridiculed to save all of humanity from the consequences of sin. Jesus is a hero who rose from the dead.
Is was one thing to recognize that Jesus is a hero, and yet another to accpet Him as your personal living hero. Has Jesus saved you? Does your life revolve around Jesus? Is Jesus your hero?
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Hymn for Today:

"At the Cross" by Isaac Watts
1. Alas, and did my Savior bleed?
  And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
  For such a worm as I?
Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where
  I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
  And now I am happy all the day!
2. Was it for sins that I had done
  He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
  And love beyond degree!
Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where
  I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
  And now I am happy all the day!
3. Well might the sun in darkness hide,
  And shut His glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died
  For man, His creature’s sin.
Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where
  I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
  And now I am happy all the day!
4. Thus might I hide my blushing face
  While His dear cross appears.
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
  And melt mine eyes to tears.
Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where
  I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
  And now I am happy all the day!
5. But drops of grief can ne’er repay
  The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
  ’Tis all that I can do.
Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where
  I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
  And now I am happy all the day!
Thought for Today:
but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah!(1 Corinthians 15:57}
Please pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in Martinique.
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