The
online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Mobile users:
Visit Daily Encouragement on your mobile browser, hit "Add to
home screen" or "Add page shortcut." This creates an instant
Daily Encouragement App!
Search Daily Encouragement
A new message is updated most
weekdays usually by Noon Eastern Time (USA).
(Click refresh or reload for current message)
(Click refresh or reload for current message)
Friday, April
7, 2023
Good
Friday
"Three
Crosses"
Message
summary:
This
week we
"consider
Him who
endured such
opposition
from sinful
men." This
Good Friday
let us,
through faith
with thankful
hearts, accept
God's only
solution for
our sin
problem, His
all sufficient
merit. Let us
faithfully
live for the
One who died
for us.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"When
they came to
the place
called the
Skull, there
they crucified
Him, along
with the
criminals--one
on His right,
the other on
His left"
(Luke 23:33).
Walking
into our
church
sanctuary this
last Sunday we
were blessed
at the sight
of three large
crosses at the
back of the
platform.
Normally
Christians use
a single cross
as a symbol of
their faith
but the three
crosses also
have rich
symbolism as a
reminder of
the three
crosses on
Mount Calvary.
Jesus, crucified on the middle cross, vicariously dying for the sins of all mankind. Two criminals, representative of the human race, hung on crosses at each side of Him. These three crosses each represent:
Today is a day of decision. Truth be told, everyday is a day of decision.
Jesus, crucified on the middle cross, vicariously dying for the sins of all mankind. Two criminals, representative of the human race, hung on crosses at each side of Him. These three crosses each represent:
1)
The cross of
rejection.
One criminal
represents the
masses that to
the very end
rebel against
God and reject
His plan of
redemption.
But rarely is
such sneering
so openly
expressed, and
this by a
dying man as
he hurled
insults at
Christ. This
unnamed
criminal is
merely
expressing the
viewpoint of
so many who
reject God's
only remedy
for our sin
problem. This
criminal died
in his sin.
2) The cross of repentance. The other criminal represents those who repent of their sins and place their faith in God's redemptive plan. This criminal came to realize that he and the other lawbreaker deserved the penalty and was quite frank when he spoke: "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong" (Luke 23:41). His faith is humbly expressed in these words: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom". Our Lord's word to this criminal, one of His seven recorded last sayings, brought eternal hope to the repentant criminal as well as spiritual hope to millions throughout the centuries, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise". This criminal died to his sin.
3) The cross of redemption. On the middle cross Christ died once for all time for all people. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" (Ephesians 1:7). "For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross" (Colossians 1:19,20). Peter, a witness to these things, stated, "For Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust" (1 Peter 3:18a). Our Savior died for our sin. "The man in the middle just keeps on giving His love away" (Wayne Watson).
2) The cross of repentance. The other criminal represents those who repent of their sins and place their faith in God's redemptive plan. This criminal came to realize that he and the other lawbreaker deserved the penalty and was quite frank when he spoke: "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong" (Luke 23:41). His faith is humbly expressed in these words: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom". Our Lord's word to this criminal, one of His seven recorded last sayings, brought eternal hope to the repentant criminal as well as spiritual hope to millions throughout the centuries, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise". This criminal died to his sin.
3) The cross of redemption. On the middle cross Christ died once for all time for all people. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" (Ephesians 1:7). "For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross" (Colossians 1:19,20). Peter, a witness to these things, stated, "For Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust" (1 Peter 3:18a). Our Savior died for our sin. "The man in the middle just keeps on giving His love away" (Wayne Watson).
Today is a day of decision. Truth be told, everyday is a day of decision.
For
many of us it
will be a decision
of
reaffirmation
to follow
Christ that we
previously
made whether
it was in
recent years
or at a very
early age. In
our case it
was over 50
years ago.
Till our dying
breath we
aspire to
proclaim, "I
Still
Believe!"
This evening
at our Good
Friday service
we will
remember and
worship our
Redeemer. We
will remember
Christ's
supreme
sacrifice on
the Cross of
Calvary, and
even more
poignantly as
we partake of
the communion
elements.
But for others this can be the day you move from indifference or rejection to repentance through faith in the Great Redeemer, Jesus Christ. The cross of redemption was singularly accomplished by Jesus Christ. Our only hope is His all sufficient merit.
But for others this can be the day you move from indifference or rejection to repentance through faith in the Great Redeemer, Jesus Christ. The cross of redemption was singularly accomplished by Jesus Christ. Our only hope is His all sufficient merit.
Here's
life' most
important
question: Are
you living
your life in
rejection of
Christ or in
repentance?
Let us, like
the repentant
criminal,
acknowledge
that "we
are punished
justly, for we
are getting
what our deeds
deserve. But
this man has
done nothing
wrong"
(Luke 23:41).
This Good Friday let us, through faith with thankful hearts, accept God's only solution for our sin problem. Let us faithfully live for the One who died for us.
This Good Friday let us, through faith with thankful hearts, accept God's only solution for our sin problem. Let us faithfully live for the One who died for us.
All
sufficient
merit shining
like the sun
A fortune I inherit by no work I have done
My righteousness I forfeit at my Savior's cross
Where all sufficient merit did what I could not
A fortune I inherit by no work I have done
My righteousness I forfeit at my Savior's cross
Where all sufficient merit did what I could not
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, thank
You for the
record in
Scripture that
makes us more
than just
curious
bystanders
during the
crucifixion of
Your precious
Son. Jesus'
recorded
conversation
with the
repentant
criminal helps
us to see how
immediate
redemption for
all humanity
was being
provided
through His
death on the
cross.
Thoughtful
reflecting on
this day
brings about
grief and
sadness as we
recall the
rejection,
pain, ridicule
and suffering
Christ
underwent. In
Luke 22:53
Jesus spoke to
those who
seized Him in
the garden as
a time when
darkness
reigns. Though
He may have
been speaking
figuratively
in the garden
the next
afternoon
literal
darkness fell
upon the earth
as He breathed
His final
breath. Surely
all hope
dissipated for
those who
stood by our
Lord as He
hung on the
cross. But I'm
so glad we
don't have to
wait for the
rest of the
story to
unfold since
we know,
through
Scripture, the
final outcome
and the way of
salvation
Christ made
possible for
us. Thank you,
Father, that
You loved the
world so much
that You gave
Your one and
only Son to
die for our
sins, that
whoever calls
upon the name
of the Lord
shall be
saved. We call
upon the Lord
Jesus to save
us, cleanse us
from our sins,
and to indwell
our hearts.
Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"All
Sufficient
Merit"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Shane and
Shane
It
is done, it is
finished
No more debt I owe
Paid in full, all sufficient
Merit now my own
No more debt I owe
Paid in full, all sufficient
Merit now my own
The
phrase "All
Sufficient
Merit" to the
best of my
study ability
first appears
in a song by
Charles Wesley
often sung
during advent.
Can you
identify it?
(See below
after last
photo for
answer.)
"Thank
You Jesus for
the Blood"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Charity
Gayle (I
look forward
to hearing our
choir lead in
this song
during our
Good Friday
service this
evening.)
"Man
In The Middle"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Wayne
Watson A
"contemporary"
song we recall
from the 80's
and also a
contemporary
in ministry as
he was born in
1954, same as
Stephen.
(We
are posting
this
information
all through
Holy Week)
The
four gospels
cover the life
of Christ, a
period of
about 33
years. Most of
this material
deals with the
3˝ year period
of His
ministry.
However an
astounding 30
of the 89
accumulative
chapters in
the gospels
deal with the
period from
Christ's
triumphal
entry through
His
resurrection
and
post-resurrection
appearances.
Mathematically
this means
that
approximately
33% of the
written
material in
the gospels
deals with a
mere .05%
period of His
life! In the
providence of
God we have a
much greater
proportion of
material
dealing with
God's greatest
act of mercy
in providing
our
redemption.
Here's an interesting chart from the Life Application Study Bible that may be helpful as you study the Bible during this time. It sure helps me to have a sense of when the events took place and is inspiring to read these Scriptures in the daily sequence leading up to Easter.
Sunday
Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19
Monday
Jesus Clears the Temple: Mt. 21:12,13; Mk. 11:15-17; Lk. 19:45,46
Tuesday/Wednesday
Here's an interesting chart from the Life Application Study Bible that may be helpful as you study the Bible during this time. It sure helps me to have a sense of when the events took place and is inspiring to read these Scriptures in the daily sequence leading up to Easter.
Sunday
Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19
Monday
Jesus Clears the Temple: Mt. 21:12,13; Mk. 11:15-17; Lk. 19:45,46
Tuesday/Wednesday
Jesus'
authority
challenged in
the temple:
Mt. 21:23-27;
Mk. 11:27-33;
Lk. 20:1-8
Jesus teaches stories and confronts the Jewish leaders: Mt. 21:28-23:36; Mk. 12:1-40; Lk. 20:9-47
Greeks ask to see Jesus: Jn. 12:20-26
The Olivet Discourse: Mt. 24; Mk. 13; Lk. 21:5-38
Judas agrees to betray Jesus: Mt. 26:14-16; Mk. 14:10,11; Lk. 22:3-6
Thursday
The Last Supper: Mt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:14-20
Jesus speaks to the disciples in the upper room: Jn. 13-17
Jesus struggles in Garden of Gethsemane: Mt. 26:36-46; Mk. 14:32-42; Lk. 22:39-46; Jn. 18:1
Jesus is betrayed and arrested: Mt. 26:47-56; Mk. 14:43-52; Lk. 22:47-53; Jn. 18:2-12
Friday
Jesus is tried by Jewish and Roman authorities and disowned by Peter: Mt. 26:57-27:2, 11-31; Mk. 14:53-15:20; Lk. 22:54-23:25; Jn. 18:13-19:16
Jesus is crucified and buried: Mt. 27:31-56; Mk. 15:20-41; Lk. 23:26-49; Jn. 19:17-30
Sunday
The glorious resurrection: Mt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-11; Lk. 24:1-12; Jn. 20:1-18
Jesus teaches stories and confronts the Jewish leaders: Mt. 21:28-23:36; Mk. 12:1-40; Lk. 20:9-47
Greeks ask to see Jesus: Jn. 12:20-26
The Olivet Discourse: Mt. 24; Mk. 13; Lk. 21:5-38
Judas agrees to betray Jesus: Mt. 26:14-16; Mk. 14:10,11; Lk. 22:3-6
Thursday
The Last Supper: Mt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:14-20
Jesus speaks to the disciples in the upper room: Jn. 13-17
Jesus struggles in Garden of Gethsemane: Mt. 26:36-46; Mk. 14:32-42; Lk. 22:39-46; Jn. 18:1
Jesus is betrayed and arrested: Mt. 26:47-56; Mk. 14:43-52; Lk. 22:47-53; Jn. 18:2-12
Friday
Jesus is tried by Jewish and Roman authorities and disowned by Peter: Mt. 26:57-27:2, 11-31; Mk. 14:53-15:20; Lk. 22:54-23:25; Jn. 18:13-19:16
Jesus is crucified and buried: Mt. 27:31-56; Mk. 15:20-41; Lk. 23:26-49; Jn. 19:17-30
Sunday
The glorious resurrection: Mt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-11; Lk. 24:1-12; Jn. 20:1-18
Today
we share
several photos
taken this
week in our
rural area.
Sheep
scattered here
and there as
they graze on
a broad hill
on Grandview
Road north of
Mount
Joy. (Psalm
23:2)
Click
on photo to
enlarge
Amish
farm near the
Lancaster/Lebanon
County line on
Harvest Road.
Our
neighbor
Leon getting
ready for
field prep.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
We
have quite a
contrast in
farming
methods on our
relatively
short road.
Yesterday
we saw our
Amish neighbor
plowing with a
mule. Leon
works for a
farm equipment
dealership who
has the latest
power and time
saving
equipment.
Click
on photo to
enlarge
The
phrase "All
Sufficient
Merit" to the
best of my
study first
appeared in
Charles
Wesley's song,
"Come Thou
Long Expected
Jesus" most
often sung
during Advent.
To
receive the
"Daily
Encouragement"
each
Monday-Friday
use our
sign-up form
or this
page to
subscribe to
our free email
list. You can
also subscribe
to the Wordpress
rss feed
or through a Wordpress
email
subscription.
(See the email
subscription
on the top
right side
after opening
this page.)
We
want to thank
all who
financially
support our
ministry this
past year (and
some for many
years!). We
realize there
are many fine
ministries and
causes
requesting
support at
this time but
if you would
like
information
about making a
donation to
our ministry
see here.
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
To
donate
directly
online
click here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering
to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE
WEBER -
700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED
CHAPLAINCY)
If
you desire you
can also
donate
directly
through PayPal
using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber". We
keep this
option
available due
to the
familiarity,
convenience,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
To
donate
directly
online
click here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering
to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE
WEBER -
700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED
CHAPLAINCY)
If
you desire you
can also
donate
directly
through PayPal
using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber". We
keep this
option
available due
to the
familiarity,
convenience,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Daily
Encouragement on: 
Wordpress
iHeart
radio
Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Wordpress
iHeart
radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
© Copyright 2023 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA