John
20:17-22
One of the first things Jesus said to Mary when He saw her was,
"go to My brethren and say to them ...". Jesus called them His brethren. This is
a deep matter. Although everyone had forsaken Him, Peter had denied Him, yet when He arose
from the dead He identified Himself with them as His brethren.
The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ works wondrously. When we come
to the cross and unburden ourselves He forgives and forgets. He did not say, "go and
tell those who had forsaken Me"; He did not even call them His disciples but His
brethren.
His cross brings His children together to be one and have
fellowship with one another. This is true Godly Love.
Surrender your life completely to Him. Give Him all the wrongs
people do to you and do not bear grudges. Let the cross work so much in your life that you
can call each one who follows Christ your brother, even though they have disappointed you.
Forgive those who wrong you and desert you in the time of need. Let the Cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ work deeply in your life.
He also said to them, "I am ascending to My Father and your
Father, and to My God and your God". We are born of the same Blood, and
baptised by the same Spirit.
At the Cross all grudges, bitterness, criticisms and
incompatibility comes to an end. If you had been to the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ you
will be able to work together with your brother in Christ.
We must follow in Jesus' footsteps and bring peace to those around
us. As the Father had sent Him so He sends us. We are not to live for ourselves but to do
His will.
The Lord Jesus' desire is that the Living Gospel would reach the
ends of the world. He died to take away our sins so that we would live for Him and not for
ourselves.
The Cross works in a life so that there is only one desire left -
to do God's will.
His Love is amazing. He freely forgave them their cowardly
behaviour, gave them His Peace and Holy Spirit.
He even said to them "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you
retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Are we so one with Him, of one mind and one Spirit that we can forgive the sins of a
person knowing God had forgiven him?
Brothers and sisters the time is short. We are commissioned to
preach the Gospel. There is no time to sin. Idleness leads to sin. Be on fire for God.
Nations are hungry and thirsty for the Truth but there is no one to tell them about it.
Young people what are you busy with? Have you truly been to the Cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Is He the most important in your life?
If Christ is not the most important in your life, seek after Him
until you find Him.
You can make rules and regulations but it will not help. You must have a meeting with
Christ.