He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul

Christ was nailed to the cross on Good Friday and crucified between two thieves. There He suffered and He died. (Matt. 27:32-56; Mark 15:21-41; Luke 23:32-49; John 19:16b-37) 
Christ was buried in a tomb by Joseph of Arimathea, who wrapped Christ's body in clean linen, placed Christ in the tomb, and rolled a stone over the entrance. The tomb was sealed, and guards were posted. (Matt. 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)Christ remained in the tomb on Friday and Saturday. 
On the third day, Sunday, He arose, just as He said. (Matt. 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-9)

1 John 1New International Version (NIV)

The Incarnation of the Word of Life

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our[a] joy complete.

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Footnotes:

1. 1 John 1:4 Some manuscripts your
2. 1 John 1:7 Or every

The Lily of the Valley | Charles W. Fry

1. I’ve found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me,
   He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
   The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
   All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
   In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay;
   He tells me every care on Him to roll.
   • Refrain:
     He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
     He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
2. He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne;
   In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tow’r;
   I’ve all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
   From my heart and now He keeps me by His pow’r.
   Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,
   Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal.
3. He’ll never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
   While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
   A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,
   From His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
   Then sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face,
   Where rivers of delight shall ever roll.

12TH WEEK 5TH DAY: WHAT HAD THE LAMB DONE ON THE WOODEN CROSS

WHAT HAD THE LAMB OF GOD-JESUS DONE ON THE WOODEN CROSS? He shed His redemption blood. He had broken the curse. He had taken away the power of death. He had set free. 

(ALL SCRIPTURES ARE QUOTED IN New King James Version (NKJV) (Boldness and italics added)

Hebrews 2:14-15  14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Footnotes:

1. Hebrews 2:13 2 Samuel 22:3; Isaiah 8:17
2. Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:18

Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

Hebrews 9:12

Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. In Context

Hebrews 9:14

how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? In Context

Hebrews 9:18

Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. In Context |

Hebrews 9:22

And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. In Context

Hebrews 10:4

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. In Context

Hebrews 10:19

[ Hold Fast Your Confession ] Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, In Context

Hebrews 10:29

Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? In Context

Hebrews 11:28

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. In Context

Hebrews 12:24

to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. In Context

Hebrews 13:11

For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. In Context

Hebrews 13:12

Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. In Context

Hebrews 13:20

[ Benediction, Final Exhortation, Farewell ] Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, In Context

RESPONSE HYMN: JUST AS I AM

1

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

2

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot;
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

3

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt;
Fightings within, and fears without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

4

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind;
Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

5

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

6

Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Lyrics:

Charlotte Elliott (1789-1871)

Music:

William Batchelder Bradbury (1816-1868)

12th week 5th day: Good Friday

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)

Good Friday occurs two days before Easter Sunday, and commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ following his triumphal re-entrance into Jerusalem. Many church services are held in the afternoon, usually around noon or midday to 3pm, to remember the hours when Jesus hung on the cross. What Do People Do? Some Christians may attend special church services or prayer vigils. Some treat Good Friday as a day of fasting. Some homes keep a quiet atmosphere, with little or no outside activities and limited television, radio, and computer use. Some people bake hot cross buns, made of leavened dough, to which sugar, currants and spices have been added. The top of the bun is marked with a cross.

Let us read the One year Bible New Testament passage and remember what Jesus had spoken while He was on earth on other days, carrying out His ministry. The reading is Luke 5:29-6:11. I have quoted some verses from this passage. My notes are in bold letters and italics.

Jesus spoke of His purpose on earth: Contrary to social classes and religious discrimination, He came to meet the needs of those who need Him, the sick (and poor), the sinners (in terms of professions). Those who are generally avoided and/or rejected by the society at large. He came for them. He called them to Him. Because God has no favor where healing and salvation are concerned. It is ironical that the lowly individuals became blessed by God instead of those who considered themselves more worthy and deserving. 

31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician,but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Then Jesus spoke of the purpose of fasting: Fasting is all about relationship – between the individual and God. The church and Jesus. The bridegroom and the bride. 

34 And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”

No words can fully describe the suffering that our Lord Jesus had gone through on the cross. Psalm 22 does give us a glimpse of how the suffering must have been felt and the prophecies of Jesus fulfilled.

Psalm 22 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Suffering, Praise, and Posterity of the Messiah

To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Deer of the Dawn.”[a] A Psalm of David.

22 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Why are You so far from helping Me,
And from the words of My groaning?
2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;
And in the night season, and am not silent.

3 But You are holy,
Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in You;
They trusted, and You delivered them.
5 They cried to You, and were delivered;
They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

6 But I am a worm, and no man;
A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
7 All those who see Me ridicule Me;
They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 “He trusted[b] in the Lord, let Him rescue Him;
Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”

9 But You are He who took Me out of the womb;
You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon You from birth.
From My mother’s womb
You have been My God.
11 Be not far from Me,
For trouble is near;
For there is none to help.

12 Many bulls have surrounded Me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.
13 They gape at Me with their mouths,
Like a raging and roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water,
And all My bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It has melted within Me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And My tongue clings to My jaws;
You have brought Me to the dust of death.

16 For dogs have surrounded Me;
The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.
They pierced[c] My hands and My feet;
17 I can count all My bones.
They look and stare at Me.
18 They divide My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.

19 But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me;
O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
20 Deliver Me from the sword,
My precious life from the power of the dog.
21 Save Me from the lion’s mouth
And from the horns of the wild oxen!

You have answered Me.

22 I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from Him;
But when He cried to Him, He heard.

25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly;
I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.
Let your heart live forever!

27 All the ends of the world
Shall remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations
Shall worship before You.[d]
28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s,
And He rules over the nations.

29 All the prosperous of the earth
Shall eat and worship;
All those who go down to the dust
Shall bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep himself alive.

30 A posterity shall serve Him.
It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,
31 They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born,
That He has done this.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 22:1 Hebrew Aijeleth Hashahar
2. Psalm 22:8 Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read hoped; Targum readspraised.
3. Psalm 22:16 Following some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads Like a lion.
4. Psalm 22:27 Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Targum; Arabic, Syriac, and Vulgate read Him.