A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Click here to support our ministry.The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archive edition Friday, March 29, 2013 "Good Friday"   Listen to this message on your audio player."The Triumph of the Cross" "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5) "This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross" (Acts 2:23). "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). During our Maundy Thursday service last night we sang the somber hymn, "He Was Wounded For Our Transgressions" based on Isaiah 53. It's a lesser known song written by Thomas Chisholm in 1941 who also wrote the more familiar hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness". It speaks of the sin offering Jesus became as He took all our sins upon Himself while hanging on the cross. He was wounded for our transgressions, He bore our sins in His body on the tree; For our guilt He gave us peace, from our bondage gave release, And with His stripes, and with His stripes, And with His stripes our souls are healed. Of the seven last sayings of Christ from the cross three are specifically directed to His Father. The God of creation and the Lord of the universe was surely there when His only begotten Son was crucified. Consideration of the Father's perspective at the crucifixion of His Son gives us much to think about. But this much is clear; the Father was not a mere passive Spectator. The first phrase in the third daily text reads, "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us." Three words in that sentence especially grip my attention. Read them slowly: "God made Him..." Due to the complexities of the English language perhaps some clarification is needed. We often use the word "made" to describe one forcing another to do something against his will. But the Father did not force Christ to be our sacrifice. The Greek understanding of this verse would more clearly read, "for Him who knew no sin, God hath made sin, or a sin-offering for us." He was numbered among the transgressors, We did esteem Him forsaken by His God; As our sacrifice He died, that the law be satisfied, and all our sin, and all our sin, and all our sin was laid on Him. Today, as believers, we look back nearly 2,000 years to the great Sacrifice Jesus made so that our sins could be forgiven. We realize that this day, Good Friday, is indeed good because it is the day that God showed us the full extent of His love and provided for our eternal redemption. The patriarch Joseph, whom many see as a type of Christ, made a statement that many years later found even greater fulfillment at the Cross: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:20). Yes, surely God intended the Cross for good. This Good Friday let us indeed praise God from whom all blessings flow! The song, like so many of the great songs of the Church ends with a view of the eternal future. Who can number His generation? Who shall declare all the triumphs of the cross? Millions dead now live again, Myriads follow in His train! Victorious Lord, victorious Lord, Victorious Lord and coming King! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Loving Father, we thank You for Jesus who was wounded for our transgressions, who bore our sins in His body on the tree. For our guilt He gave us peace, and from our bondage to sin He gave sweet release. The triumph of the cross is witnessed by the myriads of believers who follow Christ into heaven. We thank You for Jesus who is our victorious and soon coming King! We honor Him by surrendering our lives wholly to His set purpose. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Amen.Brooksyne's Note: I laid awake last night because the song "He Was Wounded for Our Transgressions" which we feature today kept playing over and over in my mind. It's never been one of my "top ten" favorite songs during the Easter season due to its tune that's somewhat difficult to sing and the tone which is quite gloomy, but its message lingered in my spirit throughout the night and even this morning. I kept thinking of the many things Jesus gave up or endured on His earthly journey that would conclude at the cross even as the tune played in my mind:
Maundy Thursday Service  Last night we had a Maundy Thursday service in our church that included a "love feast", singing, Scripture readings, testimonies, Communion, and a devotional message, along with a footwashing service. Since the footwashing service is the least commonly experienced among our readers we will share a couple photos and notes about this. I (Stephen) went to a separate room with the men while the women and girls (who outnumbered us) stayed in the main room. We had children, teens, young adults, and the elderly participating.   Brooksyne's thoughts from the Women's Footwashing: I'm always blessed by the hymns we sing as we wash one another's feet. I was especially touched as I saw two little girls, in earnest, washing and having their feet washed. Though I had been leading out in adult hymns I was prompted by another woman to sing "Jesus Loves Me This I Know" for the sake of the children. As I did so little six year old Tirzah smiled and sang out heartily. Immediately following that song she boldly began to sing out the words, "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world." In this case a little child led the women in singing rather than the other way around, and it sure warmed my heart! Northern New York Today we will share our final selection of photos from our trip to northern New York this past weekend.  On the way up we passed this rather rugged looking horse standing in the snow near the fence along Route 11. The wind blown mane kind of sets him apart, don't you think!  The owner of this rural mailbox devised an interesting post by using a limb that sticks its neck out for the postal worker!  We suspect that this most unusual mailbox will lift up out of the way for the powerful snow plow. (The owner probably replaced a few mailboxes over the years that had been hit by snow plows.)  This stately church is in Croghan, New York.  On the way home we passed these remnants from an old series of locks near Booneville on the Black River Canal system.  Covered Bridge across the canal in Booneville, New York Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "He Was Wounded For Our Transgressions" Video (This is the song referred to in the message). If you have time listen to it a couple of times so that its message will penetrate deep into your soul on this Good Friday. "By His Wounds" Video Mac Powell, Steven Curtis Chapman, Brian Littrell & Mark Hall "O Mighty Cross" Video Don Moen "What Love Is This?" Video "Lead Me To The Cross" Video "The Wonderful Cross" Video "It's Still The Cross" Video "The Bridge" Video This powerful dramatic video illustrates the sacrifice God made in allowing His Son to die for our sins. Google map of the region in New York we visited this last weekend. Black River Canal |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber (Click on photo to enlarge) "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/31/12)  Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. We ask you to consider an offering to Daily Encouragement Net so that we can continue to prepare and provide this daily resource which is accessed by believers and seekers all over the world. Daily Encouragement Net relies solely on the generosity and financial support of its readers and podcast listeners. See here for more information on supporting this ministry. Gifts are tax deductible. Click here to donate online.2013 YTD financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 3/28/13: $4,690.00. We express thanks to all who support our ministry! SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  Were you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net? If you desire you can receive your own free! To receive these "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. These messages are never sent by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR it was forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or as an email subscription through Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If you no longer desire to receive these messages you can remove your address from the list by merely using the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Weekly Version: The weekly version is intended for those who may not check their email regularly or who may desire less frequent mailings. It is Friday's message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. Daily Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter:  The daily message and prayer on Facebook. The daily message and prayer on Twitter.Reader Survey: Please take a few minutes to assist us in improving our ministry effectiveness by filling out this online reader survey. To take the survey click here. Please feel free to pass these messages on! Our other blogs: "A Daily Prayer" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. We keep this up each day since it's merely the prayer from the Daily Encouragement Net message! "A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) (Note: This material is satire!) "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. (Actually this is my intent but I haven't done much with it!) "Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. All of these songs are also available for download on the site. Personal Mission Statement "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."  How to become a child of God 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. Other versions are also occasionally used. © Copyright 2013 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us  Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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