“Some facts should be suppressed“, said Arthur Conan Doyle–the author of the Sherlock Holmes stories. I’m not Sherlock Holmes, but it’s no mystery to me why so many people agree with Doyle’s words.

For instance, a young British woman was sentenced to two years in prison for knowingly transmitting HIV to her boyfriend. When the judge asked her why she committed the wicked act, the woman answered, “I just didn’t want to believe I had HIV“. Simply stated, the woman lived her life as if she wasn’t HIV-positive because she did not want to believe she was HIV-positive.

In the same way, people do not believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ because they do not want to.

The Bible describes unbelievers as those who by their sins – not science–suppress the truth of the gospel. Romans 1:18 says, “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”  The physical resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historical fact –  He was killed on a cross and was then buried in a tomb guarded by Roman soldiers (Matthew 27:62-66). But on the third day after His death He rose again and appeared to: His friends and family, then more than five hundred people at the same time, and then Paul–the persecutor of Christians who became a Christian himself after seeing the resurrected Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3).

The sun rises every morning. If you do not believe that, it’s because you do not want to,  Similarily, Jesus Christ–the Son of God–rose from the dead. If you do not believe that, it’s because you do not want to.

Matthew 28:11-15 says: “some of the guard [the soldiers who were guarding the Jesus' tomb] went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.”

The truth is, every unbeliever refuses to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ because they do not want accept it’s implications. For example, Charles Darwin — the man who introduced the theory of evolution to the world — once said:

“I can hardly see how anyone ought to wish Christianity to be true; for if so the plain language of the text seems to show that the men who do not believe, and this would include my Father, Brother and almost all my best friends, will be everlastingly punished. And this is a damnable doctrine”

In other words, Darwin refused to believe that God created life and that Jesus rose from the dead because he did not want to accept the truth that his unbelieving loved ones were suffering in Hell for rejecting Christ. There are primarily three reasons why people refuse to believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ. What are they? You will find the answer on Page 2.

By: Allan Huang

Dear Christian. If you’ve never looked deeply at the Cross, you have no idea what you deny yourself.  For so many, the Cross has become something that we believe in when we first come to Christ, and then cast aside as we begin to “grow.” The Cross, for all Christians of all times, has been the banner and symbol of our faith, where all is conquered and won. Yet, today, our view of the Cross has been severely damaged. Almost all churches have a Cross on its roof or in its sanctuary without any explanation. Where have we gone wrong? Since when was the Cross  ”that place where our sins were forgiven ONLY” and where just a bare definition is enough for all believers. Let’s look closer at three words that can give us a deeper understanding of the Cross, and can help us realize that the Cross is essential to our faith: Propitiation; Redemption; and Reconciliation.

Propitiation

Where can we find the idea of propitiation in the Bible? Romans 3:25, Hebrews 2:17, 1 John 2:2, 1 John 4:10

What does it mean to propitiate? To propitiate means to satisfy God’s anger. 1

God’s anger is not like ours. Unlike God, we get angry for just about anything — our anger is unpredictable and usually malicious. Yet as John Stott has said, God’s anger is never “irascible (easily made angry), malicious, spiteful or vindictive (vengeful). His anger is neither mysterious nor irrational…it is provoked by evil, and evil alone.” 2 In other words, we’ve made God angry, and in order to satisfy His anger, propitiation is needed.

How did God satisfy His anger?  God made a sacrifice, which was Jesus dying on the Cross for our sins. Jesus’ death fulfilled God’s need for justice. In Isaiah 53:10, it’s made clear to us that it pleased the Father to crush Him [Jesus]. The truth is that the anger that was due to us was put on Christ.

The Cross symbolizes the satisfaction of God’s anger towards sinners.

Redemption / Ransoming

Where can we find the idea of redemption in the Bible? Luke 2:38, Luke 21:28, Romans 3:24, Romans 8:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 4:30, Colossians 1:14, Hebrews 9:12;

Where can we find the idea of ransoming in the Bible? Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, 1 Timothy 2:6, 1 Peter 1:18, Revelation 5:9

What does it mean to redeem? Redeem means to buy or buy back, whether as a purchase or a ransom 3

Surely when Christ came to redeem us, He did so to pay our ransom. What’s super important to know here is our former identities, which is laid out clearly in Ephesians 2:3. It tells us how we were once slaves. “among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” 

Reader, please take note that it wasn’t JUST your actions that caused a separation between yourself and God, it was your very nature (a child of wrath) that brought about the wrath of God. We were in bondage to our nature; we were impaired in our morals, attitudes, choices and we naturally rebelled against the living God.

Yet once again, God did not leave it at that. In 1 Peter 1:18, it tells us what specifically Christ used to pay for our ransom: His Blood.

The Cross symbolizes Jesus Christ redeeming and ransoming us from slavery, into a relationship with God.

Reconciliation

Where can we find the idea of reconciliation in the Bible? Romans 5:10-11, Romans 11:15, 1 Corinthians 7:11, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, Ephesians 2:16, Colossians 1:20;22

What does it mean to reconcile? To reconcile means to restore a relationship 4

We come to our final picture of the Cross. This picture is often the most popular because it is the most personal. It deals with us, first being justified, the act of where we were made right with God. However, God again did not leave it at that. Christ then reconciles “us both [Jew and Gentile] to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”

Through Christ, not only did he kill the hostility that lied between sinners and God, but now Christ has restored the relationship that was broken in Genesis and we now have access to the Father (especially through prayer).

The Cross symbolizes God’s family. At the Cross, God adopts us as his own people—His sons and daughters; not as children of wrath, but the children of promise.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I hope you never settle with a blurred image of the Cross. These images are ours to own, for our brains to understand and for our hearts to accept. That is the first lesson I hope you learn from this article, the second being that there is still many more gems like this to be found in the Word. I challenge you, to not simply embrace basic truths simply because of their popularities, but based on the validations found in the Word of God, which God has given us for enjoyment and transformation.

References

1. John Stott, Cross of Christ, pg. 167
2. John Stott, Cross of Christ, pg. 171
3. John Stott, Cross of Christ, page 173
4. John Stott, Cross of Christ, page 189

By: Jonathan Wang

What does it mean to live a cross-centered life?

Some would say that living a cross-centered life involves a consistent reflection focused on the cross and living out the implications of that reflection in life. Others may say that it means to live in full view of the cross, to the extent of wearing a cross around your neck at all times. But I believe that these people are missing the point. Living a cross-centered life means living a Christ-centered life (Philippians 1:21).

When one looks at the Cross, there’s nothing that really stands out. Yes, crucifixion was a slow, shameful and agonizing way to die, reserved for the worst of criminals. Yes, the cross was one or two wooden beams that held our Lord while He exhaled his final breath, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Yes, the cross is symbolic of the means by which Christ was cursed with sin on our behalf (Galatians 3:13, Deuteronomy 21:22-23). But the cross, in and of itself has no natural meaning – much like the manger in which Christ was born (Mary could very well have laid Jesus on a bale of hay).

My point is this: if you subtract Jesus, the one laid on the Cross, it is simply two wooden beams the Romans used to torture, humiliate and kill criminals.

That being said, I don’t want to undermine the pain, suffering and humiliation that dying on the cross brought to Christ. But we must not focus on the cross itself but on what was accomplished on the cross.

What was accomplished on the Cross?

The earth-shattering, mind-blowing and bone-rattling truth in what Christ accomplished on the Cross, found in John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Act 2:37-38, Romans 4:5, John 1:12, is this:

• In love, God the Father sent His his sinless and righteous Son, Jesus Christ, into the world
• He was sent to die and carry our sins
• It is promised that, if we repent and believe, we may be:
• forgiven
• counted righteous by God
• adopted into His family

Living a cross-centered life means living a Christ-centered life. They are one-in-the same. If you truly understand what happened at the cross and center your life on that, you will end up centering your life on the heavy truth of the greatness of the love and grace of God. When someone offends you and you find it difficult to forgive them, your mind turns to Christ and the forgiveness carried for you on the cross (Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 4:32). Your mind is no longer bent on revenge. Your heart is no longer soaks in bitterness. The recognition and acceptance of the extraordinary grace of Christ pushes you to forgive and to grow in love for your offender.

But that is not all.

Living a Christ-centered life means living a cross-centered life, but in a different sense than previously described. If you are keen to live a life that pleases Christ, then you have to understand what Jesus says in Luke 9:23, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

What does it mean to “take up your cross daily”?

Taking up your cross daily is the total and absolute surrender of your will and life to Christ. Jesus wasn’t talking about unwillingly carrying tough relationships, physical illnesses or emotional stress. He used the cross as an analogy to illustrate us surrendering our wills to the will of the Father. (Matthew 26:39-42, Philippians 2:5-8). In the same way that Jesus surrendered His will to the Father, even to death on the cross, we too are to surrender our will to Christ even if we suffer in the process.

And this surrender shows itself in an increased passion to be obedient to Christ’s commands. Our obedience to Christ shouldn’t be rooted in a desire to look good before God — it is rooted in humility and repentance. It is rooted in passionately trading our natural desires for holiness. This means asking God to increase your affections for Christ so that you will then have a desire to obey His commands. Trying to obey the commands of Christ is impossible unless our hearts first desire Him above all else.

So, living a cross-centered life means living a Christ-centered life. Don’t ever forget your ‘first love’ and what He accomplished on the cross for you. And living a Christ-centered life means living a cross-centered life. Pray that God would increase your desire for Christ. Then, and only then, will you know in your heart what it means to take up your cross daily and follow Him.

By: Samuel Sey

Maggots are some of the most disgusting insects in the world. They are tiny, white, and worm-like insects that feed on rotten meat. But when maggots transform into houseflies they become greater creatures. With their wings, better vision, greater life-span, and a better sense of smell, houseflies can eat the good foods they were unable to eat as maggots. Houseflies eat sweets, vegetables, and many other good foods. Yet despite their transformation from maggots to greater creatures, houseflies still eat filthy, disgusting, rotten meat.

Despite what your science teacher may have told you, we humans do not have much in common with houseflies (wink!). However, we, believers and houseflies, share one thing in common: despite our transformation we continue to feed on distgusting things. Like houseflies, we have been born-again and given a new, and greater nature. In our regeneration through the Spirit of God we now have the desire and ability to feed on the sweet gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet, we Christians continue to feed on the bitter taste of sin. Like a shadow, sin follows our every step, even as we walk in the light of Christ.

In Romans 7:15,18-19 the apostle Paul expressed his pain over his sins when he said:

I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

Then in Romans 7:24 he writes:

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

We all nod our heads in agreement with Paul when we read Romans 7:15-24. We know that even as true Christians we are a wretched people. We know that even as a transformed people, due to our sinful nature, there isn’t a single good thing in us. We also know that because we are born-again we so desperately want to be perfectly holy, but we do not have the ability to carry it out. We also know that we need a great deliverer to free us from our bodies of death which cause us so much pain. However, what so many of us believers do not know is, sometimes we disagree with Paul’s answer to his question in Romans 7:24.

Are You Your Own Deliverer?

After asking, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?”, Paul answered his question when he said,

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! – Romans 7:25

For the Apostle Paul, Jesus Christ was his One and only Deliverer. He understood that his Lord Jesus Christ bought his salvation when He “justified” him (Made him RIGHT)  through his death and resurrection.

However, because so many Christians have such a poor understanding of their justification in Christ, if they asked themselves, ‘Who will deliver me from this body of death?’ Their answer would be, “me!”

When you do not accurately understand justification, you will attempt to become your own deliverer. This is because when you have an inaccurate understanding of the justification, rather than trusting in what Jesus did for you so God would accept you, you will attempt to trust in what you need to do for Jesus so God could accept you.

This is why many Christians say things like, “I am such a sinner, I need to be better, I need to read the bible more, I need to pray more, I need to fast more, I, I, I..” Yes, we need to do better in every area our lives, however if you are a Christian, Jesus has done the best thing anyone, including yourself, could ever do for you. He justified you!

The Story of Justification: Jesus the Saviour

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us (Romans 8:1-4).

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is clear about two things:

1. God is Righteous
2. You are not.

God is the Righteous Judge of the universe, and you are a wretched criminal who breaks His holy law. As a result, God condemns you to eternal punishment in Hell. This punishment is the terrible consequence of the terrible thoughts and actions of terrible people like you and me. But the gospel of Jesus Christ is good news from a Good God for bad people. Justification teaches that through Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection God legally declares people like us as righteous simply for trusting that deliverance from condemnation is found in JESUS.

God declares Christians righteous because as Romans 8:1-4 teaches, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to become a man so He would accomplish what we cannot accomplish; perfect obedience the law. Jesus Christ did this so He would offer Himself as the substitute for those of us who trust in Him. Therefore on the cross, God the Father punished all our sins in Jesus Christ, and as a result Jesus removed the guilt and pentalty of our sins. Not only that, He also imputed His righteousness to us so we would not only be delivered from condemnation to Hell but that we would also be captured for the joy of Heaven!

So yes, you are like housefly who continues feed on filthy things. However, like a sheep prone to wander you have a Good Shepherd who delivers you from all dangers. Jesus Christ justified you, and as a result delivers you from the wrath of God, and He will soon return to deliver you from your body of death.

Those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified – Romans 8:30

Click to Download

By: Jermaine Wall

Ascend the Hill is back with their 3rd project called “O Ransomed Son.” If you’ve never heard of Ascend the Hill, we would describe their music, in the simplest terms, as “indie-rock meets hymns.”

While that description is an over-simplification of: a) Ascend the Hill; and; b) Modernized Hymns, we totally recommend you take this project in. Furthermore, if you don’t have their other projects, we totally recommend you download their other projects titled “Ascend the Hill” and “Take the World but Give Me Jesus.”

If you’re looking for deep spiritual truths, matched with a sincere and authentic sound, we totally recommend Ascend the Hill.

More Free Music from Ascend the Hill:

Boasting RMX by j.To RLNO and Dan. Original song by Lecrae ft. Anthony Evans.

Updates:

1. #YOLO Article – Live Once, Die Twice. 
2. Page CXVI Interview & Free Music

Hook – Dan
If this life has anything to gain at all
I count it lost if I can’t hear you, feel you, ’cause I need you
Can’t walk this earth alone
I recognize I am not my own, so before I fall
I need to hear you, feel you, as I live to make my boast in you alone

Verse 1  - J.To
Hey c’mon get back over here
The spotlight’s shining bright crystal clear
Look what I’ve done see all I’ve accomplished
If that’s what I’m living for then I’ve already lost it

My pockets could be full I’m in position
Tempted by living for my own recognition
If I’m livin for my flesh I’m headin for destruction
It’s so easy to get lost, soul corruption

I can’t live for myself I mean look what you’ve done
What love is this that you would give your only son
See what you can do compared to me
I’m just a speck of dust to you I’m petty

The only reason why I breath Is cause you’re great in mercy
The talents that I have come from you, You are worthy
Father draw me near to you invest in you deeply
It’s all about you I boast in you completely

Verse 2 – RLNO
I was made to enjoy and glorify You
The only one true God who is faithful and true
But I rejected You & neglected my purpose
Made anything but You the object of my worship

My sin ignited your wrath & earned your punishment
Because you’re holy and just you have to punish sin
Ah, Without the cross there’s only condemnation
If Jesus wasn’t executed there’s no celebration

So when I look about the cross I can’t help but weep
Cause I should’ve been tossed that man should’ve have been me
The weight of your love has got me falling on my knees
Glad I’ve tasted your grace, boy is it ever sweet

I once was dead but now living cause my savior’s risen
Now I rejoice with the saints who’ve also been forgiven
Give us a passion for your glory may your name be spread
My soul’s no longer weary finally my soul is fed

Bridge –  Dan
Glory was solely meant for you
Doing what no one else could do
With all I have to give
I’ll use my life, I’ll use my lips
I’ll only glory in your Word
What gift to me I don’t deserve
I’ll live in such a way that it reflects to you my Praise

By CY

Holding Death Back: A woman became very ill. After a time of hospitalization she returned home, but was confined to bed. Her eight-year-old daughter was not aware of the status of the illness.

This little girl stood outside the bedroom door one afternoon as the doctor, along with her father, visited her mother. She overhead the doctor say, “Yes, I will be frank with you. The time is not too far off. Before the last leaves have gone from the trees, you will die.” The little girl’s presence was not detected.

Sometime later the father came to the breakfast table to find that his little girl was not there as he had expected. After searching for her, he saw her out in the front yard. His heart was broken as he watched her picking up leaves that had begun to fall. She was using thread to tie them back onto the limbs of the tree.

D-E-A-T-H: The word has a ring of finality to it – once a person is dead, nothing can bring that person back.

WHY DEATH?

Let me be blunt – it’s because all of us – without exception, are sinners, and Romans 6:23 says,

For the wages of sin is death…

But here’s the good news: Jesus had come to die on the Cross, to free us from the ultimate grip of death. John 3:16 says,

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

And what did Jesus do to save us from ourselves – from the death that we deserve?

He came to our midst as a human person, lived a sinless life, and – on the very first Good Friday some 2,000 years back – after some 30 years walking the dusty roads of Jerusalem, He laid Himself on the Cross, bore the sins of the entire humankind on Himself, and died a slow, torturous death that He did nothing to deserve.

But wouldn’t it be just as easy for God to simply say, “I forgive”? After all, He is God – right? He can do anything He wants…

There are things that even God Himself cannot do. If He should choose to turn a blind eye on sin, and arbitrarily wipe away sin – the moment He does that, He would no longer be God, because by definition, God is perfectly holy and just.

But, our Heavenly Father loves you more than you know! He didn’t just stop at handing down a cold sentence from His throne. Having passed the sentence, the Heavenly Judge put off His wig, laid down gavel, walked down from His throne, and took on the death sentence that you and I deserve!

And so on the very first Good Friday, Jesus was hung on a cross from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Darkness fell all over the land from noon to 3:00 pm, and Jesus breathed His last.

But make no mistake. Jesus didn’t just die on the Cross. Had everything ended there, it would have been just another sad and tragic story.

He is RISEN

Matthew 27:57 -28:15, Mark 16, Luke 24 and John 20 tell us something startling – His tomb was empty, for He has risen from the death! This is what made His death different from any other death! By His resurrection, He has put death to death! Death is dead!

But what does His resurrection over 2,000 years ago have anything to do with you and me today?

Everything – Romans 6:5 says,

If we have been united with Him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with Him in his resurrection!

“Yea, yea,” you might be saying, “You are talking about eternal life after death, right? I’ve heard it all before – it’s like a pie in the sky. I wouldn’t worry about it until it happens! I will cross that bridge when I come to it…”

Yes, I am talking about eternal life after death – no question about that. Some of you don’t know how sudden death can strike. But, even beyond that, I am talking about a new life even here and now: a resurrection that happens right now, right here – the moment you nail your past and your sin with Jesus on the cross, the moment you let Him put to death your old self and your old way, He who rose from the dead will rise you from the dead too! He will make you a new being that lives in a whole new dimension. Heaven is your eternal home, and the powers of hell will no longer have its grip on you! 2 Corinthians 5:17 says,

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: he old has gone, the new is here!”

1 Corinthians 15:55 says

Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?

Death is dead!

Las Vegas Christian Hip Hop Artist J.Givens

Happy Good Friday! For this year’s Easter, we’re doing something a little different. For the next few days, we’ll have special guest, J.Givens, contributing with a 3-part interview / song analysis. A few months ago, I downloaded J’s album called “Run.” I was blown away by the different aesthetic combined with the freshness and accuracy of the content. Today, we’re going to be discussing AND giving away the first of three songs called Lamb Slain which perfectly lines up with the Death of Christ. FREE DOWNLOAD & LYRICS BELOW.

Regen: Discuss Lamb Slain and it’s connection to your life.
J.Givens: I wrote Lamb Slain around the time when I first started to rap. If I can remember correctly, Lamb Slain is actually the second or third piece that I’ve ever written. At this time period in my life, I was nearing my last semester of college and struggling with fear, stress, and depression. God was truly pulling on my heart and revealing Himself to me. I had been raised in the church from childhood, however something was different around this time. His Word was illustrated to me differently, and as I was reading the conclusion of the book of Mark, I received a huge revelation: this “story” didn’t just happen in theory, this actually happened. It seems pretty obvious, but at this moment, I saw the whole crucifixion story like an episode of the Wire fused with a Hype Williams-Nas tone. And so Lamb Slain was born.

Regen: What’s the main theme of Lamb Slain?
J.Givens: The main theme of Lamb Slain is actually echoed prior to the first line: conspiracy. The obvious goal of this piece is to narrate a portion of the Gospel of Christ in a truly urban/contemporary context.

Thematically, the rap displays the tell-tale timeline of a premeditated murder mystery, careening from motive to coercion to execution. This seems like a fairly common continuum in cinema, television, and literature, but for some reason it is always so powerful to hear it in a lyrical/hip-hop context (thanks to some of the great veterans of the genre). And I believe it is this combination of elements, style, and language that really allows us to bring the Good Friday story into our own alleyways, stoops, blocks, and streets to really see how the whole ‘hood murked an innocent man.

I really pray that listeners will see that the biblical human condition is not too far from the current one. Perhaps with this, we will be able to relate more to the text in God’s Word as LIFE, far greater than theoretical fairy tales in a “Good” book.

Regen: What’s so “Good” about Good Friday?
J.Givens: What’s NOT good about it?! Good Friday is the fulfillment of John 3:16:

For God so loved the world the He gave His only begotten Son…

It’s good and perfect the Christ was crushed so that we as sinful humans could be reconciled back to our Creator. I mean, the only way to get to Heaven is to be PERFECT (Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7). So without that requirement, we would all have been lost had it not been for what happened to God the Son on that Friday. The Father’s wrath that we deserved was poured out someone else.

Now of course, Good Friday is not at all good for those who were unaware of the coming Resurrection that would complete the prophecy. It seems that’s how God works, though. He’s Good all of the time, however in our eyes as man we can only see His true goodness through a lens of faith and hope. It’s like someone saying, “Wow, how can you say that these people murdering God today is good?” The reply would be, “It’s good because He’s going to raise from the grave in a couple of days, anyway, and conquer death and sin for all who believe, even though they don’t deserve it, all because He loves them so much. At least, that’s what He told us. You believe Him, right?”

Regen: What’s your favourite part of the song? Discuss why it’s so powerful to you.
J.Givens:

“We want Barabbas! Crucify the Sabbath”
“But He’s done nothing…”
“So what, just let Him have it!”
Blood all over the culture, blood all over the courtroom, blood all over the soldiers, blood all over Jehovah.

This is my favourite part because this is the gruesome turn in the story where people start to emotionally feel the pain. It exhibits the judgement for being innocent. Also the illustration of the blood spilling over everything is only the amazing grace of God. You’ll notice that it splashed everywhere. My Dad wrote a sermon called, The Silence of the Lamb that spoke about the significance of the blood covering everywhere and how powerful and significant that is. It even touched those that were directly murdering Him — DEEP.

Regen: What’s one thing we can meditate on this Good Friday?
J.Givens: Meditate on this – Which Jesus was it that died on the cross? Was it the “Jesus of the culture” or the “Jesus of the scriptures? Which one are we worshipping and seeking today?

Free Good Friday Download from J.Givens to you.

DOWNLOAD LAMB SLAIN BY J.GIVENS FOR FREE

Download LAMB SLAIN by J.Givens for Free – Right Click Save File As

LYRICS FOR LAMB SLAIN

One time,
Tap into the mind
Of them Pharisees
Rebellious in their mind
Blind and never wanna see

“Ey, I heard about this so-called Savior from Galilee,
This poor carpenter;
And he’s trying to challenge me.”

Tap into the mind of a great conspiracy

“For thirty pieces of silver, we’ll put him on a tree,
Nine inch nails for his hands and his feet…“

“But this dude is a G,
Man, he rolls 12 deep…”

“But this dude named Judas said he was down to betray him
But he’s foolish and doesn’t know what it means,
But the truth is, right now, they’re in Gethsemane…”

“Who?”

“The carpenter, Peter, and two sons of Zebedee.”

“But in the darkness, how will we know which one is He?”

“The signal’s gon’ be, he’s gon’ kiss Him on the cheek.”

“So let me get this straight;
We’re gonna drag Him through the street,
Beat Him all night,
And right in front of His peeps?
Put Him on trial, find Him not guilty
Get the crowd, yell ‘Crucify! Set Barabas free!’?”

“Exactly, string Him up between two thieves,
Pierce Him in the side, give Him vinegar to drink,
Put Him in the tomb, I don’t even give it a week,
I bet you they’ll forget about Jesus by day three (day three)

(I bet you they’ll forget about Jesus by day…)

Gethsemane!
That’s where You was when they followed You
Tracked down by the mob like the Carter 2
Laughed in His face like a clown at a carnival
Whole team ran different ways, no audible
Pontius Pilate stands with the Messiah
The crowd yells “Tyrant!”
That quintessential trial
Angels remained silent
He asked Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

“Is that you or do others say that, too?”

“Well, am I a Jew?”

“My Kingdom isn’t of this world made of fools.”

“So then you are a king?”

“Correct in saying I’m a king. It’s for this reason I’m on scene…”

Now the gangbangers leaned on the edge of their seat.

“…to testify the truth, and everyone on the side of Truth listens to Me.”

“What’s the truth?” said P.

He washed his hands clean
The crowd still screamed, “We want Barabas, Crucify the Sabbath!”

“But He’s done nothing…”

“So what! Just let Him have it!”

Blood all over the culture,
Blood all over the courtroom,
Blood all over the soldiers,
Blood all over Jehovah

“I’ll bet you ain’t so special now…”

“Crucify Him!”

“Settle down! Come around,
Get Him on the ground,
Get the crown
Dig it in his hairline
Slash with the cat of nine
Tails 39 times…”

Stripes look like red vines

It’s bedtime
Mary cried, Martha cried,
Peter cried, “Homicide!”

Homicide.

The other Mary cried,
That was Magdalene
‘Cause they beat Him, mocked, spat on Him,
Flogged Him, then crucified Him.

The Lamb never said a word, like pantomime
Or charades,
They watched Him suffocate,
Nails through His wrist, blood splashed in their face

“Oh my God, why have you forsaken Me?”

God in the flesh came to be crucified,
And just right before they stuck the spear in His side,
He took His last breath, it was finished…

(Gasps)

…and died.

By Dave Lombardo

This month we will be celebrating the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In order to help you prepare for the celebration that is Easter, I have prepared a four-day devotional recounting some of the events leading up to Jesus’ trial and crucifixion. My hope is that the Holy Spirit will enable you to deepen your relationship with Christ this Easter.

Day One – The Last Supper – John 13

The scene described in John 13 is last meal Jesus would share with his disciples before his crucifixion. During this time Jesus chooses to humble himself and take on the role of a servant in order to demonstrate his intimate love and care for his closest friends. Once he has finished this task, Jesus challenges his disciples:

“Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you (John 13:12-15).”

It is important to note that Jesus served all of his disciples, including Judas, whom Jesus knew would soon betray him (John 13:2).

Who should you be serving this week? What might washing someone’s feet look like today? Read Matthew 5: 43-45. How does this passage relate to Christ’s instruction to follow his example?

Day Two – Betrayal – Matthew 26:14-16

“Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him (Matthew 26:14-16).”

Timothy Keller describes an idol as something which “becomes more fundamental than God to your happiness, meaning in life, and identity (Counterfeit Gods, page xxi).” Once Satan had entered into Judas (John 13:2), Satan’s desires to have Christ killed became Judas’ desire. Judas traded his relationship with Christ for just 30 pieces of silver. His own desires became more important to him than Christ.

Using Timothy Keller’s definition, what idols do you need to remove from your life? Be specific. Write them down if necessary. In what ways have you traded the happiness found in Christ for your own worldly desires?

Day Three – Communion – Mark 14:22-25

“And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God (Mark 14:22-25).”

Because of the Father’s great love for us He sent his perfect son Jesus to be crucified on a cross and die a death that he did not deserve (John 3:16). Because of the Son’s great love for the Father, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men; And being found in human form he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2: 6-8).” Knowing this was going to happen, Christ instructed his followers to partake in the Lord’s Supper. In 1 Corinthians 11: 26, the Apostle Paul says, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Focus in on Christ’s words in Mark 14:22-25.

What does Communion mean to you? Perhaps this week you should spend some time in prayer with some close Christian friends and family. Take time to pray for one another, reflect on Christ’s sacrifice, eat the bread and drink the cup, and then leave with the intention of sharing the Lord’s great love to those who do not believe.

Day Four – Jesus Trusts – Luke 22: 40-42

“And when [Jesus] came to the place, he said to the [disciples], “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done (Luke 22:41-42).”

There is much to be learned from Jesus prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane: Jesus’ true humanity, the disciple’s high level of anxiety, Jesus’ emotional and physical distress, the disciples disregard for Jesus’ instructions to pray, and most importantly, Jesus continued trust and obedience to his Father’s will.

His concern for his impending suffering was so deep that he requests that the Father remove it from him (verse 42). His distress for his upcoming trial, torture, and death was so intense that he actually sweat out drops of blood (verse 44). This does not mean that the the Son’s desire fell out of sync with the Father’s desire for him. Rather, this request demonstrates that Jesus was willing to take the punishment which we deserve and he did not.

Do you trust the Lord with your own anxieties and distress? Do you, like Jesus, pray that God’s will be done? Do you “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5)?” What will you do to trust the Lord this week?

Dann (Drummer), Latifah (Lead Vocals & Guitar) and Reid (Guitar) from Page CXVI & The Autumn Film

A few days ago, I was able to ask Dann from one of my new favourite bands called Page CXVI. For people who’ve been looking for solid worship music that has a major emphasis on content, we definitely recommend Page CXVI. Check out our interview. FREE DOWNLOAD BELOW.

Regen: Who is Page CXVI? What does your name mean?
Dann: Page CXVI is a collection of musicians that is dedicated to making Hymns accessible and known again. We got our name from C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia in The Magician’s Nephew. Page 116 in the book (CXVI in roman numerals) is where Aslan begins to sing Narnia into creation. Melody being the driving force behind creation really resonated with us, and we stuck with it!

Regen: How did Page CXVI come together as a band?
We came together as a band around 6 years ago. We started leading worship around the US without a name. It was only after a lot of people were asking us to record the hymns we were playing that we decided to make it official and name ourselves. We actually started another side project of ours to be in the mainstream music world and write songs about life but not necessarily for corporate worship. That project is called “The Autumn Film.”

Regen: What are modernized hymns?
Dann: Modernized hymns are just old hymns that we’ve made new again. Most of them have drums, some new melodies have been added, and the arrangement and overall feeling of each song has our best effort to match what the lyrics are saying. We sit down with each song and try and express through melody and instrumentation the attitude that we think the original author was trying to convey.

Regen: How essential is the Gospel in your music?
Dann: Absolutely. That’s where everything springs out of.

Regen: How does Page CXVI write music? 
Dann: We arrange and write together. Usually our singer will come up with a melody or something that we all like, and then we build it from there.

Regen: What makes a song a “worship song”? 
Dann: I think it’s a worship song if you’re able to worship to it. That sounds simplistic, but I really think songs that help you meet with God, and recognize what He’s done, and lift Him and His name up are worship.

Regen: Describe the current landscape of modern worship music.
Dann: We’ve noticed that it’s become pretty self-centered. Songs are about the individual instead of focused on Jesus and the Gospel.

Regen: How essential is rich theology to your music? Why do you think this is lacking so much in Christian music today?
Dann: Just like the Gospel, it’s absolutely essential. I have no idea why it’s lacking today. There are still a few wonderful modern Hymn writers out there writing theologically rich content though. That’s encouraging. You just have to look.

Regen: There are a lot of young people who are leading worship in their churches and fellowships. What advice do you have for them when it comes to developing their crafts? Their relationships with God?
Dann: Practice, practice, practice! Honestly, it’s the quantity of time spent developing your craft that makes the all difference. If you think you’ve been given a gift, you should use it. Part of that means being dedicated to putting in the time necessary to really learn well what you’ve been given. The same thing with your relationship with God. Actual time every day needs to be consistently set aside to be in a relationship.

Regen: If you could have a mutant power, what would it be, and why?
Dann: I can only speak for me, but being able to transport anywhere at any time would be pretty cool. I could have a quick before breakfast espresso in italy, take a walk along the beautiful shores of the Austrailia, and then be home for dinner, eating a tamale that I picked up in Mexico.

Regen: What’s in the future for Page CXVI?
Dann: We have a couple of really exciting things on the horizon. Derek Webb partnered up with us and remixed seven songs for our next release, “Hymns Remix” That should be out sometimes this Summer. Closer to winter, we’ve been hard at work planning our next release called, “Hymns Lullaby” It’ll be focused on rest, and peace, and hopefully give parents the chance to catch a break with their little ones! So far, it’s put all of us to sleep while working on it. Hopefully it will be just as effective with babies.

And! Yesterday, Page CXVI released some free Easter music.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COPY OF B-SIDES BY PAGE CXVI.