Pastor Art Barrett
New Life Christian Church

John 19:34-35 One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. 35 This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account; it is presented so that you also can believe.

This gnarly eyewitness account leads to another, “so that” in the story of Jesus. “So thats” are always worth a pause.

“So that you also can believe” is an invitation just too good to miss. It’s an invitation saying ‘come closer.’ You may come closer to this Jesus without distrust. The original language has the invitation bowing before us saying, “others have come this way, you too are most welcome.”

The soldier, the piercing, the flow of blood and water, all say, ‘Jesus is real, He was here, He was really dead.’ The eyewitness is emphasis, You can trust this, He really laid His life down for you. Believe it.

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Pastor Doug Stevens
The Leadership Connection

John 19:28-30 Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures he said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

We cannot know the depth of suffering endured by Jesus on the cross.  We can only imagine —but our best effort to empathize falls far short.

We may know about the discomfort of deprivation, or have some personal experience of physical pain that became a protracted agony, or some memory of social rejection, or some recollection of betrayal, or some connection with a history of injustice — or even been victimized by a cruel conspiracy.  But the cross, this Cross, the Cross of Christ, was unlike any trauma any human has ever faced.

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Pastor Jim Shields
Sanctuary Ministries

John 13:34-35 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Living the Christian life is so simple. I walk in His mercy, it is new for me every morning. Every time I mess up (which is often, more often than you or I know) His unmerited favor falls from Heaven to find me. And peace, not temporary like the world gives, but a deep fundamental sense of His well being has been gifted me.

Yep, it is simple, tithe, show up at church, read the Bible, pray.

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