Near The Cross

A hill with three crosses-

One cross where a thief died IN SIN.

One cross where a thief died TO SIN.

A center cross where a Redeemer died FOR SIN.

- Unknown -

And he bearing his cross 

went forth into a place called the place of a skull, 

which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 

Where they crucified him, 

and two other with him, 

on either side one, 

and Jesus in the midst.

- John 19:17, 18 -

Jesus, keep me near the cross; 

there a precious fountain, 

free to all, a healing stream, 

flows from Calvary's mountain. 

Near the cross, a trembling soul, 

love and mercy found me; 

there the bright and morning star 

sheds its beams around me. 

Near the cross! O Lamb of God, 

bring its scenes before me; 

help me walk from day to day 

with its shadow o'er me. 

Near the cross I'll watch and wait, 

hoping, trusting ever, 

till I reach the golden strand 

just beyond the river. 

Chorus:

In the cross, in the cross, 

be my glory ever, 

till my raptured soul shall find 

rest beyond the river. 

- Fanny J. Crosby -

The cross was a superb triumph over Satan, death, and hell.

Never was Christ more a King than when He shouted from the cross-

"It is finished."

Out of the hideous suffering of Calvary 

He has carved His victory and His kingdom.

The victory of the cross assures us 

that we no longer need to be kept separate from God-

either in this life or for eternity.

Even now we can enter into His presence 

"with confidence, so in our time of need."

{Hebrews 4:16}

And the best is yet to come-

"the golden strand just beyond the river."

- Kenneth W. Osbeck -

Verily, verily, I say unto you, 

He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 

I am that bread of life. 

Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 

This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, 

that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 

I am the living bread which came down from heaven: 

if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: 

and the bread that I will give is my flesh, 

which I will give for the life of the world. 

- John 6:47-51 -

But God forbid that I should glory, 

save in the cross of our LORD Jesus Christ, 

by whom the world is crucified unto me, 

and I unto the world.

- Galatians 6:14 -

Have a blessed Lord's Day!

{{{hugs}}}