Gather At the Cross

Luke 24:1-7 (The Resurrection) - On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' "

Luke 24:50-53 (The Ascension) - When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

They gathered at the Cross that day - the women who loved Him; the guards who stole from Him; the crowd who watched Him - they were all there, to worship, to weep, to mock, to scorn - and to see! They were rich and poor; wise and unlearned; tall and thin, short and plump; well-dressed and in rags - they were all there...at the foot of the Cross. 

We gather at the Cross today too - the people who love Him; the wicked who hate him; the indifferent who pass by Him. We're rich and poor; wise and unlearned; tall and thin, short and plump; we're well-dressed or in well-worn garments - we are all there... and level... at the foot of the Cross. 
In society, education, government and the marketplace, it is not so! In business, law, medicine and the workplace, it is not so! There are ranks and orders, castes and divides - and like it or not, we are often worlds apart. No meeting ground, no common ground... until... 
We all arrive at the Cross - and there we find a different kind of ground. It's holy ground. It's level ground. We stand in awe, in reverence, in redemption, in the garments of His righteousness - OR we stand in mockery, in madness, in mankind's resistance and rejection, in the filthy rags of the unredeemed - but we're all there, all on the same level... at the foot of the Cross.

I want to stay there - to cling to that old rugged Cross; to bow and to adore the One who hangs there for me. I'm in the crowd... but yet I stand alone. I am one unique person, unlike any other in that crowd - and He sees me; He knows me; He loves me. I behold - and I bow - low... at the foot of the Cross!

Lord, I mingle with the crowd who love You today; but I stand alone, unworthy, in Your holy presence, except by the Blood of Your Cross. I bow in adoration - and You see me there, Lord; You know me and I am glad. I thank You, my Lord, for the gift of Salvation by Your Son, Jesus Christ, and it is in His Holy name we pray, Amen.

-Pastor Chris

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