Gospel News — Jun-Aug 2012

eternal ruin? The spotless Son of God hung upon the cross. There is now an end to all sacrifices and offerings for sin. The Son of God has come according to the word: "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God"; "By his own blood, he entereth in once to the most holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Heb 10:7,9,12).

On the day of crucifixion, the day of apparent defeat and darkness, the promise was given. While dying on the cross, Christ assured the poor sinner: "Today, thou shalt be with me in paradise." The thieves crucified with Jesus were placed on either side, with Jesus in the middle. This was done by the direction of the priests and rulers. Christ's position between the thieves was to indicate that Christ was the greatest criminal of the three. Thus was fulfilled the scripture: "He was numbered with the transgressors" (Isa 53:12). As Jesus, crucified with the thieves, was placed in their midst, so his cross was placed in the midst of a world dying in sin.

Jesus suffered the most intense agony of mind and body. In his humiliation he was prophet, priest and king. He had pleaded with his Father, as a loving Saviour, to forgive his murderers. Christ was the prince of sufferers. Christ saw the hold of sin upon the human heart. Upon Christ as our representative and surety, was laid the iniquity of us all.

Rahab

Bro Joseph Kwesi (Ghana)

In the city of Jericho in the past lived both good and bad people. Some were priests, governors, royals, slaves and criminals. Rahab was no better; she was a prostitute. She had no respect and was regarded as an outcast in her family. Prostitutes had a respect only above the level given to lepers, who were

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regarded as living dead and were not tolerated in towns. Rahab was therefore a nobody in society, though she had hidden potential.

The Israelites sent some spies to the city of Jericho when they entered the promised land (Joshua 2:1). When the people of Jericho wanted to harm them, Rahab hid and saved their lives (vs 3,4). The spies took an oath to save Rahab and her family on the D-day, and they kept that pledge (Joshua 6:24,25).

They burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein. Only the silver, gold and the vessels of brass and iron were put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, together with all her father's household and all that she had. "She dwelleth in Israel even unto this day, because she hid the messengers which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho".

Rahab was still a prostitute! Aren't you touched by this story? It shows that no human being is useless. One needs to find out one's potential. God has plans for people who turn to Him (Jer 29:11-13), and everybody needs to seek Him well. Rahab had neither respect nor future, but she recognized the powers of Almighty God when the opportunity arose (Joshua 2:9- 14). Man should learn to be careful to avoid treading on the feet of those chosen by Almighty God. They may be in the form of ordinary people but not priests, the elite or rich.

"The Lord killeth and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich, he bringeth low and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them" (1 Samuel 2:6-8).