I greet you today with Resurrection Hope and full expectation of Him in whom there is no variance or shadow of turning.
On (and at) the Whipping Post, something happened. At Golgotha, something is about to happen. On the Cross, something of consequence happened. In the borrowed Garden Tomb, something happened. Then in the abyss of hell itself something wonderful happened. It was on that providential weekend many things would happen, giving birth to Divine expectation, which would live in the heart of believers forever. It is the heartthrob of every child of God and the hope which belongs to you. It is the inward witness which you feel as you read this letter.
“There’s far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There’s also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting.” Philippians 1:29 MSG
This is what Paul wrote to the Church in Philippi, after he told them this:
“Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they’re up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God.” Philippians 1:27 MSG
As I sat down to write this weekly letter, I thought to myself, I am in this from head to toe. Then I realized Jesus was in it from Head to toe. This is a good weekend to stop and consider not only the suffering of Christ, but also the good that came out of what happened through the Passion of the Christ. It was a pivotal point in history and a focal point where the whole world can see the contrast and clash of law and love.
Which leads to this:
“When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.” A place where public humiliation and imposed just outside the Praetorium (The Judgment Hall) judgment was carried out.
I wrote this regarding the Whipping Post some years ago:
I found myself in a season of prayer. A strong necessity of unbroken silent intercession had gripped my heart. People I was in association with everyday were totally unaware of that which was taking place in the deepest recesses of my heart and soul. Have you ever had heaven come to rendezvous with your spirit man, even while you are going about your daily task? This is what happened, and it put an indelible mark on the way that I pray for the sick. It happened suddenly, but only after a lifetime of soliciting God on the subject of prayer for the sick.
I found myself locked in a mental vision that would last for days; and even now as I journal this experience, there is instant recall as to what took place. In my mind’s eye I could see the Lord tied to the whipping post.
What is even a stronger memory of this weeklong open vision was I found myself kissing the bloody, wounded, torn back and it was as though I was glued to it with thousands of kisses.
The strong hand of human judgment, holding a whip, had ripped the flesh off Christ’s back. It was a sobering experience. My thoughts raced back to Psalms 129:3, “They plowed my back like farmers plow fields. They made the furrows long.” Why do farmers plow fields? Is it not to plant seeds for future harvest? A verse often mentioned regarding healing is Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24, “And by His stripes we are healed.” In a split second the scene changed, and to my amazement, the Word of God (the Bible), was tied to the whipping post and the strong hand of human judgment was ripping pages right out of the Word of God. It is a scene I will never forget. I saw them ripping out things they no longer believed, just the same as if it had been Jesus, the Son of God, there on The Pavement of Judgment in Jerusalem.
Some may ask, “What is the meaning of all of this to you?” I can only say that men and philosophy have made a concerted effort to disapprove the Word of God, and today there is an all-out attempt to discredit the Word of God. You may even think of it this way, “The furrows were long”, and many who have taken it upon themselves destroy the influence of the Word of God on men and nations most certainly are not aware of this passage. As long as mustard seeds of faith can be planted in those long furrows that reach until today, YOUR MOUNTAINS OF SICKNESS CAN BE MOVED. WE BELIEVE IN YOU!
Can you imagine the painful blood wrenching cry to Heaven? That led to this:
“God, God . . . my God!
Why did you dump me
miles from nowhere?
Doubled up with pain, I call to God
all the day-long. No answer. Nothing.
I keep at it all night, tossing and turning.”
Psalms 22 (A Messianic Psalm)
Once again, I am a HEAD TO TOE man, just as the Redeemer was. They crucified Him, HEAD TO TOE, from the CROWN ON HIS HEAD TO THE NAILS IN HIS FEET. I am captured today, by what Paul had to say: “There is far more to life than trusting in Christ, there is also suffering for Him and suffering for Him is such a gift. Your courage and unity will show them what they are up against; Defeat for them and Victory for you. And both… because of God.”
Happy, Glorious, Resurrection Week,
HE IS… RISEN AND SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER, EVER LIVING TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR YOU AND ME.
WE BELIEVE IN YOU,
CLEDDIE AND GAYNELL