Neil McIver - Place of Redemption/Salvation for Everyone

Neil McIver, looking at our desperate need to be at the feet of Jesus Christ waiting for redemption, asks us to soberly consider that the crucifixion was a gruesome event, unlike the benign representations of the cross worn by Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox Church members. Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ realistically depicts this horrendous event more than the classic paintings of the crucifixion. The loyal friends and family of Jesus Christ (John, Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and John) stayed with Jesus right up to the end. Mary Magdalene, a woman Jesus delivered from demons, followed Jesus all the way to the foot of the cross. Mary was able to see first-hand the awful price Christ had to pay for our sins. Mary, the mother of Jesus, stayed loyally at the cross, helplessly watching Him lose his life, understanding His destiny as the Savior of mankind. Jesus, at His death, commissioned His disciple John to take care of His mother. We need to be as loyal to our Savior as these friends and family stayed loyal to Christ. We need to be loyal to Christ in our sufferings and our afflictions as was the apostle Paul to Christ. Like Paul and John and the other disciples, we can be forgiven for the worst sins we have ever committed.

Abandonment * Abundant life * Blindness * Gruesome of crucifixion * Handicaps * Isaiah 53:3-6 * John 19:25-27 * John the disciple * Luke 1:26-38; 2:34; 8:1-2 * Mary, Jesus' mother * Mary's shame and suffering * Man of sorrows * Mark 3:17 * Mary Magdalene * Persecution * Simeon * Sons of Thunder * Suffering * Trials