June 12, 2015
MY FRIENDS, PLEASE CAN I BE CRUCIFIED UPSIDE DOWN?
“History and tradition records that the Apostle Peter was crucified upside down upon a Roman cross. He supposedly died at the hands of the Roman Emperor Nero by crucifixion. Feeling unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as Jesus Christ.”
This was Peter’s request and Nero being the diabolical monster he was, remember this is the same man who supposedly set Rome on fire as he sung on a harp, had no problem fulfilling such a request. But today our devotional is not about Nero, but about Peter’s request to die in such a manner.
My friends, today I want each of us to put ourselves in Peter’s shoes standing before Nero as one of Christ Apostles, as we are being asked to recant our belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Recant that we have already been crucified with Christ and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us and the life we now live in the body, we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for our salvation.” Gal 2:20 (NIV)
We then tell Nero, with no reservation in our voice, It will be a pleasure, Just allow me to be crucified upside down, for I am unworthy,!! In addition, you a worker of iniquity for the god of this world, you cannot kill someone that has already died in Christ.
I can only imagine Peter looked back over His life and the only thing that comes to mind is, after “an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was
with him, for he too is a Galilean.”
But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.” Luke 22:59-62 (ESV)
My friends, look back behind you and let your life penetrate every fiber of your being today and remember all of the times that our Savior knocked and knocked and knocked seeking just a small entry into our heart. “And being in agony He was praying very fervently [to His father, this is the one I died for] as His sweat becomes like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.” Luke 22:24 (NASB)
It’s personal now my friends because as the purity of Christ looks at us, the one who was “pierced for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Is. 53:5-7 (NIV) as we read that text we should all fall on our knees and say please dear Lord can I be crucified upside down for I am unworthy?
But my friends, I can also hear a sweet whisper, as we rest in the bosom of our Savior, as He says to us, just love as I love that is all I ask, for “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few,” just be one of the few, and serve me, carry your cross, be my disciple, witness to others about what I have done in your life.
And soon, I will enter the clouds with ten thousand, times thousands and thousands and thousands of angels in all my glory. and My reward will be with me, and I will give it to each person according to what they have done.” Rev. 22:12 (NIV)
So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY
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