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But He was hurt for OUR wrongdoing."); document.writeln("He was crushed for OUR sins. He was punished so WE would have peace. He was"); document.writeln("beaten so WE would be healed.¹

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An old Christian drama depicts a little boy working"); document.writeln("in his parent\'АЩs carpentry shop in first century Jerusalem. He protests his"); document.writeln("chore, which is to assist in building a cross. The parents insist that he help"); document.writeln("because Rome has given them a contract for construction of crosses.

"); document.writeln("In"); document.writeln("another scene the boy is weeping. What is wrong? his parents ask."); document.writeln("He responds, I went to the marketplace, and I saw Jesus of Nazareth, the"); document.writeln("Man we love to hear preach, and He was carrying my cross! They took Him to"); document.writeln("Golgotha and nailed Him to MY cross!"); document.writeln("

"); document.writeln("The"); document.writeln("parents insist, Oh no, son, that was not your cross. Other people in"); document.writeln("Jerusalem build crosses. That was not your cross. Oh yes, it was! exclaims the boy."); document.writeln("When you were not looking, I carved my name on the cross I was making. When"); document.writeln("Jesus was carrying His cross, He stumbled right beside me, I looked, and my"); document.writeln("name was on His cross!²"); document.writeln("

I am sure many of you, like me, have"); document.writeln("heard the story of the crucifixion of Jesus several times. I was speaking to someone the other day about Easter, the plans they"); document.writeln("had, and the services they would be attending. As I listened to them, I realized"); document.writeln("how the Easter story, for some, has become just one more part of the day. It"); document.writeln("has simply become a tradition to attend church on Easter Sunday and remember the"); document.writeln("crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord. Hearing the pain and suffering that Jesus"); document.writeln("endured brings tears to our eyes and feelings of awe as we think that someone"); document.writeln("would submit themselves to such horrific agony. But there is a problem\'Аж we have"); document.writeln("failed to make the story our own. We have come to generalize the story of how"); document.writeln("Jesus died for the sins of the world but have failed to claim this Salvation as"); document.writeln("ours.

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Take a moment and say this with me, Jesus"); document.writeln("died for the sins of the world. Now, change it up a bit and say out"); document.writeln("loud, Jesus died for MY sin. Did you feel the difference? Did you feel the stirring"); document.writeln("inside you as you made it personal? I know I did!

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The death of Jesus was far from a"); document.writeln("simple story to be shared on Good Friday. It is a POWERFUL story of how He gave"); document.writeln("His life to give ME salvation, to give ME hope, to give ME peace, to give ME"); document.writeln("eternal life, to make ME a beloved child of God. Claim this truth as yours"); document.writeln("today. Jesus wants to have a personal relationship with us individually! As we"); document.writeln("remember His incomparable sacrifice today, let us not forget this: He carried"); document.writeln("MY cross.

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Suggested prayer: Dear Jesus, saying"); document.writeln("thank you to the Man who died for me just does not seem like enough, but THANK"); document.writeln("YOU. Lord, just as you carried the cross for me, help me pick up my cross daily"); document.writeln("and live for you. You alone are worthy of my praise and adoration. Gratefully, in Your name, Amen.

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Isaiah 53:5 (NLV).
www.sermoncentral.com"); document.writeln("

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Today\'АЩs Encounter was written by:"); document.writeln("Crystal B.

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