Stand At The Cross And Be Changed

In this topic I will be roughly following along in a book written by Lonnie Melashenko, and John Thomas McKlarty, called "Stand At The Cross And Be Changed." I will be kind of editing it, and adding some of my own thoughts as we go along, so it will be a mix of my own material and that of others. I thought it would be important to give credit to where the idea of this thread originated from. I have also, over the years, read a number of similar books, by other authors, so it is with great anticipation that I open this topic to share the gems of truth and scripture regarding Calvary, and what happens when we go to the foot of the cross, when we stand at the cross and we change.

In this topic, it is time to get out your Bible. Time to stand at the cross. Time to join those who watched Jesus die. It is time for us to see through their eyes, as they witness this greatest event in human history.

When you read the Bible accounts of what happened that day at the cross where Jesus died, you will see all kinds of people who stood there that day. Enemies and friends of Jesus, scripture-quoting Bible believers, devout Church leaders, the curious, the passerby, people just doing their jobs, almost believers, had been believers, and those who truly did believe in Jesus - but some of them not until after Jesus died.

Every believer, no matter what church you belong to or don't, has to stand at the cross. That's the starting point for everyone. Which point of view was your's when you stood there? Or have you not stood at the cross yet? Which of the types of people do you think you would be, if you were to GO NOW and stand at the cross?

This is a topic for uplifting, personal testimony. (1 John 1:1-3). We will do a mix of examining the different types of people at the cross when Jesus died; and how it all fits into our personal experience today. both Adventists and non Adventists are very welcome in this topic to contribute, but no arguing please. We want testimonies instead!

May God add His blessing to the reading of His Word; and don't forget, "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb; and the Word of His testimony..." (Rev 12:11)

To start; I thought I would share this poem which I just wrote a few minutes ago; you guys are the first to see it:

Stand At The Cross And be Changed
by Castaway57

He didnt promise the cross would not get so heavy
Oh Jesus, when I asked where you were, I was down
You took the weight of the cross, and died for me
And I knew you were real because of your crown.

When I could not see for the heat of the fire
I thought of the furnace where Daniel went
And I knew the only reason that you were there
Is because you are Jesus who was gladly sent

Calvary tells the true story of my wild life
Just as Jesus cried; I weaken, and stress
Jesus knows my heart and he feels my strife
Knows my inner ways yet wont think of me less

As I struggle alone; I feel less blessing
and the terror gives me it's false love
The evil never fails to keep me guessing
Then comes your grace from somewhere above

Seems there's always room at your table for me
You always want to help me with my great sorrow
And when you come to my house with eternity
My delight and joy will give me a tomorrow

I must thank you for your kindness and mercy
The salvation that I cant help but praise
All my hope is in that day at your Calvary
while You lift me up by Ancient of Days

(permission to share for non profit only)

Castaway57 said:

Every believer, no matter what church you belong to or don't, has to stand at the cross. That's the starting point for everyone. Which point of view was your's when you stood there? Or have you not stood at the cross yet? Which of the types of people do you think you would be, if you were to GO NOW and stand at the cross?

This is a topic for uplifting, personal testimony. (1 John 1:1-3).

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The story of Jesus is never told, once for all. Every generation must tell it again. I know too that personally; I have found courage and hope in the words and actions of Jesus, and those that stood around the cross that day when He died on Calvary.

If I was there, when Jesus died; I can imagine how it would be just like one preacher describes:

"The sermon was about to begin. The congregation had gathered, their full attention, riveted on the Preacher. Even angels grew tense with expectancy in the wait. Mere curiosity, and the religious excitement of the crowd accounted for some of the audience. Love brought some. Hatred others. The eyes of some in the crowd burned from hours of crying for the Man whose sermons and whose touch, had restored their dignity, and given meaning to their lives.

Others stood by the cross, arms folded, and cooly savoring their victory over a troubling dissident.

Now Jesus of Nazareth had preached from all kinds of pulpits - from a boat on Galilee, from His couch while reclining at dinner in the homes of pariahs, and in the mansions of Brahmins. Jesus had preached on hillsides and in synagogues. In Jerusalem; crowds had literally hung on His words in the Temple courtyard. And he had interrupted His words with tears, as He stood on Mt Olivet, overlooking Jerusalem - weeping for His city, and it's heart-breaking future."

Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

It is time for God's people to stand at the cross and be changed: (2 Cor 5:17).

ricker said:

Thanks for sharing this. Very nice! I've tried writing songs that rhyme without much luck.

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ricker said:

Thanks for sharing this. Very nice! I've tried writing songs that rhyme without much luck.

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Feel free to put it to music if you like; I know you enjoy making music unto the Lord. Let me know if you need a hand making the wording a certain meter/rythmn etc. I can usually iron such things out pretty good when it comes to words. Have you ever thought of just doing poems that dont rhyme? Might be worth thinking about. I am pretty sure you would have some good ones up your sleeve, and if you think about it; not too much of the Bible's poetry ryhmes.

Stand at the cross and be changed:

Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

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Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel.

Now we have a message, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world."

Will not our church members keep their eyes fixed on a crucified and risen Saviour, in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered?

This is our message, our argument, our doctrine, our warning to the impenitent, our encouragement for the sorrowing, the hope for every believer.

One of the people who stood at the cross that day is depicted in the following:

Mat 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

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What do you think this soldier was like before that day when he stood at the foot of the cross; and how might it have changed his life?

Here is a quote, well supported by Bible texts, which addresses in part, the question I asked above:

Matthew 27:54

Mat_27:54 (Mar_15:39; Luk_23:47; see EGW on verses 45, 46; 1:1-3, 14). The Sermon in Action.--[Mat_27:54 quoted.] . . . What so enlightened and convinced these men that they could not refrain from confessing their faith in Jesus? It was the sermon that was given in every action of Christ and in His silence under cruel abuse. At His trial one seemed to vie with the other in making His humiliation as degrading as possible. But His silence was eloquence. In that lacerated, bruised, broken body hanging on the cross, the centurion recognized the form of the Son of God (MS 115, 1897). {5BC 1109.9}

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The story of Jesus is never told, once for all. Every generation must tell it again.

I know too that personally; I have found courage and hope in the words and actions of Jesus, and those that stood around the cross that day when He died on Calvary.

If I was there, when Jesus died; I can imagine how it would be just like one preacher describes:

"The sermon was about to begin. The congregation had gathered, their full attention, riveted on the Preacher. Even angels grew tense with expectancy in the wait. Mere curiosity, and the religious excitement of the crowd accounted for some of the audience. Love brought some. Hatred others. The eyes of some in the crowd burned from hours of crying for the Man whose sermons and whose touch, had restored their dignity, and given meaning to their lives.

Others stood by the cross, arms folded, and cooly savoring their victory over a troubling dissident.

Now Jesus of Nazareth had preached from all kinds of pulpits - from a boat on Galilee, from His couch while reclining at dinner in the homes of pariahs, and in the mansions of Brahmins. Jesus had preached on hillsides and in synagogues. In Jerusalem; crowds had literally hung on His words in the Temple courtyard. And he had interrupted His words with tears, as He stood on Mt Olivet, overlooking Jerusalem - weeping for His city, and it's heart-breaking future."

Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

Now we reach the point in this topic where Jesus prepares for His last sermon. Jesus, Immanuel, Almighty God in the flesh, stretched out His arms on the cross. From this dramatic pulpit, his arms spread-eagled, Jesus is splayed to the cross by the unforgiving nails, and the hands of strong men. It was here that Jesus faced the Holy City, to deliver His final sermon.

Part Five

I recall years ago accidentally shooting myself in the hand, with a framing nailer, and nailing my poor hand right to a two by four piece of lumber. I'll never forget that pain, yet I cannot imagine the pain Jesus went through when He was nailed to a cross. Both hands. Both feet, and a lot of other stuff in between.

The nails they used in those days were about five inches long. They threw His naked, severely whipped body upon the rough-sawn lumber of the cross; and then, a few powerful strokes with the hammer; and now The Preacher is affixed to His Pulpit.

If I was there; I can just picture what I would have seen. The first thing would be the hecklers. They immediately targeted the Preacher. Crucifixions were cheap fun for some of the low-lifes of Jerusalem. It is likely that the rulers had let it out on the street how that rowdies would be welcome. And they wasted not a minute of time; they were there jeering, jesting, and jostling for the best view of those three men nailed up against the darkening sky. To these crude ruffians, the three men on crosses were just three more crooks, getting what they had coming, suckers who had pushed their luck too far. "Too bad, and good riddance;" they thought!

This reminds me of a scripture verse where we are told:

"Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." (Isa 53:4).

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There is so much packed into this one little verse, but for the purpose of this topic; suffice it to say that we too often have wrong views of Christ, and Him crucified;" and this can only be resolved by being taken back to that fateful day in HIS-Story when our Redeemer, and Judge bore our griefs, and carried our sorrows, that we may see where we would have stood, and/or where we stand now. How many of us have experienced THAT part of the crucifixion, where JESUS bore our griefs, and carried our sorrows?

The reason I called Jesus our Redeemer and Judge, is because His Sacrifice both condemns our sin, and provides our forgiveness. The official Adventist fundamental belief #9 puts it all into perspective like this:

In Christ's life of perfect obedience to God's will, His suffering, death, and resurrection, God provided the only means of atonement for human sin, so that those who by faith accept this atonement may have eternal life, and the whole creation may better understand the infinite and holy love of the Creator. This perfect atonement vindicates the righteousness of God's law and the graciousness of His character; for it both condemns our sin and provides for our forgiveness. The death of Christ is substitutionary and expiatory, reconciling and transforming. The resurrection of Christ proclaims God's triumph over the forces of evil, and for those who accept the atonement assures their final victory over sin and death. It declares the Lordship of Jesus Christ, before whom every knee in heaven and on earth will bow.-Fundamental Beliefs, 9

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But we must each go to the cross for ourselves to be changed; and so now, as we revisit Calvary together in this thread, the first thing we notice again is that mob milling about at the foot of the cross; and some of these had actually known The Man on that middle cross. They had even eaten bread and fish with some of His disciples; they had personally witnessed, and been astounded by His miracles, and deeply moved by His powerful preaching. But still, they joined in with all the scorning and the mockery. Jesus had put on a good show while it all lasted they reasoned, but His present situation was certainly plenty of proof that He was just another impostor. And to think that they had almost believed Him!! How relieved they were on this darkened afternoon that they were not taken in!

It is so important for each of us to stand at the cross for ourselves. As I alluded to with my use of Isa 53:4 just above, we too often have wrong ideas about Christ, and Him crucified, and the only way around that is to personally stand at the cross:

"It was generally believed by the Jews that sin is punished in this life. Every affliction was regarded as the penalty of some wrongdoing, either of the sufferer himself or of his parents. It is true that all suffering results from the transgression of God's law, but this truth had become perverted. Satan, the author of sin and all its results, had led men to look upon disease and death as proceeding from God,--as punishment arbitrarily inflicted on account of sin. Hence one upon whom some great affliction or calamity had fallen had the additional burden of being regarded as a great sinner. {DA 471.1}

Thus the way was prepared for the Jews to reject Jesus. He who "hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows" was looked upon by the Jews as "stricken," smitten of God, and afflicted;" and they hid their faces from Him. Isaiah 53:4, 3. {DA 471.2}

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Like many of our Pioneers, a true Adventist is one who has stood at the cross and who has been changed; someone who has a personal testimony about their personal experience with Jesus, and about where they were standing when they went to the cross, (1 John 1:1-3); true Adventists are a people who say as their "final message" "softly, and tenderly Jesus is calling. Like He did me; Jesus is calling YOU."

And no matter which doctrine is being discussed, or how right you are about it; it's not seventh-day Adventist, nor is it "the straight testimony" without Christ and Him crucified as the central hub, around which all the doctrines in the Bible draw their influence and power.

The scripture says: "behold THE Lamb of God who taketh away the sin..."

Now we have a message. We have our warning, we have our assurance; we have a direction to travel in together, no need to lone-wolf it; yes, we need only return to Calvary, only stand at the cross, and be changed. Really changed. (2 Cor 5:17). This is the true witness which gives the "final message WITH POWER." (Rev 14:6-12).

"Behold THE Lamb of God which taketh away the sin..." This is our message, our argument, our doctrine, our warning to the impenitent, our encouragement for the sorrowing, the hope for every believer. And we get all this by standing at the cross and being changed.

Softly and Tenderly - YouTube

Castaway57 said:

Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel.

Now we have a message, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world."

Will not our church members keep their eyes fixed on a crucified and risen Saviour, in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered?

This is our message, our argument, our doctrine, our warning to the impenitent, our encouragement for the sorrowing, the hope for every believer.

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When we have a personal experience in standing at the cross, we will be changed. We will have a message, an argument, a warning, an encouragement, and a hope that we can share with others.

"Behold, the Lamb of God," on the cross. What did you see? What did you experience? How did it change you & your life?

I believe that Jesus started this last sermon from Calvary, just as soon as the strong soldiers started pounding the five inch nails into His hands. After they were done, the soldiers, grunting and moaning, hoisted up Jesus' pulpit, into the prepared hole.

Hecklers wasted no time in starting their work of targetting the Preacher. Most of the men doing all this crude joking and laughing at the crucifiction had no idea they were mocking the Son of God.

But even in their mockery, they conceded His power..."Hey, miracle man, where is your power now?" "People lame from the day they were born, suddenly leap around like frogs after you get through with them!" "Where is your power now? Come on! We want to see you save yourself now!"

Is this not like today, we go to the cross; we stand there, and we are changed, then we go home to the jeers and imprecations of friends, family and acquaintances who do not see any power in Jesus, and who tell us how "wrong" we are. Who have not seen how He can change people, and circumstances, and today is no different. They certainly don't see how Jesus could do it from a cross.

Let us now begin to put ourselves into the shoes of all the many and varied people standing at the cross. How would you feel; what would you do, and how did it change you?

(to be continued)

When you last stood at the foot of the cross, what happened, what changed in your life: what did Jesus do? I am in too much pain to continue, but will be back asap with a personal testimony about this. Please, add your testimony here to help encourage others. (1 John 1:1-3, Rev 12:11)

Can you imagine the two people, on the two crosses, on either side of the cross of Christ?

I would encourage you to read the pertinent scripture passages on these two, and then to look at various times/experiences in your life. Was there a time when you stood in either of the two places? Can you tell us why? How?

The next post I make here will include my own answer to this question. According to 1 John 1;1-3, we should all have something to say when it comes to Jesus! Please share your thoughts and experience here too.

Castaway57 said:

Can you imagine the two people, on the two crosses, on either side of the cross of Christ?

I would encourage you to read the pertinent scripture passages on these two, and then to look at various times/experiences in your life. Was there a time when you stood in either of the two places? Can you tell us why? How?

The next post I make here will include my own answer to this question. According to 1 John 1;1-3, we should all have something to say when it comes to Jesus! Please share your thoughts and experience here too.

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Part Seven

Jesus had company in His agony that afternoon, when he was crucified on the cross - in the form of two thieves.

All three of them were treated like any other common criminals by professional executioners. They were stripped and nailed to their crosses. All three suffered terribly from the agony of their severe thirst; and from their shame, and the unspeakable pain that began in their arms and feet, and then spread to their chests and viscera. The thieves cursed the cruel soldiers, God, life in general, and of course the physical pain they were enduring. They even picked up the taunts of the crowd against the Preacher: "Hey you! If you really are the Messiah, get us out of here! Save yourself and take us along with you!"

Now; it was definitely a good while before either of the thieves were ready to listen. Certainly, neither thief had volunteered for their place in Jesus' entourage that afternoon. They were not given the privilege of sharing the platform with Jesus as a reward for their good lives. But, for one of them, the punishment of his sin was transformed into a stupendous benefit by words from the dying Preacher:

Often we regard as hopeless subjects the very ones whom Christ is drawing to Himself. . . . Many will be in heaven who their neighbors supposed would never enter there. Man judges from appearance, but God judges the heart. {Mar 320.2}

Some among the redeemed will have laid hold of Christ in the last hours of life, and in heaven instruction will be given to these, who, when they died, did not understand perfectly the plan of salvation. {Mar 320.3}

To Jesus in His agony on the cross there came one gleam of comfort. It was the prayer of the penitent thief. . . . In Jesus, bruised, mocked, and hanging upon the cross, he sees the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. Hope is mingled with anguish in his voice as the helpless, dying soul casts himself upon a dying Saviour. "Lord, remember me," he cries, "when thou comest into thy kingdom." Quickly the answer came. . . . Verily I say unto thee today, Thou shalt be with Me in paradise. {Mar 320.4}

Such faith may be represented by the eleventh hour laborers who receive as much reward as do those who have labored for many hours. The thief asked in faith, in penitence, in contrition. He asked in earnestness, as if he fully realized that Jesus could save him if He would. {Mar 320.5}

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