I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest...

Two weeks from now we get to witness again God’s power and grace through our Hope For You concert. What a privilege that the Lord counted us worthy to be part of His harvest. I remember what Jesus said in John 4:35John 4:35
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35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.  

WP-Bible plugin. He said, “Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”

The soul-harvest is a matter of immediate urgency. There are many who still need to be saved. It’s easy to lose the burden for the lost or think that the work is done! The truth is there’s a lot of work yet to be done! Jesus said the harvest is before us. The lesson for us is: The Time is NOW! The time is now to do God’s will. The time is now to reach out to the lost; the time is now to share the love of God.

“Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.”

What are we waiting for? To hear a voice from heaven? Don’t you know that thousands die and slip into eternal fire without Christ? I’m not saying that we could save the whole world but I’m saying that God has called us to participate in the harvest. And you know what’s God’s number one priority is? His glory in the saving of souls! We need to pray toward that end, we need to give toward that end, we need to serve toward that end.

Jesus continued in vs.36 of John 4, “Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.” Notice the idea of rejoicing there. What great joy there is in serving God, in doing His will, in finishing His work – and hearing those words, “Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter in to the joy of the Lord!” There will be rewards for faithful service.

Now is the day of salvation! There is no day that God stops from reaching out to somebody needing His salvation!

In John 4:37-38John 4:37-38
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37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. ³⁸ I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.  

WP-Bible plugin, Jesus followed up, “Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” In other words, this is the work of everyone! Your prayer, your witnessing, your giving, support in anyway contribute to the work of spreading the gospel! One sows another reaps. And there’s joy, there are rewards for everyone!

The Bible says, “Now is the day of salvation! There is no day that God stops from reaching out to somebody needing His salvation! There’s a harvest out there – what is needed are faithful witnesses, faithful workers who will bring in the harvest to God’s kingdom! What is your priority? What is most important to you? Is your priority in line with God’s priority? Do you seek to know God’s will for your life, do it and continuing in it? This is God’s best for you, for us all. This is the secret of satisfaction!

You could hear it coming. My wife Lolit went to our room’s window wondering what she was hearing. I heard it too. It sounded like an old air-condition engine, according to her. Coming from afar slowly approaching, my wife standing in front of the window, feels the coolness of the air, until it fell…and it fell hard! The rain came down hard! Yes, at the time of this writing it was raining. And I heard from the news that some parts of our country are experiencing a storm.

“Storms have a way of revealing what is real and lasting…”

I remember watching many great storms that hit Metro Manila. I watched those storms peel shingles from roofs and send them flying through the air like feathers, I thought, storms have a way of revealing what is real and lasting. In times of our deepest crisis, we gain wisdom that enables us to discover who we really are, of what we are truly made, and what life is seriously about. I’ve seen storms uproot trees and wondered how deeply rooted am I in the Lord. It is not the storm without, but the enemy within that poses our greatest threat.

There’s a story of a ship that was caught in a storm. The frightened crew hears a terrible crashing sound below. Immediately the men know what it is: a cannon has broken loose and is crashing into the ship’s side with every smashing blow of the sea! Two men, at the risk of their lives, manage to fasten it down again, for they know that the unfastened cannon is more dangerous than the raging storm.

“How does one weather the storms of life?”

Many people are like that ship—their greatest danger areas lie within their own lives. How does one weather the storms of life? An old seaman said, “In fierce storms we can do but one thing. There is only one way to survive; we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there.”

Beloved, this is what we must do. Sometimes, like Paul, you can see neither sun nor stars, and no small tempest lies on you. Reason cannot help you. Past experiences give you no light. Only a single course is left. You must put your soul in one position and keep it there. You must stay upon the Lord, fix your eyes on Him and, come what may— winds, waves, seas, thunder, lightning, frowning rocks, roaring breakers—no matter what, you must lash yourself to the helm and hold fast your confidence in God’s faithfulness and His everlasting love in Christ Jesus!

“Fix your eyes on Him… come what may… no matter what… hold fast your confidence in God’s faithfulness and His everlasting love in Christ Jesus!”

“Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?…..No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us…nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom.8:35-39)!” That’s the best position you can be most secure – in His love! The rain may fall down hard but His love is your everlasting shelter from the storm.

Russia has wildfires, Pakistan has flooding, bomb attack in Zamboanga City airport and a murder committed in our neighborhood. Just some of the bad news from last week. In times like these, how can we remain steady and secure? Psalms 21:7Psalms 21:7
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7 For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.  

WP-Bible plugin – For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.”This is where our victory and security lies, – trust in God’s unfailing love! Isa. 54:10Isa. 54:10
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10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.  

WP-Bible plugin – “Though the mountains be shaken, and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you.”

Beloved, in a time when all of man’s programs and systems are failing…

Beloved, in a time when all of man’s programs and systems are failing, when the foundations of the world are crumbling, when uncertainties have left nations and households with a sense of apprehension, there is one thing that is sure, that is certain — which we can trust – God’s unfailing love! What does it mean to trust in His unfailing love? First, trusting in His unfailing love means knowing that God is aware of every situation. Isn’t that comforting – that He is aware of every situation? “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies. Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed the very hairs of your head are numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows (Lk. 12:6-7Lk. 12:6-7
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6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? ⁷ But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.  

WP-Bible plugin).” Our Father in heaven knows your tears and your fears. You are not alone in your situation.

…trusting in HIS unfailing Love…

2nd, to trust in His unfailing love means to know that God is in control. The Lord’s sovereign rule extends over everyone and everything. This includes both the situations that He directly causes to occur, as well as the ones He indirectly allows to take place. And in the end, His purposes and will, will be fulfilled. 3rd, to trust in His unfailing love is to know that He is Wise and Understanding. From the very beginning, the Lord has always exercised His sovereignty with wisdom and understanding (Prov.3:19). In our troubled times, it is good to know that God knows what He’s doing and what He’s allowing. It may not be clear to us, we may not understand everything, but we can trust in a loving God whose ways are just and pure, working behind the scenes to a glorious end! 4rt, to trust in His unfailing love means to know that God is able to bring good out of bad situations (read Rom. 8:28Rom. 8:28
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28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  

WP-Bible plugin). He can use global uncertainties to focus lives once again upon Him as the only “hiding place” in a dangerous world!

He Himself will become the place where we find refuge and safety in the storms of life...

Beloved, when times change like shifting sand, when events unfold that leave us overwhelmed within, how wonderful it is to know that God is our Rock and stability and strength. When we don’t know what to say or what to do, we can quietly look to God alone to work. When our hope seems to diminish, we can put our expectations upon the Lord. He will be our stability. He will be our defender. He will keep us from being blown away by impossible circumstances. He will bring His glorious grace to bear upon our situation. He Himself will become the place where we find refuge and safety in the storms of life.

With all that’s happening in the world today (earthquakes, El Nino, political instability, moral downward spiral, etc), this is a timely reminder. Our text says, “Be still….” Other versions translate it as, “Cease striving…” It literally means “relax”, “to let go, to let your arms down to your side.” What? Is it possible to relax when you are in trouble? Yes! God’s Word says so! Of course this is not our normal response to troubles; so this advice doesn’t seem to make much sense. Any time I have been involved in a struggle I have wanted to do something.

Is it possible to relax when you are in trouble?

Think how vulnerable you feel when you drop your arms, let go, cease striving, and relax! Yet, this is what God instructs us to do in this Psalm. But God doesn’t just tell us what to do here….He doesn’t just tell us to “relax”….He also tells us how to relax. He says “Be still………AND KNOW that I am God.” In other words, there is something we can KNOW to help us cease our striving in the midst of the battles of life. There is something we can KNOW that will help us to relax when things get rough. Often we respond to problems in life emotionally…based on feelings of fear and insecurity and panic….but here, God challenges us to respond…not emotionally but on the basis of something we KNOW….instead of something we feel. So what? What is that we can know in the midst of our battles?

KNOW THAT HE IS GOD! That He is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble(Psa.46:1); that He is the River of Life, the Fountain within us, the source of everything that we need (vs. 4-5); that He is the Lord Almighty (vs.7); the Victorious One who defeats His enemies (vs.8&9); He is the Ever-present One, who never leaves us nor forsakes us (vs.11 – The Lord Almighty is WITH us)! Know that God is sovereign and absolutely perfect in His dealings with us. It means that there is nothing which escapes His notice, and there is nothing which is beyond His ability!

He is the River of Life, the Fountain within us, the source of everything that we need…

Another thing that we can KNOW when we face the battles of life – We know that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28Rom. 8:28
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28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  

WP-Bible plugin).” There is a story about a fisherman who, with his two sons, went out fishing. The catch was good; but by mid-afternoon a sudden storm blotted out the shoreline, leaving the men groping for the direction home. Meanwhile, a fire broke out in the kitchen of their cottage. Before it could be extinguished, the fire had destroyed the family’s earthly possessions.

Finally, the father and sons were able to row their boat ashore. The man’s wife was waiting to tell him the tragic news of the fire. “Honey, fire has destroyed everything,” she said tearfully. “We have nothing left.” But the husband was unmoved by the news. Didn’t you hear me?” she asked. “The house is gone!” “Yes, I hear you,” he replied. “But a few hours ago were lost at sea. For hours I thought we would perish. Then something happened: I saw a yellow dim glow in the distance. It grew larger and larger. We turned our boat toward the light. The same blaze which destroyed our home was the light that saved our lives!”

The same blaze which destroyed our home was the light that saved our lives!

So when we face the struggles and battles of life we may not KNOW how things are going to work out presently, but we can be still…we can cease striving…we can relax….because even though we don’t know how things are going to work out, we do know Who is going to work things out – and when He does things, He does it for our good! Life is not always good, often the battle turns against us…we do WIN some and LOSE SOME….life is fickle…good for some and bad for others…but God is always good! And beloved, this God is for us, not against us!

It’s the Day of Love they say. Sad that many people mistake love with lust. And if love is discussed with God in the equation, still, the definition is inaccurate. We have a picture of love–and of God’s love in particular–that is shallow and sloppy. We assume that God is nothing but love, and we assume that love is nothing but niceness. We’d like to think God won’t condemn anything that makes us happy, and we’d also like to think God would never deliberately send any problems and pains into our lives that would make us unhappy. But according to the Bible, God does condemn many things that we might enjoy, and God does allow sorrow and suffering. So either God is not very loving, or else His love isn’t the way we often picture it.

…God’s love is unconditional in the sense that it’s not based on what we do to earn it….

Sometimes God’s love is said to be unconditional. In one sense that’s true, but it can also be misunderstood. God’s love is unconditional in the sense that it’s not based on what we do to earn it. When we come to Jesus for salvation, the Lord will forgive any sin, even the worst, and receive us as we are, for the sake of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. But sometimes we talk about “unconditional love” not as a love which can forgive our evil, but a love which doesn’t care about our evil, not as a love that receives us as we are but a love that leaves us as we are.

That’s not how God’s love works. God’s love has a goal. God may love you in spite of your evil, but He will not approve of your evil or allow it to go unchallenged or unchanged. When God gets hold of you, He changes you. The Lord receives you as you are, but He loves you so much that He will not leave you as you are! If Jesus loved you enough to die for you, then He loves you enough to work on you and move you toward His goal for you. The Bible says, “Our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ … gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14Titus 2:14
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14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  

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Love’s goal is that we be pure and eager to do good. And love will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal. Jesus left the perfect happiness of heaven and endured the most horrible suffering to bring us back to Him. So don’t be shocked if the Lord allows you to be unhappy at times, if He command some things you don’t enjoy or puts you through experiences that hurt. The love of Jesus is not a sloppy sentiment that says, “I just want for you whatever makes you happy, sweetie pie.” No. Jesus’ love is gentle yet strong.

In the long run, God does intend to make His people happy–but He intends to make us happy in being holy. So until we are as pure as God wants us to be, until we delight in the things that delight God, God doesn’t necessarily want us to be happy. Holiness comes before happiness on God’s agenda for you and me. This is the holy love of God for His chosen ones. A love springing from the depths of eternity, a love displayed in the death of Jesus Christ, a love which has paid the ultimate price to have us. A love which will do whatever it takes, to transform and purify us so that we are, in the words of Paul in Ephesians 5:27Ephesians 5:27
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27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  

WP-Bible plugin, “radiant… without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

As I was watching a basketball game the other day a thought came to my mind, as if the Spirit of God gently reminding me – that Life in general is not a game! Oh we wish it is! But not so! Most of the time it’s a battle, it’s a struggle; a lot of tears and pain, heartaches and hurts. Beyond the smile and the laughter is a hurting and weeping heart – crying out for love, pleading for help, begging for relief! We live not in a fantasy world nor in video game world, but in a real world of sin and trouble! What do we do when life turns to the worst? When the battle rages and we’re in the thick of the fight? When our enemy is gaining ground and we’re losing our grip? Psalm 46:1-3Psalm 46:1-3
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46 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. for: or, of ¹ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ² Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; midst...: Heb. heart of the seas ³ Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.  

WP-Bible plugin – God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

When life presses in upon us, when trouble comes, then we can know that we have a place to run to. God is our refuge and strength. It does not matter what form the trouble takes, or how it is delivered, or how long it stays. God alone is our accessible, protected place of refuge and retreat. We can hide there and know that nothing can get through to us unless it goes through Him first. In any battle you need a safe place…a fortress where you can go to rest and recoup and think. One of the most beautiful pictures of spiritual refuge is found in Psalm 91:4Psalm 91:4
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4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.  

WP-Bible plugin where it says, “God will shield you with His wings.”

Have you ever seen little chicks hop around, chirping, pecking, doing “little chick stuff”? If the mother hen becomes aware of a predator or a threat to her offspring, she responds by lifting her wings and within seconds, all the baby chicks disappear underneath them. Now, the predator sees nothing but one mean-looking mama who just dares the enemy to take a step forward! She is a refuge for her children…..she is their protection. Now eventually, the chicks will have to crawl out and face the real world again. But for a season, there is nothing quite like the soft shelter of those wings—the downy feathers caressing their heads; the mother’s warmth stilling their shakes; her heart’s steady beating gradually calming their fears.

And God delights in spreading His protective wings and enfolding His frightened, battle-weary children. God is our refuge! And one way that we let God be a refuge for us is to simply talk to Him about our struggles. Psalm 62:8Psalm 62:8
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8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.  

WP-Bible plugin says, “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.” So the passwords that open the gates into the refuge of God are the soul – wrenching words that flow out of our hearts, when we finally decide to trust God enough to tell Him about our struggles. Somewhere in the middle of taking that step of faith, the gates open, and God’s wings extend.

God delights in spreading His protective wings …enfolding His frightened, battle-weary children…

Jesus is our refuge even when what seems permanent and unchangeable changes. When the world seems to crash in around us, He is still there. When the world does not make sense, He is still there. When the problems overwhelm us, when we are afraid, when we are hurting, God is still there. He’s an ever-present help! Thank You Lord!

Not as a façade, not a pretension, nor a “Sunday smile” mask I wear, it’s real. Let me tell you why. As I hear people begin their countdown to Christmas, and indeed it is near, I wonder if it still matter to many – if it still brings joy. Would carolers sing “Joy to the world” with real joy flooding their hearts? Is joy supposed to be once a year experience? With all the different things going on in the world today (mostly bad news), can people experience true joy? And the answer is Yes!

…Our joy increases in direct proportion to our intimacy with Christ…

Joy—it makes people wonder at your secret. Yet joy is no secret to the trusting Christian. When we choose to grow closer to God, resting in His character and provision, joy spills over into our lives so that others can’t help but notice. Do you want to be a person of joy? Silly question, isn’t it? We would love to live above our circumstances. Or have a great attitude. Or laugh a lot. But joy goes beyond all these things. Let’s learn from God’s Word the lovely facets of joy:

1. Joy is the fruit of God’s Spirit. More than a great attitude or an unconquerable spirit, joy comes from God (Galatians 5:22Galatians 5:22
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22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  

WP-Bible plugin). Our joy increases in direct proportion to our intimacy with Christ. And when sin keeps us from that relationship, it also robs us of our joy (Psalm 51:8, 12Psalm 51:8, 12
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8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. ¹² Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  

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2. Joy doesn’t depend on circumstances. Paul wrote Philippians—often called “the book of joy”—from a jail cell. He was criticized, tired, and misunderstood. But instead of allowing his horrible circumstances to choke out God’s Word and God’s Spirit (as Mark 4:19Mark 4:19
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19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. lusts: or, inordinate desires  

WP-Bible plugin describes they often can), Paul chose to concentrate on the joy of knowing Christ (Philippians 2:17Philippians 2:17
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17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. offered: Gr. poured forth  

WP-Bible plugin). Next time you read Philippians, picture Paul’s jail cell . . . and his face.

3. Joy is a choice. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” (James 1:2James 1:2
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2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; temptation: or, trials  

WP-Bible plugin). Here’s the reality—read it carefully. Life’s painful trials are not joyous in themselves, but when we walk through them, we should be filled with joy. Why? Because of the good God is developing in us and in the situation. We can know real joy while in the scariest storm when we fill our minds and hearts with truth about God.

Joy becomes a transaction between you and God that others can’t help but notice. It’s God’s life spilling over the brim of your life and into others’ lives. When you trust Christ with the details of your life, you experience His life in wonderful excess, and it can’t help but give you reason to smile.

The streets will be quiet, some stores may even be close, and the crime rate go way down and the Filipino people will be united again. Is that possible? Yes. Every time Manny Pacquaio steps on the ring! I’m very sure most Filipinos will be glued again to their television or radio today – just to watch and hear the fight of Pacman against Cotto. He’s fight is always a must-see because of the excitement, the skill and the pride that he brings into the boxing ring for the Filipino people. Both said in an interview that they had never trained like how they trained for this fight. And all the months of training, the hours of preparation, and the amount of discipline and determination to win will be decided today.

…to be strong in the Lord is to surrender and fully submit our heart, mind and will to Him…

But do we ever spend the same energy, having the same enthusiasm, the same discipline and determination to our spiritual life? As you know, we are also in a “ring.” It’s a different kind of a “ring” – it’s the “ring of life” wherein we do battle, we do struggle – not with flesh and blood, but with the spiritual forces in heavenly realms. And this ring we are in isn’t once or twice a year fight– but it is everyday! Here is the real picture of life. Many believers seem to live as if there were no spiritual battles at all. They see Christianity not as an entrance into warfare but as an exit from it. But we are called, in the Christian life, to a battle, not to a life of ease; to a battle, to a warfare, to a wrestle, to a struggle.

Beloved, life is not a playground, but a battleground. When one becomes a Christian it doesn’t mean that the battle is over, no, we just change sides! Oh we wish we would have vacation from that, that we would have a very long break from life’s battles, that we could declare a ceasefire – but no, not in this life. Every time I go out of town for a short break, yes, it’s a break from my duties and responsibilities here, but it’s no break from the temptations and seductions of the world, the flesh and the Devil. I cannot put my guard down. I need to be in constant look out in prayer of the fiery darts that the enemy throws at me and to my family.

So what is the Bible’s command? “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power (Eph.6:1).” The good news is it is not our strength that equips us to stand, it is God’s strength invested in us when we submit to God. To be strong in the Lord is to surrender and fully submit our heart, mind and will to Him. We stand in the power of His might! Our strength is not in ourselves. Our strength is in Him. Paul said, when I am weak, then I am strong. For His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

So be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power!” This phrase could be very loosely translated, “In the grip of His hand.” We don’t have a hold on God. He has a hold on us. In John 10:29John 10:29
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29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.  

WP-Bible plugin, Jesus said, “ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” Beloved, as we fight the battles of life, yield to Him by faith, and as we surrender our will to Him and submit our heart to Him, this is the assurance, whatever happens, HE WILL NEVER LET YOU GO! We have a love that never lets us go…and a love that fights for you!

Today is Communion Sunday. To remind us of God’s great love – What is crucifixion? A medical doctor provides a physical description: The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square wrought-iron nail through the wrist deep into the wood. Quickly he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement. The cross is then lifted into place. The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees flexed.

The victim is now crucified. As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain – the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves. As he pushes himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, he places the full weight on the nail through his feet. Again he feels the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the bones of his feet. As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through his muscles, knotting them deep relentless, and throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward to breathe. Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled. He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps partially subsided. Spasmodically, he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen.

Hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-renting cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against rough timber. Then another agony begins: a deep, crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serium and begins to compress the heart. It is now almost over. The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level. The compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissues. The tortured lungs are making frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. He can feel the chill of death creeping through his tissues. Finally, he allows his body to die. All this the Bible records with the simple words, “and they crucified Him” (Mark 15:24Mark 15:24
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24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.  

WP-Bible plugin). What wondrous love is this? The love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord!