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The Pinecone
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April 2017
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f r om Don J oh n s on , K i r b y P i n e s Chap l a i n
Chaplain’s COrner
The Seven
Last Words
April Vesper Services
•
6:30pm
•
Performing Arts Center
April 13th
Dr John Tucker
Graceview Presbyterian Church
April 20th
Dr. Jimmy Latimer
Redeemer Evangelical Church
April 27th
Redeemer’s Call
Gospel Quartet
April 6th
Larry McKenzie
Church of Christ
“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do…Verily I
say unto you, Today you shall be with me in Paradise…Woman,
behold your Son! Behold your Mother… My God, My God,
why have you forsaken me?... I thirst… It is finished… Father,
into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Aword of forgiveness for an ignorant crowd.
Aword of assurance for a dying thief.
Aword of provision for a grievingmother.
Aword of wonderment for aHeavenly Father.
Aword of physical need for the tending soldiers.
Aword of victory for both the seen and unseen spectators to Calvary.
Aword of committal for the Godwhose presencewas nownearer than life.
These were the Savior’s last words from that darkened hill of
death, the skull shaped place of crucifixion known as Golgotha.
The hammer’s clang, the thunder’s roar, the shrieking mob, the
taunting soldiers--all had slipped into silence as Calvary once
more became empty and quiet.
Quite naturally the instigators of this day of infamy could think
that they had hushed forever the simple Carpenter of Nazareth.
But that voice, though briefly silenced in death, was to be heard
again. In victory and power Christ came back from the dead
to live again…to live forever…and to give such life to all who
would believe in Him.
Then He spoke to His followers and said, “All power is given
unto me in heaven and in earth. Go therefore and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever, I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even unto the end of the world.”
1
And He promised, “…you shall receive power, after that the
Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto
me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto
the uttermost part of the earth.”
2
“And if I go…I will come
again.”
3
The Savior’s last words are for us today. More than ever before
we must listen to His voice. We must allow Him to speak, and
then unhesitatingly we must do His will.
Like Samuel we must respond, “Speak Lord, for your servant
hears.”
4
Like Isaiah, we must reply, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
5
Above everything “see that you refuse not him that speaketh.”
6
With His Word of challenge and commission ringing in our
hearts, and with the promise of His Presence and power, let’s
commit ourselves anew to His Lordship in life, and become
dynamic witnesses unto “the uttermost part of the earth.”
Then we shall one day hear His words of reward, “Well done,
good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few
things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the
joy of your Lord.”
7
Till next time, Don Johnson, KP Chaplain
(Bible references:
1
Matthew 28:18-20;
2
Acts 1:8;
3
John 14:3;
4
I Samuel 3:9;
5
Isaiah 6:8;
6
Hebrews 12:25;
7
Matthew 25:21)