Yes, Jesus suffered physically on the old rugged Cross. Untold pain, beyond our ability to grasp. Yet, surprisingly, the Gospel Accounts of Calvary do not concentrate on that pain. (For example, no gory details of the long nails being driven into His willing Body.)

His Agony seems to have gone beyond the savage physical torture. (Though Rome certainly knew how to “hurt” her victims.)

I think we get a glimpse of that Truth in 2 Corinthians 5:21, a line of that deep, sacred Verse of Scripture.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (King James Version)

And the Line to emphasize?

“He hath made Him to be sin.” But we must identify the Pronouns … “God the Father hath made Jesus His Son to be sin!”

Can you imagine the “shock” of that event?

Jesus Who is “sinless!”

Who is “holy, harmless, undefiled,” according to Paul in Hebrews 7:26!

Suddenly, “made to be sin!”

Actually, in Greek the infinitive “to be” is supplied by the skilled King James Version translators.

The Text literally, unenhanced, reads: “He made Him, God made Jesus ‘sin’ for us.”

Does that mean our Lord Jesus sinned on the Cross?

Of course not!

He never sinned.

(Personally, I do not think Jesus could have sinned. That’s the doctrine of the “impeccability” of Christ.)

Then what happened on Calvary that Day?

Jesus so identified with our sin that He personally took our filth, sin, degradation and claimed it as He Own.

The sinless One taking my sin upon Himself!

Oh, the untold horror that must have been for our pristine, perfectly holy Saviour!

His soul suffered, His spirit agonized at being our sin Bearer!

Fathomless sorrow, grief, shock … because He loved us enough to suffer whatever it took to redeem our lost souls!

Yes, on the Cross … “And the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)

This is at least a “hint” of His spirit, His soul (not His Body only) receiving, accepting and dying for our sin. Jesus forensically had imputed to Him (by God the Father at Jesus’ Acquiesce) all the sin of the world! (1 John 2:2)

Mercy indeed, what a Saviour!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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The Lesson title is both lengthy (too much so for today’s “text” readers) and its Subject profound (maybe deeper than any of us can go).

I want to discuss here on our website, at least for a while, the “spiritual suffering” Jesus endured on the Cross of Calvary!

Now let me quote a couple of old Puritan writers I enjoy reading.

Thomas Goodwin (1600-1680) … “The greatest of all Christ’s sufferings were those of His soul.”

Thomas Watson (1620 – 1686) … “Christ felt hell’s torment in His soul.”

But a far better source yet is (of course) the Holy Spirit inspired Prophet Isaiah …

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” Isaiah 53:10

His very soul was “offered” for sin!

Honestly, we may never understand all Jesus did on the Cross that epochal Day long ago. But it is going to be delightful learning more (and more) about His Glorious Sacrifice for a lost world.

Study with us …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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As some of you know, I am teaching a series of video Bible lessons from the Book of Ecclesiastes. And I have a confession to make. Through I have taught the Book several times previously … I was overwhelmed with the “vanity of life” it presented! I had begun to wonder if anything had meaning to Solomon!

But then, as the chapters progressed, things got “brighter.” Solomon began using the word wisdom! And the concept of fearing (reverencing) God! Simultaneously, that word “vanity” began to appear less in his vocabulary!

I am beginning to wonder if the King did not experience some sort of “Revival” as he wrote the 222 Verses of that little Jewel, Ecclesiastes. And though we are only in Chapter 7 … even more lucid and more helpful things are coming!

Little wonder, 2 Timothy 3:16 is accurate. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” See that word “profitable?” That includes Ecclesiastes!

I now invite you to watch our current lesson …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Years ago, actually on the old format of our Website, I wrote a series of Lessons expositing Psalm 83. Where a bunch of Israel’s neighboring nations “gang up” on her and seek her destruction.

You can still read those 18 Lessons by going to the “Bible Study Pages Archive” link at the top of this “Home Page.” Click on that and you will be taken to hundreds of Bible Lessons, maybe thousands! (Years of delightful work in the Word!)

Search that Page (it’s in the right-hand column, about 1/3 of the way down the list) until you find “PSALM 83.” Then “click” and study away! This war may be happening before our very eyes!

If you have trouble finding it, text me. I’ll help you, 770-844-7627. It’s there, that whole series of articles. I just used it. And truly it is “One of the most amazing chapters in the whole Bible.”

Pray for Israel today!

Pray Psalm 83 for Israel today!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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There is a particular blessing God has pronounced upon those of us who pray for Israel!

Psalm 122:6 … “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”

I have complied a few Bible Verses to help us phrase our prayers to God on behalf of His “chosen Nation.”

Ask Him to “scatter” the enemies of Israel! An idea deriving from Numbers 10:35 … “And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.”

Many today have attacked Israel. A little Nation that God calls “the apple of Mine Eye.” If anyone seeks to harm Israel God threatens to “shake His Hand” upon them. That’s judgment!

Zechariah 2:8-9 … For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.

Also, I’m asking God to “make bare His Mighty Arm” on behalf of Israel these days. As in Isaiah 52:10 … “The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”

Let Thy Strong Arm fight for that little Nation! Psalm 89:13 … “Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.”

He delivered Israel once (actually, many more times that that) from Egypt per Deuteronomy 26:8 … “And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders.” I believe we can pray, DO IT AGAIN, DEAR LORD!”

Lastly, this verse is powerful! It “works” for any Believer in our Lord. But is especially applicable for Israel at this crucial time. Isaiah 43:2 … “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

Foolks, Jesus is coming soon!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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