JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “To what extent did God demonstrate His love for us?”

Philippians 2:8 reveals how far Jesus was willing to go for the sake of saving your soul and honoring His Father’s redemptive plan.

“Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross.”

His love can be defined by severe mercy, extreme sacrifice, extravagant grace, and extraordinary forgiveness.

Why would Jesus love us to this extent? The purpose for His sacrifice is found in First Peter 3:18: “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”

If you feel unworthy to be loved by God, join the club. In that regard, we are all unworthy. But God gave us a gift. That gift is Jesus, and His love is good news to the extreme in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason To Believe is the wonder of the cross.

One of the great wonders of the cross is that while Jesus was nailed to the cross, the nails were not the ultimate force that kept Him there.

In Matthew 26, when Jesus was arrested, one of Jesus’ disciples drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. This drew a swift rebuke from Jesus, who said to His disciple, “Put your sword back in its place….” Then He said, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”

Jesus was saying that if He wanted to call off His mission to die for our sins, He could call the heavenly cavalry at any time consisting of 72,000 angels. Jesus did not need nor did He desire His followers to defend Him.

“The wonder of the cross” is that no one took the life of Jesus from Him. He laid it down for us willingly because of His extraordinary love for the sinners of the world.

The wonder of the cross is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the declaration of the Centurion who stood by the cross.

On the day when Jesus died, Matthew 27:54 records the response of a centurion and those nearby. “When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God.’”

There were a number of extraordinary circumstances surrounding the crucifixion. In the middle of the day, darkness came over the land.

At the death of Jesus, there was an earthquake that caused the rocks to split. The curtain of the temple was torn in two. And Matthew’s Gospel records that tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

Another extraordinary circumstance was the way Jesus prayed for those who were crucifying Him. He prayed, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

The Centurion was perceptive to the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ death and concluded that Jesus was not an ordinary man.

The exclamation of the Centurion acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the power of the cross.

Jesus paid a price for a debt load at Calvary that no amount of money could purchase. That price was His blood that was shed at the cross. His blood was the complete payment for our sins, and the full price for our redemption. The cross was such a monumental event that Jesus’ sacrifice is celebrated in the songs of heaven for eternity.

The value of Jesus’ blood to our freedom and forgiveness is found in places like Ephesians 1:7 which says, “In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”

And First John 1:7 says, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

The blood of Jesus, shed for you and me, is the source of power that flows from the cross to reach us with God’s saving grace.

The power of the cross is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment of Celebration reflects on the message of the cross.

The good news of Jesus speaks of His coming to the earth, His death on a cross, His resurrection from the dead, and His promise to return.

These are vital elements of the Gospel that deserve our full attention for real and lasting hope.

First Corinthians 1:18 underscores the different reactions to the message of the cross. The Apostle Paul said, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.”

Death is hard to think about, especially when it involves suffering. But Jesus was willing to face death, even though He did not deserve death. Why did He do this?  There was an important reason for Jesus going to the cross. His death satisfied the wrath of God against sin, and expressed the love of the Father toward sinners. This is amazing grace that forgives the sins of those who embrace the message of the cross. This is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

The message of the cross is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Here is all the information on the songs in today’s program.  If you have any questions — or if you’d just like to get in touch — I’d love to hear from you!

Kristi Leigh – WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com

JOHN SHIRK – Philippians 2:6 tells us that “being in very nature God, he did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!”

Jesus deserved the crown of glory. Instead, He wore the crown of thorns.

Jesus was worthy of being lifted up to a throne of honor. Instead, He suffered the cross of shame.

Jesus was worthy of being served as a distinguished leader. Instead, He came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.

There is an important reason to examine the attitude of Christ. Philippians 2:5 says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

The attitude of Jesus is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com