“…(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:35. “But standing by the cross of Jesus was his mother.” John 2:25. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
December 21, 2022
On December 23, 1972, Franco Harris made a catch of a tipped pass that made football history. It has been called “The Immaculate Reception.” It was an intended play on words to connect with the Roman Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary that the Virgin Mary conceived without sin. The pass reception and Mary’s supposed immaculate conception have one thing in common which is the myth about Mary’s spiritual condition. The truth is that Mary’s pardon as a judgment-deserving sinner was provided for by the punishment of Jesus Christ on the cross. A piercing sorrow for the one highly favored by God was experienced in the shadow of the cross. Mary’s sorrows were laid upon the nail-pierced Savior. He was suffering for Mary’s sins as He was for all sinners (Isa. 53:4). The Scriptures tell us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We, like Mary, need a Savior. None of us are free from the guilt of sin. There is an infinite chasm between us and a holy God. Death passed upon all mankind. Is Jesus Christ your Savior? A caught football fades into history. A crucified Savior makes the forgiveness of sinners an eternal hope.
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“Thank you, gracious Father, that the sword in Mary’s soul became the salvation that lost sinners need by His cross that leads across the chasm.”