Tag Archives: The Cross

Thoughts Upon the Death of Billy Graham

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Unlike so many in the world I never met Billy Graham and never saw him in person, not even at one of his crusades, but I have followed his ministry for decades—watching his crusades on television, listening to his radio broadcast, reading some of his books and, like millions of others, supporting his ministry with prayers and monthly giving.  And, like millions of others, I am saddened by the loss of such a great man of God to the world.

Billy Graham was a man who said “yes” to God for a particular calling, gifted by God to succeed in his calling through the obedience of faith and the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God.  Through the years I have been particularly impressed by Graham’s single-minded focus.  He was never lured off his given course.  He did lend his name and gifts to other endeavors, but never veered from his primary calling by God.  And he never departed from the simple but profound message of the gospel.  A message for all people for all time.

Several quotations particularly come to my mind when I think of Billy Graham.

The first, something that Bono said about the great musician, B. B. King.  “For true greatness to take place, there requires a long obedience in the same direction.”

Second, 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul’s words to the young preacher, Timothy.  “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

Third, Proverbs 22:29, “Show me a man who is diligent in his work and I will show you a man who will stand before kings…”  We might also be reminded of Joseph, Daniel, and the apostle Paul.

Fourth, the words of Jesus, Himself, Matthew 11:28-29.  “Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.”  Billy Graham was a gentle and humble man who moved the hearts of many to find rest for their souls in Jesus Christ.

Two of my favorite things that Billy Graham said. (These are not verbatim quotes.)

One, in this very partisan world in which we live where virtually everything is reduced to the politics of the right or left, Billy Graham wrote that to be a Christian is to be a partisan for Christ.

And, two, the apostle Paul said, “…that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice.”  Billy Graham was often criticized for preaching in certain churches, but he said that he rejoiced in every cross displayed on every church everywhere in the world.

And I conclude with this thought:  Billy Graham was a man greatly used of God to do His work, but it was not the work of a single man.  Rather, it was the work of a community of faith, a corporate body made of many diverse members each with their own spiritual gifts working in the harmony of the Spirit of God toward a single purpose.  It was the work of the Body of Christ, the church.  Billy Graham knew this.  It was and remains one of the great strengths of his ministry.

I loved Billy Graham.  He was my brother.  I will miss him.  But his work will live on.

To Whom Shall We Go But Thee (a hymn)

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“Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy.”                      Proverbs 14:10

Whom shall I seek when the lone silence speaks
Thoughts that my heart must defy.
I shall call on Him.
I shall wait on Him
Who comes with truthful reply.

To whom shall we go but Thee?
To whom shall we go but Thee?

Who can console my grief laden soul
In the helplessness of loss?
I shall draw near Him,
The meek heart of Him.
My strength is His love–the cross.

To whom shall we go but Thee?
To whom shall we go but Thee?

And what shall I do when the path grows dim?
Where shall I look for light?
I shall search for Him.
I shall walk with Him
Before the descent of night.

Lord, to whom shall we go but Thee?
You have the words of life.
And we have believed
And have come to know
That You are the Christ,
The Son of the living God.
You are the Christ.

                                                                         Meredith Cockroft

 

 

 

The Cross of Christ Part 2 — A Suffering Savior for a Suffering World

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Chaim Potok, conservative Jewish rabbi and Jewish scholar, wrote a beautiful novel called My Name is Asher Lev.  It is about a young Jewish boy who is an artist and whose Hassidic Jewish parents, especially his father, see his art as against the Torah, something for the goyim and unreligious Jews.  His parents are deeply involved in a dangerous movement to get their Hassidic Jewish brethren out of Russia where they are being persecuted and into the freedom and safety of western Europe and the United States.  His mother’s brother is killed in these efforts.  And Asher observes her suffering over his death as well as her worrying about his father’s frequent trips.  He also sees her suffer as she stands between her son and her husband in the conflict over his drawings and paintings. His mother takes him secretly to art museums where he sees many paintings by the old masters of the crucifixion. Intrigued by them, he asks his mother about them.  She says they are of Jesus, the God of the goyim, but we cannot speak of Him.  As Asher grows to manhood he continues with his art and becomes a successful artist. For the first exhibition of his paintings he depicts his mother’s suffering by painting her on a crucifix.

He thinks about the painting and the hurt it will cause his parents:  “For all the pain you suffered, my mama.  For all the torment of your past and future years, my mama.  For all the anguish this picture of pain will cause you.  For the unspeakable mystery that brings good fathers and sons into the world and lets a mother watch them tear at each other’s throats.  For the Master of the Universe, whose suffering world I do not comprehend.  For dreams of horror, for nights of waiting, for memories of death, for the love I have for you, for all the things I remember, and for all the things I should remember but have forgotten, for all these I created this painting–an observant Jew working on a crucifixion because there was no aesthetic mold in his own religious tradition into which he could pour a painting of ultimate anguish and torment.”

What a poignant and powerful statement on the symbolism and reality of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who endured unspeakable suffering for the sins of the world!

A Music Link:  What Wondrous Love Is This by Steve Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3uxCOwrcow