the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that nation (Israel) only, but that he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. John 11:51-52. To make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross. Ephesians 2:15-16.
The Messiah of the Jews should not only blot out the sins of the Jews, but the sins of all men and reunite with God and mutually reconcile all those who had been separated from God, and had become mutually discordant. His soul’s separation from His body. His death then, was the reuniting and the eternal connecting of all things separated. His soul was poured out: thus He "gathered together" and united all who were "scattered abroad. " Now His death, His pierced heart, shall be the point of connection for all the hearts of men. Beneath His cross, from which salvation and life issue forth for all, should we unite, of whatever people or of whatever religion we may be. Having a Shepherd who has given His life for all the sheep, we should be one fold. All separations, sects and schisms, are a dishonor to Christ and His death. For He died and caused His heart to be sundered, that all who are separated may be united in Him. Oh, that His blood and death, aside from which no man can be saved, may soon gather together all the scattered children of God! For they are yet far from each other, separated by petty non-essentials. Let us look away from everything else and only look unto Him and His cross. Then we become one body under one head; then we shall have peace inwardly and outwardly and be one new man only. But the old man, which yet possesses so much life, causes separation, and will cause separation everywhere, until he is slain on the cross of Christ.
Lord, grant that all who worship Thee
May in Thy love united be;
And that in unity they may
Proclaim Thee, Lord, from day to day.
