I have been reading the four gospel accounts of our Lord's crucifixion this morning. There is an incredible amount of prophetic fulfillment and spiritual lessons there, that my pea brain can't begin to comprehend but a small portion of it. But I was captivated by the sponge of vinegar, actually cheap bitter wine, that was placed to our Lord's lips. And I was struck by the fact that the first miracle our Lord performed before the people was the turning water into wine at the wedding of Cana. And it was the best wine that the master of the feast had ever tasted. But here, at the most important Miracle that our Jesus ever performed, His victory over death and hell, He drank cheap bitter wine held up to His lips on a hyssop branch, the same branch used to apply the blood of the sacrifice under the law of the Old testament. The new wine in Christ's blood is the sweetest and best and completely efficacious. The bitter wine that this world can provide, even wrapped in the garb of the Old testament law, is bitter and our Lord drank every ounce of requirement that old bitter cup required. Beloved our faith is in the best wine of the feast. And we will one day drink it fully in celebration at the marriage feast of the Lamb who Was slain from before the foundation of the world.  Amen and Amen

​                                                                 Hebrews 3:1-2
The cross was our Melchizedek's altar of priestly agency, a throne of powerful action, a chariot of victory in triumph.  From “The Atonement” by Hugh Martin 1822-1885 

      "Scripture lays before us that the actual manifestation of Christ's power(Heb 7:16-power of an endless life) and His official obedient(Heb 5:5-6) and positive agency(Heb 2:13-18) in that manifested power, which never were, nor never could be overcome and made ineffective. But on the contrary, His power, obedience and agency prevailed to put forth all His strength and energy  precisely against an inconceivable combination of agencies and instruments naturally fitted, that had it been possible, to subdue and overcome Him. 
      Earth and hell and heaven, all prepared to torment Him:   Earth’s rulers and her rabble; her kings and priest’s and soldiers, and malefactors assailing Him;  her Jews and Gentiles; her dumb creatures even; Earth's forests furnishing wood (for the cross) Earth's stream refusing water (even though He said, “I thirst”); Earth's bitterness mingled and vinegar and gall; Earth's curse embodied in her thorns, in mockery and pain to Crown Him; Earth's “founded” steadfastness refusing to support Him (the earthquake); her firmament to shine on Him (darkness over all the earth).
      Hell's utmost force and fury gathered up against Him; heaven's sword devouring Him and heaven's God forsaking Him. Earth and hell and heaven thus in conspiring actions against Him unto the uttermost of heaven's absolute Justice and Earth and hell's utmost Injustice:-- What is the glory of the Cross if it is not this?  With such action conspiring to conquer and subdue His Priestly and representative action, His Priestly power, obedience, and representative action outlasts and outlives them all.  He did not die subdued and overcome (forced) into dying.  He did not die until He gave Himself in death. Emmanuel a mere sufferer in his death? Oh no!!! The Logos of the Cross is the power of God.  (When He uttered, “It is finished”, He knew His Father’s Will had been completely fulfilled, that bitter cup had been completely drained, and now it was time!!! RF)
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Isaiah 53:12 “He poured out His soul unto death.”
John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” (17-18) “Therefore does My Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself.  I have Power to lay it down, and I have Power to take it again.  This commandment have I received of My Father.”
Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.”
Ephesians 5:25 “He loved the church and gave Himself for it”.
Hebrews 1:3  “When He had by Himself purged our sins, He sat down on the Right Hand of the Majesty on High.”
Revelation 1:5b “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His Own blood, and has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be Glory and dominion for ever and ever, Amen

Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ (than bulls and goats), Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God?”  The Precious Lamb of God (Rev. 5) is so much more than a higher quality sheep!!!)