The story is told of a little boy named Zachary who was doing very badly in math. His parents had tried everything: tutors, mentors, flash cards, special learning centers, etc... In short, everything they could think of to help his math.
Finally, in a last ditch effort, they took Zachary down and enrolled him in the local Parochial School because they had a reputation for getting excellent results. After the first day, little Zachary came home with a very serious look on his face. He did not even kiss his mother hello. Instead, he went straight to his room and started studying.
Books and papers were spread out all over the room and little Zachary was hard at work. His mother was amazed. She called him down to dinner. To her shock, the minute he was done, he marched back to his room without a word, and in no time, he was back hitting the books as hard as before.
This went on for some time, day after day, while the mother tried to understand what made all the difference. Finally, little Zachary brought home his report Card. He quietly laid it on the table, went up to his room, and hit the books once again.
With great trepidation, His mom looked at it, and to her great surprise, discovered that little Zachary had gotten an 'A' in math. She could no longer hold her curiosity. She went to his room and said, 'Son, what was it? Was it the nuns?' Little Zachary looked at her and shook his head, as if to say 'No.' 'Well, then,' she replied, 'Was it the books, the discipline, the structure, the uniforms? WHAT WAS IT?'
Little Zachary looked at her and said, 'Well, on the first day of school, when I saw that guy nailed to the plus sign, I knew they weren't fooling around!'
As we move into the month of March, the Easter season is on the horizon. The events of Holy Week this year will once again commemorate the last week of Jesus’ earthly life, which culminated with His crucifixion on Good Friday, before His glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday morning.
God was not fooling around when He allowed His Son to be nailed to a cross. He was deadly serious in this whole matter. He did this because He knew that eternity hung in the balance. Heaven and Hell were at stake for all mankind, including you and me.
When you see a picture of Jesus hanging on that cross, what does it say to you? What does it motivate you to do? I hope it drives you to study the significance of something - not math, but grace. And as you do, perhaps it will all add up to just one thing: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Finally, in a last ditch effort, they took Zachary down and enrolled him in the local Parochial School because they had a reputation for getting excellent results. After the first day, little Zachary came home with a very serious look on his face. He did not even kiss his mother hello. Instead, he went straight to his room and started studying.
Books and papers were spread out all over the room and little Zachary was hard at work. His mother was amazed. She called him down to dinner. To her shock, the minute he was done, he marched back to his room without a word, and in no time, he was back hitting the books as hard as before.
This went on for some time, day after day, while the mother tried to understand what made all the difference. Finally, little Zachary brought home his report Card. He quietly laid it on the table, went up to his room, and hit the books once again.
With great trepidation, His mom looked at it, and to her great surprise, discovered that little Zachary had gotten an 'A' in math. She could no longer hold her curiosity. She went to his room and said, 'Son, what was it? Was it the nuns?' Little Zachary looked at her and shook his head, as if to say 'No.' 'Well, then,' she replied, 'Was it the books, the discipline, the structure, the uniforms? WHAT WAS IT?'
Little Zachary looked at her and said, 'Well, on the first day of school, when I saw that guy nailed to the plus sign, I knew they weren't fooling around!'
As we move into the month of March, the Easter season is on the horizon. The events of Holy Week this year will once again commemorate the last week of Jesus’ earthly life, which culminated with His crucifixion on Good Friday, before His glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday morning.
God was not fooling around when He allowed His Son to be nailed to a cross. He was deadly serious in this whole matter. He did this because He knew that eternity hung in the balance. Heaven and Hell were at stake for all mankind, including you and me.
When you see a picture of Jesus hanging on that cross, what does it say to you? What does it motivate you to do? I hope it drives you to study the significance of something - not math, but grace. And as you do, perhaps it will all add up to just one thing: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)