{"id":18996,"date":"2018-07-18T12:31:52","date_gmt":"2018-07-18T16:31:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=18996"},"modified":"2019-12-23T11:26:14","modified_gmt":"2019-12-23T15:26:14","slug":"no-one-escapes-the-cross-do-they-camp-meeting-7-15-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=18996","title":{"rendered":"No One Escapes the Cross… Do They? (Camp Meeting 7\/15\/18)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rev. Jim Hughes<\/span><\/span><\/a> brought his friend Thomas to the Camp Meeting service on 7\/15\/18.\u00a0 Yeah- that Thomas- the one we\u00a0 call Doubting Thomas.\u00a0 How can Jesus be alive?\u00a0 I saw Him die.\u00a0 And NOBODY escapes the cross… do they?\"\"<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Jim Hughes has been a regular at the Pitman Camp Meeting for years.\u00a0 In fact, for about 150 days or evenings- half the year- he’s “bringing friends” to all sorts of worship services and gatherings.\u00a0 His ministry of first person dramatizations and music has been a blessing to thousands of people over the years.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

At last year’s Camp Meeting<\/span><\/a>, he was one of those who was there when some people disturbed a meeting with Jesus by cutting a hole through the roof and\u00a0 lowering their paralytic friend into the Master’s presence.\u00a0 There were a variety of people there\u00a0 that day; Pharisees, rich people, poor people, and… you!\u00a0 Weren’t you there too?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

On this Sunday, Rev. Hughes- er- Thomas entered the auditorium singing “Were you There (when they Crucified My Lord)?”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Thomas was there.\u00a0 But how could he stay?\u00a0 Like most of the other disciples, he hid in the background when their leader was executed.\u00a0 Then he ran for his life; could he be next?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

As “Thomas” entered our midst, he explained that a week had elapsed since the crucifixion.\u00a0 Some of his friends sent word to him,\u00a0 telling him\u00a0 to return to Jerusalem.\u00a0 They made some\u00a0 incredible claim;\u00a0 something about seeing Jesus- alive?!?\u00a0 <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

But, how could that be???\u00a0 Nobody escapes the cross… Do they???<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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God’s Big Enough for Questions…<\/span><\/h3>\n

Before the “costume change” that replaced Rev. Hughes with Thomas, Jim made some opening comments from the podium.\u00a0 \"\"<\/p>\n

We’re all familiar with the story of Thomas.\u00a0 Doubting Thomas.\u00a0 Sometimes we’re not sure of things and we need to see some proof.\u00a0 Sometimes we flat out don’t understand, and we need some answers.\u00a0 But God’s good with that.\u00a0 He wants us to search.\u00a0 He’s big enough for questions.<\/p>\n

Thomas gets a bad rap.\u00a0 He loved the Lord immensely, but just couldn’t get a handle on what had just happened.\u00a0 Alive??? How could that be?\u00a0 Nobody escapes the cross… do they???<\/p>\n

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Where You There?<\/span><\/h4>\n

After the costume change, Rev. Hughes was gone and Thomas appeared.\u00a0 As he entered the Grove Tabernacle, he sang the hymn “Were\u00a0You\u00a0There?<\/span><\/a>”\u00a0 \"\"<\/p>\n

Yes,\u00a0 Thomas was there.\u00a0 He was there when Jesus had performed so many miracles in the past.\u00a0 He wasn’t so sure about them at first either.\u00a0 On each occasion, he verified that the leprosy was gone, or that the person was really alive, or that the demon was really gone.\u00a0 He was there.\u00a0 He saw it!<\/p>\n

Jesus really did raise Lazarus<\/a> from the dead.\u00a0 Then why- WHY didn’t He prevent what happened to Himself?\u00a0 He calmed the storm; couldn’t He have called down some angles who would have calmed the crowd who wanted to arrest Him?\u00a0 He raised Lazarus.\u00a0 Couldn’t He have prevented His own death?<\/p>\n

“Yes- I was there when they crucified my Lord.\u00a0 I heard Him cry out, “It is finished!” right before He took His last breath.\u00a0 How much I would love to hear His voice again; to hear Him call my name one more time.\u00a0 But I was there.\u00a0 I saw Him die.\u00a0 He’s gone.\u00a0 Nobody escapes the cross… do they?<\/span>“<\/p>\n

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Take Me Back to My First Love…<\/span><\/h4>\n

Jesus had predicted what was going to happen to Him; that he would be mocked, killed, and raised from the dead.\u00a0 He said that He was leaving to prepare a place for us.\u00a0 “I do not understand the meaning behind these words.\u00a0 I want to believe, I LONG to believe.\u00a0 But I can’t do it without Jesus…\u00a0 I was there- I saw Him die.\u00a0 And no one escapes the cross… do they?”<\/p>\n

Thomas then sang the song, “First Love.”\u00a0 It was a moment of surrender.\u00a0 Where I am… where I’m running to… where I’m running from… isn’t where I want to be.\u00a0 I need to be with You. I remember when you talked of love, when you fed the thousands.\u00a0 How I long to be with Him again.\u00a0 How I long to hear words of life.\u00a0 How I long to be taken back to that place where He was the reason for my rising in the morning.\u00a0 How I long to believe that He’s really alive.”<\/p>\n

But Jesus is dead.\u00a0 And no one escapes the cross… do they?<\/p>\n