The Emancipation Crucifixion

Abolitionist such as Fredrick Douglass and Sojourner Truth, Presbyterian Minister John Rankin and Levi Coffin, worked tirelessly, in many cases even in defiance of the law to free black from bondage in the United States. Then on January 1^st, 1863   when President Abraham Lincoln ratified the Emancipation Proclamation declaring that all enslaved person in the Confederate States of America in rebellion and not in Union Hands were to be freed.  It appeared that the institution known as slavery had been defeated.

Shockingly, some enslaved African Americans had no idea that President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which mandated that they be set free. In Texas, more than two-and-a-half years passed before they attained the knowledge of their freedom.

For 30 months the African American Slaves in Texas were free but did not know it. They were no longer under the law of slavery, yet they were stuck in the system of slavery. They had no ability to live an abundant life that their slaver owners could enjoy. However, on June 19^th, 1865 all that changed and the celebration of freedom began.

Today all fifty states except Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota and South Dakota celebrate this most joyous occasion with events like the re-reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Singing of traditional Negro Spiritual such as “Swing Low Sweet Chariot”, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”,  the reading of noted black authors and poets, family cookouts, community rodeos, street fairs, , historic reenactments and even a Miss Juneteenth Contest.

On this most celebratory day (also my wedding anniversary) I think of the many Christians that have to keep the letter of the law so that we might not be seen as sinful. There are churches where they will actually measure the length of w women’s dress or the cut of a man’s hair. They will return to the six hundred and thirteen precepts of the old testament to hold us, prisoner, to pious boastful righteousness
never to come to understand the freedom that they have in Jesus Christ. 

Hebrews 6:5-6 "and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame"

Many of us work like slaves trying to appease a holy God with our works. We struggle with everything from our sin, to our trying.  But God has emancipated us from the law of work, and given us grace, through His Son Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:1 "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." 

So that in Christ we no longer have to strive to appease an unforgiving law of works. Romans 6:14 tells us "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the Law but under grace."  

But now we are set free to live a more abundant life which is only found in Jesus Christ. The scripture teaches that where sin abounds Grace much more abounds. But this is not a right to sin, it is a right to be forgiven.

So this Juneteeth as you celebrate the freeing of the slaves in the United States. Let the Holy Spirit also lead you to celebrate the freeing of the slaves more than 2000 years ago by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. because unlike Abraham Lincoln who freed the slaves, only to have them remain in slavery.  whom the Son sets free is free indeed! (John 8:36)

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE
and leave a comment 

FireSpeaks