Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread and praising God, gave thanks and asked Him to bless it to their use, and when He has broken it, he gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat; this is MY body.
And going a little father, he threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but as you will.
~Matthew 26: 36,39
As a believer today is significant in our journey to grace because we observe one of the most sacred tenets of our faith, Good Friday.
Sometimes it is hard for me to actually think about what transpired all those years ago this week, specifically, the events on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. The very image of what He endured for me always causes me to pause and catch myself. I can’t watch the Passion of the Christ without multiple boxes of Kleenex or asking the bruising hands to stop.
When I think of the suffering and prevailing which would cause blood to seep through His sweat. I begin to cry. Yet I know He had to complete His mission. I know He came to die.
My children and I talk about what he did for us.
He knelt low to intercede and seek the Father.
He accepted the cup that was handed to Him, though He did not deserve it.
He endured humiliation and pain.
He was separated from the Father.
And He did it all because of LOVE.
This is the premise, friend; a foundational truth I am learning deep in my soul: Unless we truly meet LOVE at the Cross, we won’t understand the power it instills.
God is Love. ~1 John 4:8
Because the power of love was enough to move heaven for the sake of those who were the prize of His heart, we have a privileged view of decisions which were made on our behalf.
- He made a choice to set aside heaven to bring us to back to Him.
- He chooses Love as a banner that He sweeps over each of us. Every. Single.Day.
“Good Friday is about love to the uttermost”- John Piper
This love, unconditional and inclusive, is exclusively ours when we believe. If we willingly embrace this reality, then we should have no problem understanding that God came down, lived a life without sin, willingly chose to drink a cup that was ours to consume, and became the bread of life to our dying souls.
And friends, noone took what Jesus willingly chose to give a way. (John 10:18) He said, “I lay down my life wilingly”. His actions followed His words. As we consider this, then we start to see the cross as it reveals LOVE.
- The Cross is more than a story, it is more than a relveation of pain and blood; it is the crowning HOPE of LOVE displayed.
- The Cross is more than a tale of old, it is more than a wish of redemption and restoration; it is the true story of the COURAGE of LOVE revealed.
- The Cross is more than wood and nails, it is more than man’s failure to see the Truth; it is the MERCY of LOVE unveiled.
The Cross is more than I can ever imagine, it is more than I can ever fully understand, it is a place where joy, sorrow and triumph held court together.
The Cross shows us LOVE to the Uttermost.
This love is a consuming love where every need is fully met. As you celebrate the resurrection of Christ this Easter, may you meet the one who was broken and poured sacrificially for you.
Praying for the beauty of this sacred gift to be newly discovered and joyfully received into your lives today.’May your Easter be blessed and full of His grace!
God’s unfailing Love for us was expressed by the Cross. It is beautiful to be reminded by His Love for us each day despite what we go through we must never forget that He paid such an enormous price “His Blood” for our freedom and Salvation.
Many Blessings to you.