This weekend Christians all over the world are celebrating the most important event in human history—the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Whether you are a believer yet or not, Jesus’ righteous life, innocent death, and victorious resurrection can radically change your life for the best now and forever. Only through Jesus can you be saved from your wrongdoing and experience new, abundant, everlasting life with God.
A few days ago after a walk home from college contemplating the impact of Good Friday and Easter, my daughter wrote of the humble love and glorious grace of Jesus as the sacrificial Passover Lamb who took upon himself the sin of the world so anyone who trusts him does not have to die. Instead they can be forgiven, renewed, and become all God created them to be. For this week’s note I wanted to share with you her free write:
“On this bright sad day
I look to your heart, Jesus
Every word you spoke
Every step you took
Every gentle touch
And knowing look
It all conveys a love so great
I am brought to my knees in tears
How could I ever want anyone else?Upon entering Jerusalem, the people praised you, laying down their clothes in your path
A gesture of holy reverence
But the very same people shouting ‘Hosanna’
Would, just five days later, yell ‘Crucify’
Your love was greater than their unbeliefIn the upper room at Passover, you foretold Peter’s denial
Three times, you said
Knowing full well that you would welcome him back with open arms
Your love was greater than his doubtIn the garden you asked to be comforted
‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me’
Three times
But your friends slept
In the garden, alone and afraid, you asked to be spared
‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will’
Three times
All the while, your friends slept
But your love was greater than your fear
It carried you all the way to the cross
Beaten
Bloody
Abandoned
‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani’
‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me‘Truly, this man was the Son of God
You lay in a tomb
Three days
But your love is greater than death
And you rose in victoryIn that moment
You closed the chasm I created
That every one of us createdSo that we can know you
And be with you
Forever‘I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.’”
(Matthew 21, 26, 27 and John 14, 19, 20)
What my daughter has reflected upon is not just for her, but for you also. God created you and loves you. He wants what is best for you which is to be with him, to be like him, and to do what he does. Jesus makes that possible. God demonstrates his love for you in this, while you were weak, broken, rebellious, and hostile toward him Jesus graciously died for you (Romans 5:6-9). I pray that today this glorious truth makes a difference in your life. I pray that you look to Love Incarnate—that you look to Jesus. He is the living water to satisfy your thirsty soul (John 4:10, 6:35, 7:37-38). Believe and receive him. Trust and obey him and not only will you experience his transforming love, but you will then be able to love others as he does and hopefully they will come to know him also.