Holy Week
The Cross
"As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, 'Take this and eat it, for this is my body.' 27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, 'Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.'" Matthew 26:26-29(NLT)
Reflection
At a particular, single time and place in history God took on human flesh and blood and voluntarily chose to be crucified. God did this as His definitive action to eradicate sin and evil and save us.
Love and wrath go together. To love a person means to hate sin because sin always harms, and love wants to see no harm to the beloved. God, in one conclusive stroke, faced sin, evil and injustice head on. Rather than unleashing his wrath against it, he unleashed his wrath against Himself and forgave.
Have you ever done something awful to another person only to have that person approach you with total forgiveness expecting no restitution? That’s what God did.
All true forgiveness takes on itself the pain done by another. God’s forgiveness takes on that pain mulitplied by many trillions. What kind of a God is this?
Prayer
“Lord, the familiarity of the cross has actually deadened actual familiarity with what happened. Thank you for the biblical record which reminds me anew who you are. Amen”
Jeremiah 30:31-on:
ReplyDelete"Instead, everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes-his own teeth will be set on edge.
"The time is coming, declares the Lord when I will make a NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, "declares the Lord.
"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God and they will be my people.
No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying "Know the Lord', because they will know me, from the least of them to the greatest".
I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more".
Thank you, Jesus, for releasing us from the bondage of sin, the power of the Law that showed us just how short we come of ever being able to do anything of ourselves to warrant your love and mercy.
We cannot comprehend a love that not only forgives, but devises ways to bless us. A love that erases our wrongs and fills us with peace.
Thank you, Jesus for giving us your Spirit that now lovingly and gently guides us into truth and empowers us to not only obey but to desire to please you.
Father, thank you for your Son. Your faithfulness is new every morning.
How Great is our God"
Praise you, Father, thank you, Jesus
Luke 22:20
"In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the NEW COVENANT in my blood, which is poured out for you..."