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| a cross in the front of our church.... |
I spent Saturday morning condensing Scriptures from a chronological Bible beginning with the Triumphal Entry through the burial of Jesus. It needed to fit into a 15 minute slot. We used it Sunday morning, reading "responsively" with Jesus, Pilate, Narrator, and All parts. While gathering pictures for the power point, I was freshly "moved" emotionally. It was overwhelming. What LOVE!
It's so easy to jump from Palm Sunday to Easter & gloss over the heart of Jesus in the days between (even leading up TO the "Triumphal Entry" - which I suspect wasn't so "triumphal" for Him.....) His entry to Jerusalem that day and His crucifixion...
Truly there is no transformation without sacrifice!*
*That last sentence was lifted from a comment left after yet another blog post - sadly I can't remember whose or which one. It drilled itself into my subconsciousness, and I can't get it out of my mind.
The time I spent Friday and Saturday preparing for Sunday's worship service felt long and tedious at the time, but there WAS an enormous benefit to me personally (and I pray to the people of God gathered on Sunday morning). In a small way, it illustrates the truth of that statement, "...there is no transformation without sacrifice".
The time I spent Friday and Saturday was NOTHING compared to the sacrifice of my Savior...and OH what transformation HIS sacrifice accomplished!
Wounded for me, wounded for me,
There on the cross He was wounded for me;
Gone my transgressions, and now I am free,
All because Jesus was wounded for me.
Dying for me, dying for me,
There on the cross He was dying for me;
Now in His death my redemption I see,
All because Jesus was dying for me.
Risen for me, risen for me,
Up from the grave He has risen for me;
Now evermore from death's sting I am free,
All because Jesus has risen for me.
Living for me, living for me,
Up in the skies He is living for me;
Daily He's pleading and praying for me,
All because Jesus is living for me.
Coming for me, coming for me,
Soon in the air He is coming for me;
Then with what joy His dear face I shall see,
Oh, how I praise Him! He's coming for me.
There on the cross He was wounded for me;
Gone my transgressions, and now I am free,
All because Jesus was wounded for me.
Dying for me, dying for me,
There on the cross He was dying for me;
Now in His death my redemption I see,
All because Jesus was dying for me.
Risen for me, risen for me,
Up from the grave He has risen for me;
Now evermore from death's sting I am free,
All because Jesus has risen for me.
Living for me, living for me,
Up in the skies He is living for me;
Daily He's pleading and praying for me,
All because Jesus is living for me.
Coming for me, coming for me,
Soon in the air He is coming for me;
Then with what joy His dear face I shall see,
Oh, how I praise Him! He's coming for me.
("Wounded for Me". Lyrics verse 1, W.G. Ovens; 2-5, Gladys Watkin Toberts)
Our guest pastor spoke Sunday, and his words continue to echo through my mind. Our two greatest obstacles in this life: sin and death....and Christ overcame the first one on Friday and the second one on Sunday. (Not literally those days, of the week, I'm sure, but I understood his point.)
ReplyDeleteI look forward to meeting our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ face to face, and I am so thankful for this Easter season....
Love to you, my friend,
Jackie
...and back to YOU, Jackie. ♥
DeleteWhat a great truth/reminder from your pastor!
This Easter season my Spirit has so much inner joy.....and thankfulness for the great sacrifice of love for us. Totally amazing ♥
ReplyDeleteLOVE that hymn.
ReplyDelete