Taking a trip from Good Friday to Easter

Hey all. I just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Easter. What a privilege to worship and serve the risen savior, Christ the Lord.

Last night I attended a Good Friday Vespers service at my father's church in Hot Springs, AR. It was such a blessing to recognize the events of Good Friday and how it has impacted eternity. As we worshiped with classic hymns about the cross I was reminded of the brutality of Jesus' death. As I reflect on the cross and the punishment endured by Christ my heart breaks again; like the first day that I accepted him as my savior.

Christ, who exists uncreated, created the world.

16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were
created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things
hold together. Colossians 1:16-17

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2He was with God in the beginning.
3Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:1-3

So, if Christ was "in the beginning" then what did he give up for us to come to earth and take on a fleshly body? In heaven we learn from scripture that angels surround the throne and sing Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty. The earth is filled with your glory. It is paradise. It is perfect. He is exalted and sits at the right hand of the father. He gave up worship to come to earth as a baby born of a virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit. In heaven he was worshiped, on earth he was ridiculed. He had to flee to Egypt as a toddler for King Herod was killing all baby boys in an attempt to murder this Messiah he had heard about. By the time of his ministry he was not even welcomed in his home town of Nazareth. He was rejected during his time on earth and even now he is still rejected by many human hearts all over the world. In heaven he is adored. Isaiah foretells of his treatment on earth.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our
iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his
wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

He was perfect, sinless. So, to receive unwarranted punishment like this begs the question "why?"

Would you believe the answer to that question is simple...because he loves us. Period. Regardless of what you have done. Regardless of your past. No matter how ashamed you are or who you have hurt. No one deserves his love. Not I, not you, not Paul, not Billy Graham, not your children, not your parents. No one. Even though we don't deserve his love he offers freely. That is called grace. And his grace is sufficient because it is based on his perfect ability to forgive broken hearts not our ability to earn it. He loves us so much that he gave up worship in heaven for insults on earth. He was, and is, high and lifted up in heaven while on earth he was just hammered and lifted up on a cross to die in public humiliation. And don't think for one second that he had to this. He CHOSE to do this. Without his sacrifice there was no chance for us to be reconciled. Adam's sin brought on the fall of man. Jesus came to sympathize with his creation. He came to walk among us and love on us. He came to bring mercy and compassion and truth. He came to set us free. He came to lead us back to paradise. And he was crushed for my sin and yours because he loves us.

So, as we look at the cross and it's grusomeness we should feel broken. For an eternity with him is within our reach as a free gift. We should feel broken because we deserve the lashings, beatings, spit, and brutal death that he took for us. Yet, in that sorrow of reflecting on his suffering and death remember one thing. Friday was good. Good for you, good for me, and the Father saw that it was finished. His death cancelled our sin for those who accept him. And don't forget either that the story doesn't end there. When Satan and this world thought they had put an end to this Christ; when they watched him be buried in that tomb, no doubt they were having a party. Only, their party was premature. It was only Friday...and Sunday was coming!
Sunday Jesus was raised back to life! Sunday meant victory over death! And some days later Jesus ascended to the Father and now he sits in heaven receiving glory and honor and praise. The Holy Spirit is now here to guide us and direct us as we wait for his return!

This Easter worship the risen savior, Jesus Christ, in spirit and in truth. Our Joy Comes in the Morning!