Easter Reflection

I just want to wish you all a Happy Easter, in Jesus! Easter is so special in that we remember the love of God at Calvary, His sacrifice for us, His love. And our sin, and how much it cost Him to save us from it. I was just reading today with my sister Grace, in the Bible, the Crucifixion story in the Gospel of Mark and it really was wonderful, remembering again Jesus who was the Sacrifice for our sins, and the Father's eternal love to us, sinners deserving of judgement. His justice and wrath, His mercy and love, they all met at the Cross! How wonderful it is to know that, though we were dead in trespasses and sins, through His death, we live in Him now.  His love is so amazing! I love Him so much and thank Him for His love. "The Son of God loved me, and gave Himself for me."

"And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, and began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshiped him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, Save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God." 

Mark 15: 16-39 (KJV)

These are a few versus from the beautiful classic hymn, "O Sacred Head, now wounded", that are really suited for this time. I pray it blesses you.

O Sacred Head, now wounded,

With grief and shame weighed down,

Now scornfully surrounded

With thorns, Thine only crown;

O sacred Head, what glory,

What bliss, till now was Thine!

Yet though despised and gory,

I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered

Was all for sinners' gain;

Mine, mine was the transgression,

But Thine the deadly pain;

Lo, here I fall, my Saviour!

'Tis I deserve Thy place;

Look on me with Thy favor,

Vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

What language shall I borrow

To thank Thee, dearest Friend,

For this Thy dying sorrow,

Thy pity without end?

Oh, make me Thine forever;

And should I fainting be,

Lord, let me never, never

Outlive my love to Thee!

-Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091-1153

Tr. Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1976

English tr., James Waddell Alexander, 1859-1904

Images via Pinterest except the first one, 
which is from Google Images.


"A Crucified Man" by Graham Kendrick