So as we move closer to the cross this week, in anticipation and celebration of that scandalous event in history where sinless, blood-shed mixed with love and mercy, met head-on with mobs of anger, hatred and ridicule, let’s be thankful!! Thankful for the cross that says it all. Let’s be thankful to our one True God, who gave His Son to be our Saviour! Who gave all that He had to save a world that He cared for with a love so pure and so unconditional that it makes us blush with guilt over our failures. Oh, that He should care so much to give so much just to secure us an eternal position with Him in glory and to grace us with abundant life while living in this wretched, sin soiled world. Yeah, in our sin, we were a part of the hatred and ridicule unleashed on Christ that day, long ago! Yet He cared enough to forgive the mobs that tortured, whipped and ridiculed and crucified that day and you know beautiful soul, He cares enough to forgive our trespasses against Him! Yeah, it’s beautiful isn’t it? That cross? That old, rugged cross, bearing the burden of guiltless death and a broken and beaten body of our sinless Saviour? Yeah, it’s beautiful for sure ~ for that cross of Christ made a way for us poor, weary wanderers to find grace in the eyes of a just God and find redemption through His shed blood.
Oh what wonder, what magnificent wonder meets us at that sad but beautiful cross, where justice and mercy meet and all are welcomed equally, in spite of…. and where the ground is level in spite of… and the forgiveness is real in spite of….and where mercy awaits in spite of….
Today the Saviour’s call is for each one of us to bend our hearts in awe before the wonder of it all and only believe. The thief did, and there in that final moment before succumbing to death, he found eternal life with his Lord. The other thief, hung still in his pride and ridicule and entered into a Christless eternity. Which side of Christ are you on today, as we move closer to the celebration of His cross? He is true, He is righteous, and He has everything to offer. Forgiveness is our biggest need and we are soooo blessed when we receive it freely.
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; love and faithfulness go before You. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, O Lord.” Psalm 89: 14, 15
Hope and Healing In Hard Places 