Friday, April 22, 2011

(Very) Good Friday

As I think and reflect on what this day means, for me, as a follower of Christ it brings joy and sadness to my life. We just studied Genesis 22 on Tuesday at house church. (The story of sacrificing Isaac.) We have been going through the book of Genesis and how cool that we fall on this chapter the week of Easter. God is amazing! So, as I studied it I kept thinking of Abraham and what he was thinking:

When God said, "
Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go offer him as a burnt offering ." (v2)
When on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. (v4)
When Isaac said, "Daddy, we have the fire and wood, but where is the lamb?" (v7)
When he had to tell him, "God will provide for himself a lamb." (v8)
When he had to bound his son and lay him on an alter. (v9)
When he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. (v10)

All of these things helped me see the death of Jesus through the eyes of God, his Father. I was broken by the thought of God being so distraught over his son dying, but rejoicing that Jesus was making a way for sinners to enter heaven and have a relationship with him. What a beautiful holiday we get to celebrate this weekend. Jesus died and was placed in a tomb, but death could not hold him down. God rolled away the stone and gave new life. What stone needs to be rolled away in your life today? Grief, pride, selfishness, unforgiveness? We all have something and God wants to move the stone today.

This song has been helping me keep my focus on Easter this year. It is a hymn that Casting Crowns has redone . If you have never heard it download it! You will be singing, shouting for joy, clapping your hands and praising the Father!


Glorious Day (living He Loved Me)

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
[| From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/c/casting-crowns-lyrics/glorious-day-(living-he-loved-me)-lyrics.html |]
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He’s ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine

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