All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” Matthew 27:25
Yesterday was Maundy Thursday, a special Holy Day celebrating the last supper Jesus had with His disciples before being arrested. It ALSO happened to be April 1st…my youngest daughter’s Birthday! Yes, she was born on April Fools Day! We had her and her family over for our own dinner last night, which turned out to be quite a hoot!
I’ve never been a big prankster on April Fools Day. We had stuff planted outside our house, and as of this morning, we are STILL finding evidence of her and her husbands mischievous hands! While I like to joke a lot, to me, giving 1 single day ‘all ya got’ seems a bit too extreme! My daughter practically LIVES for it! It’s almost like The Day was made just for her! Today, being Good Friday, I can see a resemblance to all things eternal!
Good, or Holy, Friday, traditionally is the remembrance of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. I usually take time to read the ends of the 4 Gospels to remember what actually happened. After being arrested in the dark of last night, today starts our remembering the horror of His torture and death. Mel Gibson’s ‘The Passion’ movie attempts to give us visual details, as if written words aren’t descriptive enough! This was not just the killing of Jesus, it was a slaughterhouse. And it marks ‘The Day’ made just for HIM! BY Him!
Jesus is not a man like Gandhi or Mohammad. To not know that is to not understand what He said about Himself, or the Bible, which presents the evidence from writings over THOUSANDS of years! Jesus said that ‘He’ was the ONLY way to get to His Father…GOD! As C.S. Lewis inferred, He never gave us the option of considering Himself just a good teacher. He, is the creator of the Universe (John 1:3) and God the Son. And He came FOR THIS DAY…on a rescue mission!
Lots of people have blown it off or made light of it. According to Jesus’ own words, He died for them too! As I reflect on my life and all the mistakes I have made, both intentional and unintentional, I see clearly that perfect Heaven would be ultimately defiled if I stepped even 1 foot into it. Which is the reason HE, perfect God, stepped into MY imperfection.
Sin is horrific to God. Being steeped in it doesn’t bother me as much. Which is NOT allowable by God as an excuse! The horror of my sin, transferred onto His loving perfect Son, demands that I look SERIOUSLY at His crucifixion and my own guilt! My punishment for my sin is deserved. Why would God even WANT me, let alone willingly DIE in my place? TODAY marks the day, made intentionally for ME, to think about that! It’s no Joke! His blood is on MY hands!!!
How do YOU see Jesus Christ?
