Thank you, Jesus!

I suppose it makes perfect sense that the cross is on my heart this morning. I mean this is the day our Savior died on the cross. For us. Last night Seth & I watched “The Passion of the Christ”. He had never seen it & I told him I thought it was a great idea. Oh man, I forgot how vividly powerful that movie is. At many points I had to close my eyes because it was “too much” for me to watch. Too much for me to simply watch on a TV screen?!  Jesus had to actually endure it & I didn’t even have the strength to watch a video that portrayed the beating & torture He endured.  Wow. What a Savior we have- to endure unbelievable, relentless & unthinkable torment & mockery. And the crazy thing is He died for us….we weren’t even to be born for hundreds & hundreds of years but He personally knew we needed His salvation & He loved us that much. Not only that, but He carried the weight of our sin on His shoulders looong long before we were born. Not only ours, but everyone’s...ever. I cannot even begin to fathom the passion of His love for us & for His Father. Never has there been a greater example of obedience. Never has there been such a pure, true, passionate Love. When I was watching the movie I was just hit hard by how easy I forget the sacrifice He made. He left the most perfect place in Heaven & came here, not living for Himself but His heart beating for us sinners. He was fully man too. He had parents & friends. It really hurt Him. Just because He was God doesn’t mean He didn’t feel every whip, every mocking, every spit, every aching pain searing through His body. How could we not worship such a Love? Who are we to think we are sufficient on our own? Without Jesus we would be done for & doomed forever. The reoccurring  theme that continues to play in my mind is how He loves us like crazy, with such a passion & understanding, that He died for us.  There’s a song that I’ve been hearing a lot lately, and I absolutely love it. It’s a beautiful worship song. “To the Cross” by Paul Baloche.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO_V4bRIxvM

Lyrics:

Where can I go
But to the cross to the cross
For there my shame
You have washed away

Where can I go
But to the cross to the cross
For there You gave
Up Your life for me
You gave Your life for me

You stretched Your arms out wide
I lift my hands up high to my Savior
You stretched Your arms out wide
I lift my hands up high to my Savior

So Lord I run
To the cross to the cross
Surrender all to my Savior King
Be my everything

Chains are broken
Shame has fallen
All my sins are gone

What a Savior. He came to free us & save us. We don’t have to live in fear, in bondage, in complacency, in worries, in doubts, in anger, in addictions, in torment, in uncertainty, in loneliness, in the past, in unforgiveness, in pain, in shame, etc. He alone has the power to free us from such things. And to redeem us & make all things new. And He keeps inviting us to lay down at the foot of the cross because there is more power & strength there than anywhere else. Let’s just praise our Jesus for His magnificent & beautiful Love.

We give you so much praise & thanks Jesus!