Good Friday / Easter Sunday

[KLJ77]

This week, many have noted that church will be empty this Sunday as the resurrection of Yeshua Jesus is celebrated. I offer you perspective:

There were few attendees at the foot of the cross. The crowd that hailed Him as King just days before were quick to disperse once He was beaten and crucified. Not even His disciples had the courage to stay. And upon His resurrection, there was no one present. The fanfare for God’s Son was heard in the heavenlies alone. It was still hours before anyone knew He was alive.

This year, as we give remembrance to what Christ went through and suffered on behalf of mankind and took upon Himself the sins of the world, we have a unique privilege of focusing our attention on Christ’s resurrection as individuals, instead of as a crowd. And that is how He appeared to His followers - in small groups, in private, intimate settings. He did not choose the crowd for His witnesses. There is a message in that.

Be still this week. Throw out the eggs and the bunny and fall on your face before the risen Savior. Teach your children His rightful place in your lives instead of sugarcoating the most important day in creation.

Christ suffered horribly, to the extent that Isaiah wrote that; even his human semblance was unrecognizable. But praise God He is no longer on the cross, but is risen and sits at the right hand of God, His Father. For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, and whosoever believes on him should not parish, but have eternal life.

May you all be Blessed during this time and truly know there is eternal hope in Him.

[Steve Warden]

Thank you, LJ.

He is risen, indeed!!

[Meridian_Mike]

The picture you posted showing the crown of thorns, gives a tiny little bit of insight into the suffering Jesus went through for US....
God loved us when He sent His Son...
Jesus loved us when he endured the suffering and pain during the torture He went through.
What an amazing love.... NO WAY we can even begin to understand it!
"Amazing love.... how can it be?"
.
Thank you Lord Jesus for being my sacrifice and for enduring the pain and SHAME of the most cruel execution method ever devised by men.
All You endured while here on earth in the form of a man....... And through all that, You gave me hope and eternal life if only I would believe in You.
I can never repay You for what You gave me.
Thank You Lord Jesus for the FREE gift of salvation.
Amen

[KLJ77]

I know what you mean, Mike...and I've often wondered, within the frailty of my human mind, if I could ever endure such torment...and of course, I answer my own question by acknowledging my own sin nature...No, I would not be able to endure. Only because of Christ's love for us, did He endure...no one can ever have that kind of Agape Love, but one without sin.

The "Passion of the Christ" (Mel Gibson) is the only realistic and authentic portrayal of the suffering Christ endured. I can never make it through the whippings without crying my eyes out...knowing that He endured that for ME...and for the entire world. I believe it's important that one 'personalize' this to themselves, to truly understand exactly what "No greater love has man, then for one to lay down his life for another".

[treefarmer]

Very though provoking posts, LJ!
The gravity of these special days are certainly overlooked or ignored by way too many people who claim to follow Christ. I suppose the symbolism of new life, new outfits and such might be argued but we shouldn't obscure what was done for mankind at the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, no other world religion can point to an empty tomb!
Treefarmer

[1967redrider]

Brenda and I are really sad about the fact we cannot do our usual Lenten routine- Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday (I actually had a 48 hr. flu bug the Monday before Ash Wednesday and left work at Noon that day, didn't make it back to work until that Thursday, couldn't get Ashes), church every Sunday leading up to Easter, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and then Easter church and dinner with our family in Cumberland.

This year we are doing dinner by ourselves in Alexandria and everything else was/is out. It just doesn't feel right, but I guess we have been fortunate and should count our blessings.

[WillyCamaro]

He is risen! Amen!

[LDF Knives]

He is Risen AMEN!!

[Meridian_Mike]

The "Passion of the Christ" (Mel Gibson) is the only realistic and authentic portrayal of the suffering Christ endured. I can never make it through the whippings without crying my eyes out...knowing that He endured that for ME...and for the entire world. I believe it's important that one 'personalize' this to themselves, to truly understand exactly what "No greater love has man, then for one to lay down his life for another".

I watched the movie Sunday afternoon.....
Words can not express.....
.
There have been MANY times in my life when I heard words.... knew their meaning..... but never really HEARD those words have a DEEP MEANING.
.
Those words are....
Suffering...
Whipping....
Torture....
Mocking...
At any time during all that..... Jesus could have said, "These people are too evil to save" and the angels would have come and rescued Him from all the pain. But, He did not.... He suffered for us ALL...... and He died FOR US ALL.....
The SON OF GOD..... suffered and died for us ALL.
Including me who was born 2000 years after this all happened.
.
The one word I will never be able to know the meaning of until I can bow at Jesus feet is......... LOVE.
God's Love....
And Jesus' Love.... that is on another level from what I can even begin to understand.
.
Thank you Heavenly Father for the forgiveness of my sins.
That is something I can never repay..... all I can say is Thank You Jesus and tell others of Your Love.
Amen

[dlr110]

Amen. Thank you Mike.

[doglegg]

The "Passion of the Christ" (Mel Gibson) is the only realistic and authentic portrayal of the suffering Christ endured. I can never make it through the whippings without crying my eyes out...knowing that He endured that for ME...and for the entire world. I believe it's important that one 'personalize' this to themselves, to truly understand exactly what "No greater love has man, then for one to lay down his life for another".

I watched the movie Sunday afternoon.....
Words can not express.....
.
There have been MANY times in my life when I heard words.... knew their meaning..... but never really HEARD those words have a DEEP MEANING.
.
Those words are....
Suffering...
Whipping....
Torture....
Mocking...
At any time during all that..... Jesus could have said, "These people are too evil to save" and the angels would have come and rescued Him from all the pain. But, He did not.... He suffered for us ALL...... and He died FOR US ALL.....
The SON OF GOD..... suffered and died for us ALL.
Including me who was born 2000 years after this all happened.
.
The one word I will never be able to know the meaning of until I can bow at Jesus feet is......... LOVE.
God's Love....
And Jesus' Love.... that is on another level from what I can even begin to understand.
.
Thank you Heavenly Father for the forgiveness of my sins.
That is something I can never repay..... all I can say is Thank You Jesus and tell others of Your Love.
Amen

Yes Sir.

[WillyCamaro]

Amen Mike .