A King

I reread the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ tonight. I am so in awe. We all have our own will, and few of us like giving things up that we want. To have been fully God and fully man, having all the fallibility of man and temptations that man must face, and yet..... Working through it, not lording His Godhood over His disciples, but becoming humble, being the lowest of the low, strung up to a tree next to two common criminals. He is so merciful. We are all common criminals. We all face daily temptations, some we give in to and others we don't. But all the same, we remain sinners. Even if you don't believe in absolute truth, even if you don't believe in the Bible, you probably have situations and experiences that seem wasted to you. Pain that was caused by you or experienced by you. God has shown me that He is a redeemer of all we call unholy and trash. Redemption is something not dwelt upon enough. If we "redeem" a coupon, then we use it. So if God redeems us, redeems our situations, He uses them. And uses us. There's a story in the Bible of deep betrayal. Of relationship that is cut off, broken, and bruised by one man's choice. And Jesus turned to that man, and offered forgiveness. Jesus was the most hurt by the decision, most hurt by the betrayal. And He was the first One to offer redemption. How fitting that the Lord of all creation would stoop to such a level. He was completely justified in never forgiving at all. Justified in hatred even. But instead, He provides us with an example of love beyond compare. Death, and life, and joy. How often do we turn our noses up at those who have hurt us? Do we make our hearts grow cold, and forget that at one time, there was a Man who walked this earth, whose heart has never grown cold. He loves us when we betray Him, and He was on that cross, enduring shame, suffering, and pain beyond what we could imagine. I was told once, as a story of love, that Jesus was on the cross and was nearing the point where He didn't think He could endure any more. He looked up in the crowd, and saw your face. And that pushed Him forward. Because His desire is for you. His desire is for redemption, and forgiveness and love. He wants to resurrect dead hearts, and breathe life into hurt lives. Let Him, darling. Let Him.
Have a blessed Easter Sunday, and remember that He has risen!!!!