The End

It goes without saying. The sadness of today. Yet we call it Good. 

After coming to the cross for 44 Good Fridays, one would think I’d have heard it all. 

Seen it all. 

Felt it all.  

But today I felt something different. Maybe it’s because the older I get, the more deeply I feel and more keenly I pay attention to my thoughts. Maybe it’s because I am looking through a different lens than ever before, reflecting on this past year’s worship services. Whatever the reason, I realized something during this Good Friday service that I’m not sure really struck me like it did today. 

Ever since Christmas, our worship services have focused on the life Jesus lived for us on earth. 

The Journey

We were there at the manger as he was placed on the hay, angels sang, the shepherds worshiped and Mary pondered all those things in her heart. 

We went to the temple with Jesus and his earthly parents, and sensed Simeon and Anna’s joy as they saw and held their newborn Savior. 

We went to the temple again, and while his family looked for him, we saw Jesus growing in wisdom and stature.

We were there at the Jordan River as Jesus walked into the water, his Father’s voice came from heaven and the dove descended. His baptism signifying the beginning of his public ministry.  

Our fire for outreach was ignited once again as we listened to Jesus call his Twelve Disciples, “Come! And you will see. Come, follow me!” The first thing Andrew did was find his brother and tell him, and we too were motivated to go bring others to Jesus. 

Then miracles showed his almighty power and compassion for sinners. Parables taught us about faith and the Kingdom of God. We heard these familiar but still relevant lessons that drew us ever nearer to Jesus. 

As we finish the darkest days of winter, I often cry to the Lord to have mercy on me and help me in my lowest points of depression and despair. It’s at this time that we begin the journey to the cross. My faith grew once again; my trust in God renewed.

Palm Sunday arrives, usually around the same time that we welcome Spring and more daylight. We praise and honor our King with palm branches.

Whether a disciple of Jesus 2,000 years ago or a disciple of him in the 21st century or somewhere in between, Christians throughout the years have maintained a wide range of emotions throughout Holy Week. Rejoicing, thankfulness, sadness, repentance, grief, and again thankfulness that cannot be described in words, but often with tears.

We see the path that we took through Lent end beneath the cross as our bloody and broken Jesus is taken down and placed in a tomb. 

It felt so final today. His life. Ended. 

But it didn’t. This I know. 

The Celebration

The trumpets will sound and Alleluias will echo throughout the sanctuary in just 2 days. Easter will finally arrive after more than 3 months of journeying through the pages of Scripture with Jesus and his days spent on Earth. 

While we still get to hear of Jesus’ appearances after he rose from the dead, (the walk and talk from Jerusalem to Emmaus is among my favorites,) the lessons following the Easter Sundays in church are much different. 

We heard of Jesus’ life and applied it to our lives. Now we will hear more general truths of Scripture as we focus on the Christian’s faith walk, yet always pointing back to Jesus. 

The Desire

But today I felt like I wanted to go back and start at the manger and repeat the past 3 months. I chastised myself for the times I lost focus during Scripture readings or those few minutes in the sermon when my mind wandered. (Yes, my dear husband, it still happens to me even though I want to hang on every word you preach.) 

The tears fell in silent meditation as I gazed at the cross at the front of the building. I wanted to start at the beginning to soak it up all over again. 

Twice in the past week I have heard from two different called servants of God that my eternal life has already begun. The first time I heard it, it gave me reason to pause. What? Really? 

Yes, that is an absolute truth. God says so. 

“Because I live, you also will live.” -John 14:19

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”
John 11:25, 26 

Do you believe this?  

Yes, I do.

Therefore, it is not the end. The story of Jesus’ life lives in us by faith which grasps it’s truth. Jesus lives on high, interceding for us. Jesus lives among us as we sojourn here awaiting our new life in heaven. 

Not the End

No, it most certainly is not the end. 

I can look forward to the blessings God provides through the hearing and studying of his Word no matter the season or time of the Church Year. 

And you can too.  Indeed, this is a Good Friday.

Becky and I continue to keep you in our prayers and we send Easter greetings and hugs your way. May God shower his blessings upon you and may you feel his arms wrapped around you as he shows you his nail-pierced hands, knowing he lived, died and rose for you. 

 And for your meditation, I share this video.