03/31/2024
As is my tradition on Christmas and Easter, I'd like to share this video of an artist creating an AMAZING painting in just over 5 minutes. The artist is David Garibaldi, and the painting, well, let's just say ... it shows how God, and His ways, are not always clear to us in life from our perspective, and how quite often our lives need to be turned upside-down in order to finally see His face.
What's always struck me so powerfully about Christmas was that God ... became ... one of us and how it culminates on Easter where He endured unspeakable suffering FOR us. I do not mean the flogging and the crucifixion, for while horrible, others have suffered worse. Instead, it is the concept that He "became" sin for us. I truly believe that is what Jesus meant by praying for "this cup to pass" from Him while alone in the garden. It's unimaginable to have all the horrific atrocities of mankind, throughout all of time, laid upon one individual. No one could bear the utter horror of it all, the total crushing strength of all human evil condemning us to eternal desolation. No human or angelic being could be strong enough to bear its weight, let alone defeat its power. It would take God Himself. Thankfully, and wonderfully ... it did.
"He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
That Friday long ago was a dark day indeed, and for all of those who are in the midst of the "Friday" of your life, take heart, because remember ... Sunday's coming.
At this moment, I'm reminded of a post from a friend and co-worker named Jeremy Shafer, who crystallized it all so poignantly when he said ...
"I needed to be ransomed. I needed to be rescued. But the price was unthinkable and horrific. No mortal would ever pay it. No mortal could. So God stepped into a mortal frame and paid it for me."
So it is for all of these reasons, that both Christmas and Easter are inextricably tied together as times for celebration, celebrating when God became one of us, walked with us, cried with us, and died for us … so that we may have life. And life He gave indeed, by defeating the very power of all our sin that killed Him and rising from the grave with all power and authority to give eternal life freely to all those who will seek His face.
Happy Easter!
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