Hi everyone, I have written my account of the Passion of Christ on this and somebody shared a sermon in my chuch on this as well and their account was so moving that I decided to share it on my blog with you. It is about the Passion of the Lord and what the cross means to us as Christians. This account is based on (Matthew 27-36 and Matthew 28) (Mark 15 and Mark 16) (Luke 24 ) (John 20 and John 21) (Romans 5:8) and (Acts 1). The Passion of the Lord
The Passion of the lord what is good about Good Friday torturing a man and mocking him cruelly nailing him to a cross and raising it at all that his weight hangs on those nails. Even casting lots for his clothes it is brutal and inhumane man's inhumanity to man. In some churches they hammer nails into a cross each strike a physical blow to the senses bringing home the reality of the cross the horror the brutality the suffering we see it. we feel it within even though we know Easter Sunday is coming. We have to go through this day we have to experience it and take on board the enormity of what Jesus did for us for him. It was almost too much to bear he cried out my God my God why hast Thou forsaken me and we can understand his call. He would have known this was coming to him that this was God's divine plan for the Salvation of humanity.
A once and for all sacrifice to atone for our sins but so so much to bear. Then he says it is finished this was a common phrase used when a deal was completed a job finished or as the priest accepted as perfect. The sacrificial beast it is finished he's not saying the devil has won has defeated him, no those who heard him would have understood his task of saving the world had been completed nothing more to do he had paid the price in full, the debt was cancelled. the debt sin, sin that separates us from God sin that destroys our relationship with him.
His death on the cross restored that relationship his sacrifice a perfect one acceptable to God it is finished. All was reconciled price paid forgiveness one nothing more needed all complete it is finished so Good Friday even though it was his father's will it was a day he suffered much physically and emotionally even though a willing sacrifice for his mother for the disciples and for those who knew and loved him.
It was a never ending day witnessing his pain and waiting on the inevitable in Romans Paul says God has shown us how much he loves us for it was while we were sinners that Christ died for us in John we read for God so loved the world that he gave as his only begotten Son. It wasn't the nails that held him on the cross it was love, a love beyond measure beyond comprehension as we think of all that happened on Good Friday the cruelty his suffering his death let us think of God's immense love for us a love that forgives and forgets a love that ensures we will enter his kingdom and live forever with him.
Love not nails that is why it's Good Friday we're seeing God's hand at work bringing his beloved people back into a right relationship with him once and for all through the sacrifice of his beloved Son our Lord and saviour it was love not nails it was victory not defeat may we live out that love in our lives.
The power of the resurrection, resurrection that wasn't a one-off event 2,000 years ago. Resurrection gives hope for the here and now. Christian hope lies in the fact that ultimately through the power of the resurrection God can bring new life out of difficult and destructive situations . Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salomi brought the spices to Jesus's tomb they were probably troubled after witnessing the death of their friend and probably afraid too as they visited his tomb. They were concerned to do it early at day break and they were also concerned about how they were going to roll away the stone at the entrance to the tomb perhaps they were hoping for a gardener or someone to help them.
Perhaps they were wishing that they could turn the clock back and save Jesus from his gruesome trial and torturous death on a cross and perhaps they were hoping that it all just had been a terrible dream they certainly didn't expect to find an empty tomb and a young man dressed in a white robe and understandably they were alarmed then they're told not to be alarmed by this person.
He had a message for them, he pointed out that Jesus was no longer there but had gone ahead of them to Galilee he said they were to tell his disciples and Peter that they would see Jesus there just as he had told them. Understandably I'm sure we would have done the same. They fled and they were alarmed for terror and amazement had seized them and they said nothing to anyone they were dumbuck.
They were afraid and there Mark's gospel ends. Thankfully we have the other gospels in the Acts of the Apostles to give us a fuller picture of what happened next and the consequences of what we now know as that first Easter Morning.
Acts tells us that there were many witnesses to the resurrection and they testified that Jesus was the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead they also realise that all the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. God's salvation plan has been fulfilled death has lost its sting and we have the promise of life in all its fullness just as God intended for his creation and that's certainly something to celebrate. Resurrection brings hope of eternal life with Christ in the midst of darkness.
This is from Luke 24 after Jesus’ resurrection when in Galilee -
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy”
What does Lent mean to Christian is below-
This short sermon is based on (Exodus 24. 12-end). (Psalm 2), (Matthew 17. 1-9).
This is designed to help us to prepare for Lent. For the opportunity to have our relationship with God renewed and transformed as we discover more of Jesus and the love to which he calls us, to take refuge in him, to journey to the cross and the glory beyond resurrection and ascension.
When things seem cloudy in our lives, it can be difficult to know where to look or focus and fear may well overtake us. Lent is a time of discovery. There is so much to be discovered.
Moses spends 40 days and 40 nights on the mountain in the reading from Exodus. Jesus will spend 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness which we mark and remember at Lent. Lent gives us 40 days and 40 nights to ponder and discover with Jesus. Jesus is nearing departure from his earthly ministry. And that was after Peter declared Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus tells Peter, "He is the rock on which he will build his church."
On the mountain of the transfiguration before Jesus went in the Garden of Gethsemane he stood in appearance with Elijah and Moses which is known as the transfiguration, Jesus is changed in appearance. He's shining and for the first time, the disciples seem utterly struck. And I think we can understand why. They are understanding at an even deeper level. Jesus really is the Son of God. And here is Elijah the forerunner of the Messiah, Elijah the prophet and Moses the lawgiver talking with Jesus encouraging Jesus.
Jesus is shining with the glory of God. Jesus is the Son of God. And Peter wants to acknowledge what's going on. A luminous cloud arrives and a voice says- This is my Son, the beloved. With him I am well pleased. Listen to him. Now the disciples fall down with fear. And Jesus touches them, raises them, saying, "Get up. Do not be afraid." Jesus is the Son of God. I'm losing count of the number of levels at which that is being shown to us in this gospel reading John In our fear, in our moments of cloudy times, Jesus is with us, transforming us. Even if we can't yet make out where he is or how he's saying, "Get up and do not be afraid."
Lent gives us an opportunity to listen to Jesus a fresh to ask for our vision to be renewed in the light of the radiance of the luminous cloud from which we learn of the depth of love which he gives so that we may have life. In the Transfiguration we are all caught up in as we glimpse Christ in his glory The transfiguration reminds us there is one voice, the voice of God speaking from the luminous cloud saying, "This is my Son, the beloved. With him I am well pleased. Listen to him." Let us listen to him. Listen to Jesus.
