As we approach Easter this weekend and celebrate the gift Jesus made available to us when He sacrificed himself on the cross, I want to focus on a song that touched my heart in a profound way many years ago (and still does today). By the end of this song, I was in tears as I deeply thought about and felt in my soul the reality of Jesus as the sacrificial lamb who covered our sins with His blood. If we are believers, we know Jesus is the Lamb of God who gave His life to wipe away our sins so that if we believe and accept His free gift, we can be saved and be part of His kingdom for eternity.
| For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, NIV)
| The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, NIV)
We know this truth ……….. in our heads ………….. but sometimes this realization hasn’t reached down into our soul to the emotional & spiritual core of who we are. Easter becomes a holiday …… something common place (we do this every year) …….. and less than it should be. But Easter should be the most holy of remembrances, for it is by His sacrifice that we can live in freedom as children of the Most High God.
The song, Watch the Lamb by Ray Boltz, moves me beyond intellectual acknowledgement of Easter into an emotional and spiritual place. The song shows the Passover experience from the eyes of a father and his two sons who have traveled to Jerusalem to offer their sacrifice (Mark 15:21) — a sacrifice that ended in a much different way than expected. Take a listen …….
I believe this father’s experience with the Lamb of God affected his life in a profound way. Has it affected us in a similar fashion? From our lives as modern Christians, I think we often look at Jesus’ sacrifice almost academically — we don’t really understand the pain and agony that Jesus went through on our behalf. The mock trials, the beatings and scourging, the ridicule, the humiliation and the excruciating pain of crucifixion — all endured willingly by Jesus as the final sacrifice for our sins
| Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.” John 12:27
I have been listening to a devotion on the book of John — and with God’s timing, I happen to be at the point of Jesus’ death in my study during this week before Easter — making my experience listening to it all the more impactful. Chuck Swindoll with Insight for Living (https://www.insight.org) describes the process of Roman justice — the scourging and crucifixion (the most humiliating, public and painful death imaginable). It is horrific, with many not living beyond the scourging due to the blood loss and shock; then the pain and agony of being nailed to the cross and slowly suffocating as the condemned can no longer hold themselves up on feet nailed to a wooden cross.
Why would anyone else endure this for us, for me? Because it was God’s plan from the beginning and the only way to bring sinful man into reconciliation with a Holy God! For this reason, Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, gave His life.
I am so grateful for His sacrifice, but there are still times when I go through my daily routine only to realize that this gratefulness doesn’t fully comprehend and isn’t fully broken by what the crucifixion meant in that day and time. Or what He endured for me …… for me, an unworthy and sinful child …………. all because He wanted me to be part of His family. His sacrifice was the only way to wash away sins for all who would believe in Him …….. once and for all!
| I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6, NIV)
Has Jesus’ sacrifice become personal for you? Or do you see it as an overarching sacrifice for all of mankind? I ask this because when I think of Jesus dying for me — and only me — it blows my mind because I really can’t fathom why He would love me that much. I can see His sacrifice more clearly when it saves all of mankind ……. but just for me? I feel so unworthy. But this is the crux of our faith! Our acceptance of His gift for our individual sins ………. and then living for Him daily ………… walking as Jesus walked.
Is the crucifixion real to you? But even more so, is the resurrection real to you? I am so grateful for the cross, but I am even more grateful for the empty tomb — because our God is not dead, He is alive!!!! Death did not defeat Him — He defeated death for all eternity.
My prayer for you this Easter weekend is for you to have a very personal encounter with your Savior ………… really let yourself feel the sacrifice He made and acknowledge the pain and agony He endured for you. Then joyfully worship and adore Him. And if you don’t know Him in this personal way, I pray you ask Him into your life and accept Him as your Savior and Lord.
As you celebrate this most holy holiday, the very foundation of our faith, I hope you enjoy this Easter Medley from Anthem Lights about our risen Lord ………. then top it all off by listening to the wonderful version of He’s Alive by Dolly Parton (brings tears to my eyes every time!).