He lived an ordinary life unmarked by fame and fortune.
"He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.”
Isaiah 53:2
For years he walked the earth healing the sick and comforting the poor.
"He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
Isaiah 53:3
On Friday he would be broken.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:5
Our guilt and shame on the cross He bore.
"All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned-every one- to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
Isaiah 53:6
Listen. Maybe you hear the birds singing or the wind blowing. Maybe you hear the drone of your office as printers and staplers begin the work day. Whatever it is, let the sounds of your day melt away. Block out the noise, hear the silence.
As you close off everything else, imagine the sound of feet marching on stony roads.
Imagine the crowds shouting, “Crucify him!” Imagine the whips cracking, the flesh ripping. Screams of agony echo across the courtyard walls, pain can literally be heard from the sounds coming from the man awaiting his crucifixion. Imagine the guards yelling as they push the man towards the hill of execution. The people laughing, spitting, calling out for the man to save himself. Imagine the nails ringing out as they are hammered amidst flesh and wood. The screams as the cross is raised, as the crown is set, as the pain increases.
Imagine the sound of the struggling breath. The whisper of words between two men hanging from their crosses. Imagine the tears of a mother, the sounds of her cries as she watches her son die. Imagine the fears of friends as they watch their teacher, their savior and his last breaths fade away. Imagine the horror of the crucifixion. Hear the sounds of pain, of agony, of death.
Listen closely. Hear the savior calling,
(John 19:30)
It's Friday. The beginning of the next 3 days that would forever change the world. The beginning of the most agonizing suffering that had ever been witnessed. The beginning of redemption. The day that Jesus by his blood paid the price for my sin, for your sin, for the sins of the world. The day that joy would be brought to the world. The day that forgiveness could be seen, could be felt, could be obtained. The day that Jesus took our guilt, our shame, our disease.
Listen. Hear the sound of joy. Hear the sound of love. Hear the angels singing as the stone was rolled away and the tomb was found empty. Hear the sound of singing, of praise, as the disciples saw their Jesus risen from the dead. Hear the sound of redemption. Hear the Savior whisper in your ear, “It is finished.”
"...but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here;
Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee; 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" Then they remembered his words."
Luke 24:5-8
Special thanks to my sweet husband for writing this post today!
This is probably my favorite song and video depicting Christ's death and the price he paid for us. I cry every time I watch it! Take a few minutes to watch for yourself.
It Is Finished by Matt Papa
If you're in the Memphis area and are looking for somewhere to come worship on this Easter Sunday, I invite you to join us at Island Community Church in Downtown Memphis. We'd love to see you!
