Good Friday

Today we solemnly celebrate the day our Lord was nailed to a piece of wood and appeased the wrath of his holy father, and I am one of the many who brought about his furious anger. We all could surely list the more blatant and horrendous offenses we are guilty of, and yet the most simple, or at least simple to our blind hearts, have led toward this fury.

I am thankful, for I see the beauty of creation and my soul is stirred and takes pleasure, but to the wrong end. In the midst of my inner stirrings, i recognize i have been wired to enjoy things and naturally, to give praise.

But i have not praised you...i thank the pleasure beauty brings me.

I worship, for a hot cup of coffee enhances my senses and i love the sensation it brings me as bitter smooth liquid flows down my throat, and steam delights my sense of smell.

But i am an idolater...i worship an idol that is dead.

I constantly exalt, for i have put my trust and satisfaction in the words and opinions of others, i have found comfort for my short circuiting soul in a cone of ice cream, i have numbed sorrow with inanimate objects, i have tried to push back the clouds of sorrow by drowning out death with music, conversation, technology.

But i glorify the mortal...and refuse to come to the immortal Creator.

I have lied, cheated, lusted, hated, cursed, worshiped idols, enjoyed the creation rather than the creator.

I was your enemy, hated you with every fiber of my being...And what have you done with my offense. Did you simply erase sin and cancel my offense as someone decides to erase a pencil mark with no consequence.

NEVER!!! You focused the fullness of your hate for evil, you spilt pumping, warm blood over the leather of whips, over the planks of wood, over the steel of nails. You propitiated you wrath, you satisfied your anger, but not onto the offender. How great the Fathers love for us! "God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:25"

Thank you Jesus for your love for us. While we were evil sinners, you took our wickedness upon thee and paid for it in full. I can't not begin to thank you for your sacrifice! I love the Lord!