Day of Shadows…

Posted on March 21, 2008 by Snoop

I have gone through an evolution of sorts through the years…

I used to say that Christmas was my favorite holiday (presents!)…
Christmas eventually morphed in Easter, which still rates up there…
But over the course of the last several years, my heart has been captured by Good Friday.

The power and wonder that is Good Friday, never fails to awe me.

It is Good Friday when we see Christ at his most raw, and most real.

The imagery of Christ in the garden, surrounded by his closest friends, crying out to God, asking him to take this cup from him…
Christ wrestling through his coming turmoil to the point of sweating drops of blood…
Christ going peacefully with Judas and the Romans…

This is not the picture of Jesus that we choose to remember all that often. This is not the Jesus we so often like to ask favors of, the Jesus who we ask to make traffic jams go away, heal everyone who is sick everywhere, or to give us world peace…

This is the Christ who suffered for me. This is the Christ taking his stripes, that I might be granted peace… This is the Christ, the wounded healer.

Isaiah 53:5
Today’s New International Version (TNIV)

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

The power of Good Friday is not in what happens, but what does not happen… Christ does not forsake us me. He chooses to follow through with his own crucification.

It is this night that I find myself overcome with the beauty, love, utter joy that is God’s heart for restoration.
It is this night that I can not help but fall more deeply in love with the Christ that bled for me.
It is this night that I am once again humbled by the mercy of Jesus Christ.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless
Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

The Wonderful Cross, Chris Tomlin

As I pursue Christ, and struggle daily to grow closer to him, my prayer is that my life will reflect the sacrifice, the sorrow, and the love that is Good Friday…

Filed under: life, reflection, religion, worship

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3 Responses to “Day of Shadows…”

  1. 1dumblonde, on March 21st, 2008 at 11:01 pm Said:

    Thank you for a beautiful post on this awesome day. All day I have been meaning to take time out to reflect on this and your post was a high point.

  2. Joel, on March 22nd, 2008 at 8:16 pm Said:

    thanks for sharing this. true true.

  3. Scott, on March 23rd, 2008 at 10:15 pm Said:

    Thank you Matt.

    I too have devoted time this Holy week to the mediation and reflection of Good Friday. The truth that hit me (after a night of darkness) and then was later articulated by a priest was the following; “Like it or not. Believe it or not. God has welded Himself to humanity. The beauty is when humanity cooperates with the truth and accepts God’ love.” This has been the highlight of my Easter vigil.

    Matt, I earnestly pray for The Garden. I think of you all so often. I am so pumped for you all.

    Shalom.

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