“Today is the first day of the most exciting, harrowing, tragic, grief-stricken and ultimately joyous week of our year. Don’t miss it. Don’t hit Delete. Show up, take the Lord’s hand and begin the journey.” As I read this statement this morning on Guideposts Facebook page, I found myself reading it over again, very slowly. When have you ever read so many mixed emotions and feelings describing a single event? It is the ultimate depiction of a paradox – a contradiction lived out, for sure.
What sticks with me the most is the challenge for us not to miss this week… to show up. What does that look like for those of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus Christ? The challenge goes on to say for us to take the Lord’s hand and begin the journey… the journey He lived this week – for us:
As He walked along the path, to the Garden He loved so, Behind this wall, the lovely trees, where many olives grow.
His soul was filled with sorrow, He’s with Peter, James and John. Abide with Him, while He prays. Stay here, He will go on.
A cry of anguish heard by all, his death became a reality. “O Father is it possible to pass this cup from me?”
Not as I will, but as thou wilt, He won His victory. The hillside lit by torches, Judas brought His company.
Jesus answered, “I am He”, and surrendered to those men. The surrender had its purpose, it was all part of the plan.
“This is your hour of, the power of darkness”, –He said to them. All the disciples left him, He was in their command.
The tragedy of the ages began, He was arrested at that gate. The trial’s set in stages, lasted hours, it was late.
Pilate surrenders to their ways, the march to Calvary. What had been written, would take place, for all to see.
To humiliate Him even more, they marched to Calvary. The Via Dolorosa, the way of sorrow, it would be.
The site would be Golgotha, the place that He would die. John, Mary, His mother too, they all began to cry.
The smell of blood was in the air, the soldiers tortured Him. They stripped Him of His clothes, the brutalness and horror began.
They cast to Him a purple robe, place a scepter in His hand. His thorn crowned head they struck with rods, no refuge He demands.
As the nails were driven through their hands, the victims usually shrieked. It was not so with Jesus, not a cry or a heartfelt plea.
But instead a prayer to those who hurt Him, He wished them life anew. “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”.
This supernatural darkness stayed ’til the last of the agony. A cry of desolation, “Hast thou forsaken me?”
Jesus felt deserted, they all rejected Him. Nature left Him in darkness, He met Satan and conquered him.
This was the height of all His sufferings, didn’t God love Him anymore? The Father was so near, so pleased and so adored.
He has tested death for every man, dying my degrees. The Tragedy of the Ages was done, He had won the victory!
This is lyrics to a song I wrote back in March 1985, titled, “Tragedy of the Ages” performed and recorded by our music group at the time, Sanctity.
Many of us have made attending weekly church services a priority. It’s a time we focus on the joy of being a Christian. The sermons we hear are uplifting. The people we see are smiling. The mood is one of blessing and joy.
However, when the people leave the building, we often step in to a very different world. We encounter people who are struggling. We may even be struggling ourselves. Some folks are sick, depressed, heart-broken or alone. Often they are wrestling in doubt. It may seem as if we miss all of that on the weekend. Yet…
If we chose to “show up” and take the Lord’s hand on this journey between the weekend, we can find a faith that knows what all of our struggles are like. Even more, we will find a God who knows what we are feeling. So please join me this week in thoughtful prayer and meditation all with a very intimate realization that God is always there with full understanding of who we are and where we are. No matter what – we just need to reach for His hand.
The song “Crucified With Christ” by Phillips, Craig and Dean, says… “For I will offer all I have so His cross is not in vain”. It doesn’t say, offer what I have time for, or offer what is easy to give, but offer ALL I have. Let’s spend this week working to do just that as our living testament to what God has done for us this week – and always.
Here’s the link to Phillips, Craig and Dean’s song… “Crucified With Christ“.
This video was created to use for the Good Friday service at New Life Church of Hershey on March 29, 2013.
“Jesus, don’t let anything keep me from You this day, this week, this life!”