And when I think that God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin
                                                                                                                    Stuart K. Hine - How Great Thou Art

Lately I have been reading and reflecting on the words of Tricia McCary Rhodes in her book 'Contemplating the Cross', in which she provides a compelling, graphic narrative of the final days of Jesus' life; words that are terrifying and unsettling, yet powerful and engaging, and is a strange but wonderfuly way, comforting.

The journey of Jesus takes us from the Passover meal with followers, to the Garden of Gethsemane where our Lord is arrested and then endures a night-long ordeal in a mock trial before priests and teachers of the law.  The next morning He is lead to stand before Pilate, who, although declaring, I find no basis for a charge against him (John 19:6), nonetheless condemns Him to die--a brutal death upon a Roman cross.

The steps of Jesus take Him from the courtyard of Pilate along the Via Dolorosa to a hill called Calvary. In the Gospel of Luke, we read, When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left (Luke 23:33).

Tears filled my eyes as I read again the account of the crucifixion, as in my mind's eye I  see the agony of my Lord as the nails are driven into His hands and feet.  I want to turn away, but my gaze is fixed on the blood-stained cross.  

I hear Him speak His final words, a cry of triumph, It is finished (John 19:30), as He surrenders to death, and I know it was through His death that I have been forgiven, set free, reconciled to the Father.

The word of the hymwriter come to mind:
     Was it for crimes that I have done, He groaned upon the tree?
     Amazing pity! grace unknown and love beyond degree. (Isaac Watts - At the Cross)

I know in part, it was my sins that sent the Lord Jesus to the cross; there was no there other way for me to be redeemed.  His suffering was the cost of my salvation.  He was pierced for my transgressions, he was crushed for my iniquities; the punishment that brought me peace was on him, and by his wounds I am healed (Isaiah 53:5).

I marvel again the depth of God's love for me.  45 years, Good Friday, 1977, God intercepted my life and I am forever grateful.

My friends at Valley, as you reflect on the cross, as we journey from Friday to Sunday, may your heart be melted, by a deep sense of humility and gratitude for what Christ has done for you.  May we joyfully shout on 
Easter morning, HE IS RISEN!

As I write these words, I am mindful that it was 44 years ago, Good Friday 1977, that my chains off and my heart was set free, when in a moment of amazing grace, the love of God reached the heart of a 17-year old kid who didn't think he needed God in his life.  How grateful I am that the 'Hound of Heaven' relentlessy pursued me and brought me to Himself.

As we reflect of the events of Good Friday, I am mindful that what Christ did, He did for me.  I think of the words of the Apostle Paul to the Chritians in Rome: You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6,8)  

It is both humbling and mystifying, almost beyound comprehension that Jesus would die for me.  And yet, beause of His unconditional, irrational love for me, God sent His only Son to suffer on Calvary's cross so that I could be forgiven, reconciled to the Father and set free from the bondage and penalty of sin.  This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. (1 John 3:16)  I am mindful once again taht the cross of Jesus is my only hope to find forgiveness, the only way for me to gain a right standing before a holy God, the only path to the Father.  Jesus Himself said:  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  (John 14:6) The cross of Christ is my only hope, my only plea and 44 years later I am still amazed the He would give His life for me.

But the story of Good Friday is  not complete until we move to Easter Sunday and realize, He has risen, just as he said.  (Matthew 28:6)  Death could not keep Him and the grave could not hold Him, He is alive forevermore.   Our Risen Lord boldly declares:   I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Revelation 1:18)  And, He has promised:  Because I live, you also will live. (John 14:19)

In the Resurrected Lord, I have the sure hope of heaven, but more than that, I have the promise of His presence; He is the God who walks with me, every day of my life, every step of the journey.  He Himself has promised: “​I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” (Hebrews 13:5 - AMP)

On this Good Friday 2021, as we move toward Easter Sunday, I want to invite you to bask again in the wonder and awe of the cross and the empty tomb.  
​

Over these past few weeks as we have gathered around the cross, examining the words spoken by Jesus; as we have moved from the cross to the empty tomb, my thoughts have been focused on the sufficient work of the Lord Jesus; all that has been accomplished in His death, burial and resurrection.  The depth of understanding may very well be beyond our full comprehension, but given what do know from Scripture, we of necessity must respond with reverence and humility as we contemplate what the finished work of Christ provides for us.

In Christ, we have been reconciled to God.  Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. 
(Colossians 1:22-23)

In Christ, we have peace with God.  Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  (Romans 5:1-2)

In Christ, our sins have been forgiven.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.  (Ephesians 1:7)

In Christ, we have become the beloved of the Father.  See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!  (1 John 3:1)

In Christ, we have all that we need to live a life of faith.  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  (Ephesians 1:3)  His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  (2 Peter 1:3)

In Christ, we find strength.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 
(Philippians 4:13 - NKJV)

In Christ, we have confidence and access to God.  In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.  (Ephesians 3:12)

In Christ, we are never alone.  Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

In Christ, we have hope.  Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:21)

In Christ, we have the sure and certain promise of heaven.   Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  (John 14:1-3)

The riches that we hold in and through Christ are truly beyond our ability to fully grasp, but we know nonetheless, that in Christ we are blessed beyond measure; in Him we find grace and love, we find strength and courage, rest, peace and hope that cannot be found in any other.   In Christ alone I place my trust, and find my glory in the power of the cross. In ev’ry victory, let it be said of me, my source of strength, my source of hope is Christ alone.

The events of Good Friday are the most heart-wrenching injustice in human history.  To think about the brutal, horrific nature of Christ’s death and to understand that He willing laid down His life to pay the penalty of your sin and mine, should move us to a place of deep humility and gratitude as we realize, He did that for me.  How awful it must have been in those days between the crucifixion and resurrection morning. 
 
But then, early in the early morning hours of the first day of the week, as the women went to the tomb, the message was proclaimed:  He is not here; he has risen!  (Luke 24:6)  Reflect for a few moments on the mystery, wonder and beauty, the hope and joy of the resurrection, and the significance of the truth of this historical event.
 
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:17…if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, it’s incomplete, of no real value.  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.  BUT, Christ has…been raised from the dead! (20)
 
Dr. Billy Graham is quoted as saying: If I were an enemy of Christianity, I would aim right at the resurrection, because that is the heart of Christianity.
 
The authenticity of the resurrection matters, because the Bible declares it to be true, and the Bible is our source of truth and faith.  If the Scriptures are wrong on this point, they become altogether unreliable.  Paul reminds the believers in Corinth, For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.  (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
 
Let there be no confusion on this point, everything in the Gospels, everything in the book of Acts, everything in the Epistles stands in perfect harmony on this point, Jesus Christ died and then was raised from the dead.  And it matters; it matters because it authenticates the truth of the Bible; the account of the empty tomb validates the stories of those who encountered the risen Lord.
 
The truth of the resurrection is essential to our doctrine and our faith, but the implications of this truth are more than just theological in nature.  There are profound implications regarding our understanding of death and the afterlife.
 
When we stand at the graveside of a loved one, it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed; it’s not unusual to wonder if we will ever see them again.  In the early church some believers faced this very human struggle.  The Apostle Paul addresses this concern in his first letter to the Corinthians by reminding his readers that their confidence, their hope rested on whether or not Jesus was raised from the dead.
 
It’s interesting; Paul does not rebuke these believers for their doubts and fears.  Nor does offer any ‘proof’ of the resurrection.  He simply states it as a fact…that Christ died…that he was buried, that he was raised on the third…(1 Corinthians 15:3-4).  He points them back to the empty tomb and says, ‘remember, God raised His Son from the grave’!

Everything hinges on whether or not it’s true, on whether or not you believe it to be true.  To drive home his point, he argues, what if Jesus has not been raised from the dead?  If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.  (17-19)
 
It all hangs on that little word “if…If Christ has not been raised… (17).  But, what if it is true?  Look again at the authoritative truth of the Holy Scriptures:  Christ has indeed been raised from the dead!  (20)  And because it is true, we can simply reverse all that Paul has just argued: our faith does have meaning, deep, profound implications for life and eternity; we do have forgiveness and the sure hope of life beyond the grave.  We can be certain about our own future; about all who die in Christ.  Death has been swallowed up in victory.  (15:54).  Our dying in Christ becomes the passageway to heaven.
 
During my 30+ years as a pastor, I have stood at the bedside of the dying, I have stood at the graveside more times than I can remember.  It never gets easier.  The hardest part for me is driving away from the hospital or the cemetery; the finality of someone being gone weighs on my soul, it just does.  I’ve seen all the death I care to see, even though I will likely see more before my time on earth is done. 
 
Where do we find hope in the face of death?  We find it in the truth of God’s Word; in the certainty of the resurrection!  In Christ all will be made alive.  (15:22)
 
Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (15:57)

As we approach Passion week and take some time to reflect on the events that lead up to the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and all that it means to us, I find myself dwelling on the importance of the detailed account of the crucifixion that we find in the pages of the Bible; the historical reality of Jesus’ death, which is the very foundation of our faith.
 
The Biblical account authenticates the truth/ the reliability of God’s written testimony about His Son.  The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:  I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved…Otherwise, you have believed in vain.  For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.  (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
 
The story of Jesus’ death in the pages of the Bible validates its historical reality, it affirms that what is recorded in the Holy Scriptures is true and it reminds us that a price was paid, an awful price was paid for our salvation.
 
Peter writes…it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed…but with the precious blood of Christ.  (1 Peter 1:18-19)
 
…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.  (Hebrews 9:22)
 
But, Christ…has appeared once for all…to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.  (Hebrews 9:26)
 
His death and burial provide for us a graphic picture of what it means to be forgiven, to have our sins removed.  The Hebrew word for ‘forgiveness’ means to lift and take away.  Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  (John 1:29)   Christ has removed our sin once and for all and forever.  He has provided forgiveness by His sacrificial death and in so doing, He has removed the sting of death.
 
Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?  The sting of death is sin…But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
 
Start anywhere in the Bible and the result is the same; all roads lead to the cross.  It’s at the cross that we are reminded a sacrifice was made once and for all.  Jesus Christ laid down His life, He suffered was crucified, died and was buried; His sacrifice solves the problem of our sin--there is no other solution. His sacrifice gives us a righteous standing before a holy God--there is no other way.
 
The crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus Christ is the most important event in history.  Everything before it, leads to it.  Everything after it, looks back on it.  Nothing that has ever happened has had the impact of the cross of Jesus Christ.  But, we need to understand, His death was not the end of the story…on the third day He rose from the dead!

In the words, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried (The Apostles’ Creed), we see the centrality of cross.  Start anywhere in the Bible and the result is the same; all roads lead to the cross!
It’s at the cross that we are reminded a sacrifice was made, once and for all.  Jesus Christ laid down His life, He suffered, was crucified, died and was buried to atone for our sins and provide for us a righteous standing before the Father.
 
The crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus Christ is the most important event in history; everything before it, leads to it, everything after it, looks back on it.  Nothing that has ever happened in human history has had the impact of the cross of Jesus Christ.  But, we need to understand, His death was not the end of the story…on the third day He rose from the dead.  (The Apostles’ Creed)
 
The Apostle Paul is very clear on this point:  For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures… (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).  Let there be no confusion on this point; the Gospels, the book of Acts, the letters of Paul and Peter stand in perfect harmony on this point—Jesus Christ died and then was raised from the dead.
 
The implications of this truth are more than just theological in nature, there are profound implications regarding our understanding of life and death and the afterlife.  When we stand at the graveside of a loved one, it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed; it is not unusual to wonder if we will ever see them again.  In the early church some believers faced this very human struggle. 
 
Paul addresses this concern in I Corinthians 15 by reminding his readers that their confidence, their hope rested on whether or not Jesus was raised from the dead.  As you read the text, what is interesting is that Paul does not rebuke these believers for their doubts and fears, nor does offer any ‘proof’ of the resurrection.  He simply states it as a fact…that Christ died…that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day… (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).  He points them back to the empty tomb and says, ‘remember, God raised His Son from the grave; everything hinges on whether or not it’s true, on whether or not you believe it to be true.
 
To drive home his point, he argues, what if Jesus has not been raised from the dead?  If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.  (1 Corinthians 15:17-19)  The word futile means useless, empty, of no value.  If Jesus was not raised from the dead, the Christian faith completely collapses.  We would still be lost in our sin and there would be no hope of life eternal.  If Jesus is still in the grave, it’s all meaningless. Death wins, and our worst fears are realized as we lay a loved one to rest.
 
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead!  (1 Corinthians 15:20)   And because of that, our faith does have meaning, we do have forgiveness and the sure hope of life beyond the grave. We can be certain about our own future, about all who die in Christ.
 
I have stood at the graveside, more times than I can remember, I’ve seen more death than I care to experience—it never gets easier.  Where do we find hope in the face of death?  We find it in the truth of God’s Word, in the certainty of the resurrection:  In Christ all will be made alive.  (1 Corinthians 15:22)
 
If the Lord Jesus did rise from the grave, and I believe to the core of my being He did, then we’re going to be okay. We can have our questions, our doubts, our fears; even as we drive away from the graveside, we can feel overwhelmed.  That’s not what matters.  Our faith is not determined by the strength of our belief; our faith rests on what happened at the tomb 2,000 years ago.  If Jesus was raised the dead, then death has been swallowed up in victory (I Corinthians 15:54).  We’re going to be okay!  Therefore, we can triumphantly proclaim:  Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Markers and Milestones, we see them along the highway to help guide our journey; to help identify important places along the way.  If you think about it we need, as human beings, need to mark the significant passages along life's journey.  From the celebration of a birth, birthdays, anniversaries, beginnings--such as the start of school or a job, or endings--such as graduation or retirement, and even the conclusion of a journey at death, we have this propensity to mark the important stops along the way.

Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take.          (Jeremiah 31:21)

This weekend is one those markers in my journey.  40 years ago, on Good Friday 1977, God intercepted my life as a 17 year-old kid who really didn't think he needed God in his life.  I am still amazed by His love and grace that reached out to me, when I wasn't even looking for such kindness.  God's word through the prophet Jeremiah still resonate in my heart:  I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3)

One passage of Scripture was instrumental in my coming to know God's saving grace:  Titus 3:4-7:  At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.  When the kindness and love of God appeared to me, He saved me; not because of anything I had done, I wasn't even looking for God, but only out of His outrageous mercy and love. 

I knew the truth about my own  heart and when I heard the message of salvation; forgiveness through the cross, through the death of the Lord Jesus, I knew it was true.  Even though I tried to walk away, God would not let me go!  There is a love that will not let you go! 

His love and grace have been a continual source of blessing and joy in my life; a constant through all the ups and downs of my journey.  He has met me in the dark and scary places and brought me to a place of comfort and rest, and He has been with me on the mountaintop, sharing in the everyday joys that are mine in  Christ.
He has truly been the anchor of my soul.  (Hebrews 6:19)

It's no surprise that this weekend, Good Friday in particular is special to me.  My mind travels back each year to that moment when God revealed Himself to me and drew me to Him; when Christ become my Savior and Lord.  Though I have never followed perfectly, in fact, the longer I journey with God, the more I am aware of just how far short I fall, yet I have never wavered in the hope and faith I have in the One who has been so very good and faithful to me; who, in the words of the songwriter:  Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; he, to rescue me from danger, interposed his precious blood (Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing - Robert Robinson).

It is by grace you have been saved, through faith.  (Ephesians 2:8)  O to grace, how great a debtor!

After 40 years, I can still testify with the Psalmist:  The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?  (Psalm 27:1)

  I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today...You has me how I know He lives?  He lives within my heart.
                                                                                                       He Lives - text and music by Alfred H Ackley

With all the compelling evidence for the resurrection, the empty-tomb, the eye witness accounts, the clear, indisputable testimony of the Scriptures and Christ Himself, perhaps the most persuasive evidence, that which cannot be easily dismissed, is our own personal encounter with the risen Lord.

I remember as a cocky, rebellious 17 year-old kid boldly declaring I did not need God in my life.  But then I came face to face with the resurrected Christ and everything changed.  I cannot fully explain it but I know it is real. For almost 40 years the Lord Jesus has continually revealed His mercy and kindness to me.  I have been the recipient of His amazing grace.  I have heard Him whisper words of affirmation and love; I have been given direction and purpose in life and an eternal hope and sustains me in those times when the path gets hard and the world seems like a dark and scary place.  I have know what it is to live as beloved child of the Father.

My encounter with the risen Christ has changed my life's ambition, my life's vocation; it has changed our geographical location and more importantly it has changed my heart's orientation.  I've experienced the transforming power of the truth of His Word and the life-changing power of His grace.  As I look back on my journey of faith, I see a continual, undeniable pattern of His leading and provision and care. When I have wandered or lost my way, even in the dark night of my soul, I have never been abandoned for He has promised, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.  (Hebrews 13:5)  I have experienced His abiding presence;  I know what it is to rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)

When I am weak, I have know His strength; when I have been restless, I have know His peace.  When I have been afraid, I have heard Him whisper, do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)  When I have cried out, He has heard my prayers; when my courage has faded, He has renewed my confidence and restored my hope.  I have lived the promise of His Word that those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.  (Isaiah 40:31)

As a core conviction of my life I hold to the truth that there is a God, that He loves me, that we are in a covenant relationship; that His desire is to break into my life and to lead me in ways that consistent with His highest hopes for me and when my journey here on earth is over, I will have a home in heaven; I will be with Him forever.  You ask me how I know He lives...because these truths are so incredibly real and powerful in my life I have no other explanation; because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.  2 Timothy 1:12

As I drove from Valley back home last Saturday, my eye was draw to the abundance of yellow flowers growing on the hillside to the east of Black Sage Road and my mind went back to a conversation I shared with Corrie Zandee during our first Spring here in the valley.  Corrie shared with me how a fire had destroyed most of the hillside and only recently had these flowers come to bloom again.  We talked about the sense of renewal we experience each spring and the wonder of the changing seasons.

As I looked on the hillside, alive with new growth, I began to think about the newness of life we find in Christ; especially as we move toward Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Our National Pastor, David Schrader wrote about this in his Easter Greetings.  With his permission, I have copied his letter below.

The Easter lily and the tomb have much in common. They both speak of hope, a hope that paradoxically springs from the haunts and throes of death. This Friday, Christians around the world will commemorate the death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; but they will also celebrate the hope that His death brought to all who follow Him. 

It must have looked very dismal and hopeless the day Jesus died; much like it looks every fall when flowers die and their beauty disappears. In spring and summer, flowers grace our lives with their poignant smells and stunning beauty, just like the life of Jesus must have graced his disciples’ lives with hope, in the “spring and summer” of His ministry. But then “Fall” came and the Saviour died.

The onset of the Fall season can be quite dreary. It reminds us that winter is not far behind. It had to be de-pressing and disappointing to the disciples to see their Master laid in a tomb. Their summer of hope had turned to a winter of despair as death’s cold wind delivered a terrible and chilling blow to their hopes and ambitions of a Messianic kingdom.

But like the lily, whose beauty fades and dies every year, spring brings the promise of a lily’s bloom. When Christ died, his resurrection brought the hope of an eternal spring. His resurrection separated us from all other religions, only Christianity has an eternal hope. We have a Saviour that is alive! At this special time of the year t is my prayer for all of you that as spring begins and flowers bloom, you will be reminded that Christ is alive in you. This is what Paul meant, when he said, “Christ in you is the hope of glory”. 

May you all be blessed this weekend as you remember, his death and burial and celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour. 

I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.  (Revelation 1:8)

I join with Pastor Schrader in expressing my desire for each of us to be lost in the wonder and awe of God’s love for us; a love boldly proclaimed in the cross.  And as we remember and reflect on Good Friday, may it lead to even greater wonder and joy as we celebrate Easter morning, for He is Risen!