The Cross, the door to connection

Holy week, Easter, 2021

The Cross - the door to connection and so much more!

When I was little it was all about the chocolate eggs and Easter bunny. I still remember the year, Easter Bunny came late, because we had been naughty.

And then as I grew older I heard the stories of Jesus dying on the cross and being resurrected from the dead.

I loved the tradition and the ceremony at church as we celebrated Easter and yet I never really fully understood the significance, power, and undeniable love that undergirded the whole reason behind what Christ did at the cross.

It wasn’t until I really knew His heart for me (and for all of His kids) that the penny started to drop.

And as each Easter passes, I notice if I am intentional about really thinking and meditating on the whole process of the cross and the week leading up to the greatest event in history; the revelation of His magnificent love for humanity still astounds me!

Not only did Jesus know ahead of time that Judas would betray Him, and His closest friends - the disciples would deny Him. He still chose to walk the path to face the excruciating pain of the cross.

He still chose the humiliating indignity of being stripped of both His clothing and His humanity one lash and beating at a time.

All because His heart for us was to have connection with His Father in Heaven . And give us the opportunity to be set free from sin and death.

I know sin is an old-fashioned word. And for a lot of the world today there seems to be no such thing. But I also know from experience what it’s like to be stuck and entangled in lies I believed were true And in behaviors that stemmed from unresolved pain, trauma, and living with no hope for the future.

I have looked death in the face of my son and I know without an inkling of a doubt that death is not final.

For those of us that choose Christ, just as Cody did, death is just a doorway to a future far better than we can dream or imagine. Because however ‘out there' it seems, it is SO much greater than we can wrap our heads around .

Death has indeed lost it’s sting, because of what Christ achieved on the cross. The veil was torn and a direct connection to the Father was made possible.

But what still blows my mind as I continue to think on it, is that Jesus even in the face of betrayal, rejection, humiliation and hate STILL chose us. You and me!

Even before we knew Him, even while we still lived wrapped up in our own little worlds.

And because He knew firsthand the love of the Father, His whole heart was that we would know His love too. Jesus forgave us, even before we knew what we would do. And in spite of what He knew we would get up to. He provides healing.

Physical, mental, and emotional to all of our hurts, wounds, trauma, and disease. He gives Hope.

Beyond what the world can offer and what our minds can conjure up.

And He opens the door to eternal life. Where our life here on earth is abundant and full of hope and death is merely a doorway.

So I want to encourage you this Easter. When you’re nibbling on a chocolate egg or celebrating the day with friends and family. Give a thought and a thankful prayer to the One who made it all possible.

And never forget what the cross did for you and the resurrection power you carry.

All because of what Christ did on that cross and the love of a Father who was willing to sacrifice his only Son.

1 Peter 2:24-25 The Message

21-25 This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.

He never did one thing wrong,

Not once said anything amiss.

They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.