Spring ~ the season that marks sacred days. A reminder that the winter of our hearts won’t last forever. There is always a promise of new beginning because of Jesus. Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel, the welcoming crowd cried out on Palm Sunday thousands of years ago. Holy Week begins with praise and in the middle of the mourn, ends with the same crowd crying out for a crucifixion, nailing palms. And feet.
What looked like the end, to those at the foot of the cross was the beginning to bring divine restoration. The broken women who were by His side in life, were faithfully at His feet. And John – always John. These broken ladies were the first evangelists to tell that He had walked out of the tomb – and they could, too.
But Sunday.
In Psalm 23, David paints the words into a portrait of the good shepherd laying down His life to restore our soul. This piece of scripture is so familiar, even to those who don’t know the Jesus within the lines. The 23rd Psalm is not simply for prison chaplains, executions and funeral services. It’s for the living, not the dead.
These words were written as a prayer of gratitude in how the sovereign kindness of God shepherds us to the still waters of rest, because of the holy sacrifice of the Lamb. But then we must read the one before, Psalm 22 – the mosaic of hope and prophetic passion that moves from the agony of the crucifixion to the comfort of the resurrection – as we stand in awe of David’s words written about 1000 years before Christ.
We live in questions. We have heavy burdens.
Questions and burdens belong at the cross.
May it be abundantly enough to live these words . . .
The Lord is my shepherd – I shall not want
He makes me lie down in green pastures
He leads me beside still waters
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death –
I will fear no evil for You are with me.
Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
And that means, Surely ~ all the days of our lives. Forever . . . amen.
Blessed Easter, friends.
Verna
Thank you Verna,
Thanks be to God as we will celebrate another Easter morning and remember….He is not here, He has risen. Go and tell! What a hope and glorious salvation is ours as we celebrate the greatest Life of the One who loved us to take our sins upon himself, and who died that we might fully live. I love the words of the song, “Fully Alive in Your Spirit, Lord make me fully alive.”
Thank you Lord, for making it possible.
Happy Easter, dear friend! Love Glenda