The final words of Jesus were not His last. They were a new beginning.
I hope to reflect on Holy Week differently than the fifty-one weeks cluttered with rush and stuff. I hope to keep it holy. Set apart.
And so, reading in the gospels this morning, I imagine what it would be like to be a part of the crowd(s) during the first Holy Week.
Would I be part of the palm praising in-crowd along the Hosanna path . . . or part of the other in-crowd who denied they knew Him?
And how many were part of both crowds? Peter was.
And then there were the innocent bystanders who weren’t innocent. No choice is a choice.
Today and then.
In the human bleeding part of Jesus, what was He feeling . . . not in His broken flesh, but within His broken heart? Divinity nailed to a cross seems to overshadow humanity. Divinity is larger than nails. Man is not.
I think of the thirty-three year old Jesus who came to earth as the infant God-man. The final moments of this young life who lives forever.
The crowds could witness bleeding flesh but what of the bleeding heart overtaken with grief.
His faithful followers deserted Him. Crowds devoured Him with cruel crucify chants. Dehydrated, anemic, and whipped to holy bone. And then, looking into a mother’s eyes who watched her son die on a cross.
The last words from the cross aren’t many. Seven times He spoke, mostly with His Father, while carrying the crushing weight of the world on one cross.
Listen.
Father, forgive them. (Luke 23:34)
Today you shall be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)
Woman, behold your son. (John 19:26) and to John, Behold your mother. (:27)
My God, why have You forsaken Me? (Matthew 27:46)
I thirst. (John 19:28)
It is finished. (John 19:30)
Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit. (Luke 23:46)
What did Good Friday words mean to the crowds? Then or today?
And, how did it sound in heaven when Jesus heart faded to the last beat? Like life and resurrection.
For Him and for us.
(Please take a moment to see what it’s like in the crowd and listen to In Christ Alone by Geoff Moore/Adrienne Liesching)
Verna
Carolyn says
March 25, 2013 at 11:29 amSo thoughtful, as always, Verna. I need a little holy this week. Thanks for taking me there. I’m Peter, I think, but only God knows what I would have done in that crowd. I’m beyond thankful that He died for my choices and my non-choices.
Carolyn says
March 25, 2013 at 11:29 amSo thoughtful, as always, Verna. I need a little holy this week. Thanks for taking me there. I’m Peter, I think, but only God knows what I would have done in that crowd. I’m beyond thankful that He died for my choices and my non-choices.
verna says
March 25, 2013 at 2:00 pmI love this, Carolyn, thank you for your comment. Me too, so grateful that Jesus came to die for mankind, for my-kind.
Marlene Bagnull says
March 25, 2013 at 3:17 pmThanks so much for sharing this, Verna – not just the video and song but your moving and powerful words.
verna says
March 28, 2013 at 7:56 amAnd thank you for always stopping by to encourage me, Marlene. . . .
Marlene Bagnull says
March 25, 2013 at 3:17 pmThanks so much for sharing this, Verna – not just the video and song but your moving and powerful words.
Laura says
March 25, 2013 at 5:01 pmThank you for this well-written, to the point, reminder of what we often take for granted. I was taken by seeing Jesus’ “Good Friday” words put together in this manner-I don’t think I ever contemplated them like that before. Thank you for the thought-provoking way you wrote this.
vernabowman says
March 28, 2013 at 7:08 pmI know, Laura. . . sometimes it’s easier to take the huge things for granted because they’re just too vast to grip. . . .
Glenda Mills says
March 25, 2013 at 5:09 pmVerna,
What gracious Words the Lord left for us to consider this Easter season! I don’t know if I would have been one of those praising Hosanna before He went to the cross. I do know I was one of the crowd who shouted crucify Him. One of the religious crowd, unaware of my own self-righteousness and unaware of this Only Righteous Son of God whose heart was broken over my sin of unbelief. Praise God, by the Grace of God I can shout Hosanna to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords today… because He opened my eyes to see my sin. I would be forever lost today and eternally…without the saving death of the blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world…my sin. Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.
Thank you for sharing your insights and the song with us. Happy Easter!
vernabowman says
March 28, 2013 at 7:09 pmThank you for sharing this amazing testimony, Glenda!
Glenda Mills says
March 25, 2013 at 5:09 pmVerna,
What gracious Words the Lord left for us to consider this Easter season! I don’t know if I would have been one of those praising Hosanna before He went to the cross. I do know I was one of the crowd who shouted crucify Him. One of the religious crowd, unaware of my own self-righteousness and unaware of this Only Righteous Son of God whose heart was broken over my sin of unbelief. Praise God, by the Grace of God I can shout Hosanna to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords today… because He opened my eyes to see my sin. I would be forever lost today and eternally…without the saving death of the blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world…my sin. Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.
Thank you for sharing your insights and the song with us. Happy Easter!
vernabowman says
March 28, 2013 at 7:09 pmThank you for sharing this amazing testimony, Glenda!
Kathy Morrow says
March 26, 2013 at 3:08 pmVerna – what a beautiful yet sorrowful reminder of what Easter is all about. Without Easter there would be NO eternal life. Easter is what salvation is all about. Thank you for your lovely words and the song – love the song.
In Him – Kathy Morrow
Kathy Morrow says
March 26, 2013 at 3:08 pmVerna – what a beautiful yet sorrowful reminder of what Easter is all about. Without Easter there would be NO eternal life. Easter is what salvation is all about. Thank you for your lovely words and the song – love the song.
In Him – Kathy Morrow
vernabowman says
March 28, 2013 at 7:10 pmNothing can take us to the throne like music, right Kathy? I still remember “our” song in Precept “Shout to the Lord,” always think of you, dear missed sister.
Celeste Martin Vaughan says
March 26, 2013 at 6:36 pmWow! What a beautifully written post. I’ve been reading many things this week that have made me think…more deeply…about the sacrifice of Jesus. You’ve made me think deeper today too. Blessings Verna!
vernabowman says
March 28, 2013 at 7:12 pmThank you for the kind comment, Celeste . . . the precious depth of lingering with Jesus.
Celeste Martin Vaughan says
March 26, 2013 at 6:36 pmWow! What a beautifully written post. I’ve been reading many things this week that have made me think…more deeply…about the sacrifice of Jesus. You’ve made me think deeper today too. Blessings Verna!
vernabowman says
March 28, 2013 at 7:12 pmThank you for the kind comment, Celeste . . . the precious depth of lingering with Jesus.