Last week we began Lent, where we prepare to walk with Jesus as he makes his journey to die on the cross for us. Although it is a sombre time, our mission to look inward and reach outward is done mainly with one goal in mind: to make us more like Christ Jesus, and to bring us closer to God through Him.
But through the pain I felt a sense of a comfort that I am unable to describe. Because God too, lost a son, and he too, was devastated. Yet he still gave up his beloved child…
Throughout this season the children (both big and small!) will be adding items to a Lenten Garden in the sanctuary. This week’s item will tie into the theme of love, to match the scripture:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
These words have been a huge comfort for me, many times in my life. Seven years ago I lost my beloved brother; his funeral was held on Easter Saturday. It was difficult to celebrate Jesus rising again when I had just buried a loved one permanently. No person, gesture, nor amount of time nor logical thinking can take away that immense pain. And as I watched my parents mourn their firstborn child during the service, this same passage was read. But through the pain I felt a sense of a comfort that I am unable to describe. Because God too, lost a son, and he too, was devastated. Yet he still gave up his beloved child, and was even happy to do so, because it meant eternal love and life for his other children, us! As a parent myself, I can still barely fathom that amount of love. Because of Jesus’ immense sacrifice, Murray and the rest of us will live on forever, with the pain and mistakes of our earthly lives completely blotted away. God will hold us in His love then, and he already is, now. Amen!