LOVE WENT TO HEAVEN
Love went to Heaven the day that you died.
It was the day that the angels cried.
Your body was beaten and broken.
While they fought for your clothing to be taken as a token.
They laughed and jeered,
Yet you shed not a tear.
They shouted and mocked ”King of Jews”.
No one was willing to walk in your shoes.
Upon a hill the nailed you to a cross.
Feeling forsaken, abandoned and lost.
Carrying a burden from the cradle to the grave.
Shedding blood for every life that you saved.
Your spirit was not broke.
And with bruised lips you spoke.
“Every promise has been kept.”
And you lowered your head and wept.
Your death for our sin, yet you had none of your own.
And on the wings of doves you have been carried home.
Love went to Heaven the day that Jesus died.
It was the day the angels cried.
Leah Woodard
September 19, 2003
A journey outward and reflections of my inner self: What I was, Who I am, What I will become as a new creation in Christ.
Friday, April 3, 2015
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Who do we say this Jesus is?
Mark 8: 27-29 Now
Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the
road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?” So
they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the
prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and
said to Him, “You are the Christ.”
Peter is right
with his words, yet he is wrong with his thinking. Christ the anointed one, the
chosen one. Yes, Christ was anointed by God. He was the chosen one to share the
Good News and to free us from sin. Jesus speaks openly to the disciples,
telling them that the Son of Man will suffer, be rejected and killed. On the
third day, He will rise again. Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him. Peter
is not questioning Jesus about His statements, but Peter is flat out telling
Jesus no. The idea of a suffering Christ does not align with his image of the
anointed one.
The truth is harsh. There was only one way for Christ to set
us sinners free. Suffering, rejected, mocked, beaten and crucified. Salvation
could only come to us through the cross.
On a second occasion, while passing through Galilee, Jesus
predicts His death and resurrection. This time there is no rebuke from Peter or
any questions asked. The disciples did not understand and where afraid to ask.
Why are they afraid to ask? Christ the anointed one is telling them about His
suffering and death. This is not the image that they had. They thought that
Jesus was going to reign then. He was going to free them from the Roman
oppression. Life was going to be grand
with Christ as the ruling king. They were thinking in the here and now. The
disciples could not imagine Christ as a suffering, rejected and murdered king.
They kept missing what Jesus is telling them. They kept missing the last word,
resurrection. Too often, we do the same.
We want this life to be easy. We want our comforts. We want to be free from
suffering. We want to be wanted. No
suffering, no rejection. So how can we see Christ as a suffering and rejected
king?
Jesus tells the disciples a third and final time about His
impending death and resurrection.
“Behold, we are going
up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and
to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the
Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill
Him. And the third day He will rise again.” Mark 10:33, 34
Rejected, the anointed one will be rejected, persecuted,
spit upon, scourged and killed. This is
no king to rule and set them free from the Romans. This is not the king that
they thought they were getting. However, this king is needed. The suffering,
rejected, crucified king. The risen king
is Christ, the anointed one, He is in this for the long term, eternity. The
here and now is a passing thing. This is
our King, the risen King! Who do we say this Jesus is? He is the risen Lord.
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