Lent Days 34-37: Painful gain


Surely he took up our pain

    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5 NIV


Day 34: Turbulence and noise
Palm Sunday - acclaim before the cross
Day 35: Birthdays: relinquishing our right to celebrate as we prefer
Day 36: Meals with friends: leaving those we love in God's hands
37: Blank - relinquishing sins of omission
So much happened in Jesus' life the week before Easter. Most of the book of John describes the Holy Week. (Read it for yourself this week?)

 Over the years, until today, the bloody cross has been despised. 

 Secularists have almost succeeded in eradicating the Christian commemoration from the American calendar.When I wished someone a "Happy Easter" this week, she looked at me blankly and gave no response. (An Easter bunny and eggs don't deserve much notice, do they?)

 The idea of someone paying a penalty on our behalf seems absurd. We are taught to "pull ourselves together," to "make something of yourself," or "do what feels good," regardless of the consequences to others. [Example, are you ever astonished at the juxtaposition of popular music on the radio? = a song about the heartbreak of someone cheating on a spouse is followed by another about "I know it's wrong but stay with me tonight; I want you."]

 Into the exhaustion of our efforts, into the brokenness of what we have done (and what has been done to us), we welcome the beautiful love of God. It heals. Soothes. Forgives. Reconciles us. 

 Jesus - God-with-us - is enough to make us whole. 

  • His birth shows us God's willingness to engage humanity at its basic, poorest level of society.
  • His life demonstrates what surrender to God brings us: friendships, miracles, pleasures, and sacrifice.
  • His death nails the consequences of our imperfections to the cross.

We may live in the glorious freedom of an abundant life, according to the promises of scripture. Our choices are to remain as we are (trying, trying, trying to do better) or to accept the gift of God's plan through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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