"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he took our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, afflicted. BUT HE WAS PIERCED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, HE WAS CRUSHED FOR OUR INIQUITIES, THE PUNISHMENT THAT BROUGHT US PEACE WAS UPON HIM; AND BY HIS WOUND WE ARE HEALED! We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us have turned to his own way; AND THE LORD SAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL!" Isaiah 53:3-6
My beloved congregation and all those reading this from near and far, the above words are the very reason why today is called Good Friday--it is because of the deep everlasting love of God that Jesus took upon himself the sin of each and everyone of us so that we would not experience the separation from God that we so deserve. Instead, in grace and mercy, Christ took it all upon himself so that you and I could receive the salvation of our souls and have everlasting life--a life forever enveloped in the love of God.
Today we remember all the brutality that was put on Christ, his blood shed for each and every one of us. Today we repent of anything that would separate us from loving and serving God to the fullest. Today we remember--but Sunday is coming!
With repentant and prepared hearts let us rest in the love of Christ and in the forgiveness that has come through His shed blood for each of us.
In love and prayer
Pastor Peggy