Good Friday '24
- hilannycastrejon
- Mar 30, 2024
- 4 min read
This weeks blog post will be a little different from the others, Good Friday is such a special day and this year the Lord spoke to me through three specific sources. This blog post wont be very lengthy but i'll share a small reflection and then I will highlight those sources, I pray they will be a blessing to you as you remember the sacrifices he made of us on that cross!
reflection:
(Garden of Gethsemane, March 2023)
I know that today we remember Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, but This garden is where I saw Jesus' humanity for the first time, I often forget that Jesus wasn't only God. He was the manifestation of God in HUMAN form. He felt the heart break you and I have felt, he laughed, made friends, felt tired, and was scared.
The Bible says that when Jesus prayed in Gethsemane the night before his trial and death he was sweating blood, he said "my soul is crushed with grief to the point of death".
Because I had always seen Jesus as a loving friend, one who preformed miracles, sat with sinners, and didn't conform to the standards of men that did not have Gods love in their hearts, it foolishly never crossed my mind that this son of God could be scared. But he was human and he knew EXACTLY what was coming, and he prayed: "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.".
He was obedient till the end.
He submitted to the fathers word and commands till the point of death.
He was just as scared as you and I would have been if we knew the horrendous death he was about to face, but he did it anyway.
Something about taking the time to recognize not only the physical sacrifice he made, but also the emotional/ mental agony that he went through makes my heart overflow with gratitude. Jesus, the literal manifestation of God on earth could have gotten off of that cross, he could've avoided it entirely, but saw us worthy of dying for
The first source I was blessed by was a poem i stumbled across on instagram. the poem is titled "Palm Sunday" and i will tag the author below the poem.
"The praising in the streets Would soon turn to jeers In front of Pilate. Their palm branches, Now turned into whips. Jesus knew their hearts And that the praise Was superficial. This "Kingdom" was unseen And Jesus had no use to them. But Jesus could see His kingdom And through every lash and shout, Desired a relationship with the Condemning crowd. He gave up His spirit So He could one day Reside with their Repented souls.
-"Palm Sunday" by @will.bogdan
The same people that welcomed him into Jerusalem with palm branches and excitement condemned him with whips and hate. And through every hateful shout and lash, he saw people who he desired a relationship with.
The next source is an article by Cahleen Shrier (Ph.D) published by Azusa pacific university. It brings attention to details about the crucifixion and sheds light on the scientific details of Jesus' death. I encourage you to read it and gain a deeper understanding of the sacrifice that Jesus' bore for our salvation.
The last source that blessed me today was another instagram Post by Anthony Gurrola
caption:
"My Lord, I deserve this
But you, why are you here?
I’ve seen you.
Seen you in the streets.
I’ve seen you do things no man should be capable of.
Such power, and yet, no lack of kindness.
As if the miraculous and the kindness cannot be separated.
It is a kindness I’ve never known until this moment.
I just hate that I couldn’t have more time with you.
I feel so unworthy to share this space with you.
Because I know what it’s cost you.
For you are a King, and I am a thief.
My lord I would take the punishment all over again if you didn’t have to.
And yet, in our common agony, your joy breaks through the dry blood.
I’m sorry that I am the last man you will see.
I’m not a good one.
I’ve done nothing to deserve your proximity.
Your smile towards me feels so out of place but maybe that’s how your grace works.
I may not be able to live a life for you,
But can I just dedicate a moment to you?
For us, moments are all we have, so I give you mine.
Let my final breaths be my offering to your blood stained crown.
I cannot give you a lifetime of ministry.
But I give you a breath of repentance.
For the last few thoughts I have, I want them of your face.
Because even through the blood, and the swelling, and the pain, I’ve never seen greater love.
I know it’s not much but I give all I am to you, King Jesus.
All I ask is that, when you finally rest in your paradise, you may remember me?
It is almost finished now.
I feel our spirits preparing for their departure.
You don’t have many breaths in you, but you use one to tell me this
“Today, you will be with me.”
I ask “where are we going?”
With a final smile, He says
“Paradise.”
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