Why should I gain from his reward?  I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart; his wounds have paid my ransom.

These words are from one of my favorite modern hymns of the church, “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” by Stuart Townend.  I could listen to its haunting music and words anytime, but they are especially meaningful during Holy Week.  Here’s the link to listen to it as performed by the group Selah, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7fGEOH2XiY

The song describes, as best as humanly possible, the deep love of God for us, that is shown in Jesus Christ.  It also confesses that the meaning of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross… how God’s salvation and grace works… will always be something of a mystery.  But what you and I can know is the result of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Jesus made a connection and relationship between us and God possible… that’s what Jesus accomplished on the cross.  By sacrificially laying down his sinless life, Jesus made it possible for our sins to be forgiven… and for all of humanity to be connected to God now and forever!  Jesus did that for me and for you.

Today is the beginning of Holy Week.  It’s not really something our culture will join with us in.  As seekers and followers of Christ this week we are pretty much on our own, and that’s even more so with the COVID-19 “stay at home” orders in place.  But maybe that’s not all bad.  Maybe it will give us a chance, in an unhurried and more focused way, to remember and be thankful for what Jesus did on the cross.  

My prayer is that you know how deep is God’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure.  My prayer is that we know that Jesus’ dying breath has brought us life.  And my prayer is that the Holy Spirit’s power will help us live in a way that doesn’t boast in anything but Jesus Christ, his death, and resurrection… this Holy Week and always!