Daily Buffet

Oh, Good Friday.  The irony of that label is so rich.  Sometimes it seems  that the goodness really happened on Sunday.  But in some ironic twist the victory over sin and the defeat of the effects of sin started today.  A day full of literal darkness. Here’s a quick timeline to remind you of what happened on this day

What a day.  What a long day.  A day however that despite its darkness did indeed finish the work!

30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 (NIV)

Here is is the day before Good Friday.  Can you even imagine that scene that played out on this day in the Garden?  Jesus talking tp his Father, knowing what was to come, and the burden, our burden, he was to bear.  And then he prays for you.  You the believer that comes 2000 years later.  In the Garden on this Thursday before the perfect Passover Lamb is sacrificed, that Lamb bowed his head and thought about you.

²⁰ I am not asking solely for their benefit; this prayer is also for all the believers who will follow them and hear them speak. ²¹ Father, may they all be one as You are in Me and I am in You; may they be in Us, for by this unity the world will believe that You sent Me.
²² All the glory You have given to Me, I pass on to them. May that glory unify them and make them one as We are one, ²³ I in them and You in Me, that they may be refined so that all will know that You sent Me, and You love them in the same way You love Me.  John 17:20-23 The Voice (VOICE)

Remember these words as you head into this weekend, where the worst event and the greatest event happened.  One that truly changed the world.  Let it continue to change you.

It’s been a few weeks since I posted, as my head has been working through some stuff and my days have been unusually crowded.   I have not given up this blog yet, however, I had felt that my content was a little recycled.

Anyway, it being the week that it is, I cannot help but write and express thoughts about what happened on this week so many years ago.

I mean look at this graphic of the events.  It’s pretty incredible!

Infographic source: The NIV Quickview Bible

And then Sunday. Oh, Sunday. Wow!

Spend some time this week remembering and reliving these events, and remember what a world changer this week was!

Behold how every wound of His
A precious balm distils,
Which heals the scars that sin had made,
And cures all mortal ills.
Those wounds are mouths that preach
His grace;
The ensigns of His love;
The seals of our expected bliss
In paradise above.
— Joseph Stennett, 1663 – 1713

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. – Psalm 27:4

Last week I was searching for some thoughts and viewpoints on stillness of the soul and I came across this old Sunday School Teacher book on Google.  The book itself was published in 1876 by the National Sunday school union.  My search led my to page 344 where there is a section entitled “Things to Think On”. which surprisingly I have.  I even found myself returning there today when I had a small break.  I forsee more returns to this section as these old thoughts are somewhat captivating in how new they are!  Today, however, what caught my eye was the section which immediately proceeded the section on thinking, which contained this little story.

A SINGULAR SERMON Four gentlemen and an old minister were assailed on the highway by three robbers who demanded and took possession of all their funds The old minister pleaded very hard to be allowed a little money as he was on his way to pay a bill in London. The highwaymen as our authority informs us, “being generous fellows gave him all his money back on condition of his preaching them a sermon.” Accordingly they retired a little distance from the highway and the minister addressed them as follows: Gentlemen You are the most like the old apostles of any men in the world

“Gentlemen You are the most like the old apostles of any men in the world for they were wanderers upon the earth and so are you they had neither lands nor tenements that they could call their own neither as I presume have you. They were despised of all but those of their own profession and so I believe are you; they were unalterably fixed in the principles they professed and I dare swear so are you; they were often hurried into jails and prisons all of which sufferings I presume have been undergone by you; their profession brought them all untimely death and if you continue in your course so will yours bring you. But, in this point beloved you differ mightily for the apostles ascended from a tree into heaven where I am afraid you will never come but as their deaths were compensated with eternal glory yours will be rewarded with eternal shame and misery unless you mend your manners. —Methodist Magazine for February 1797

 

Fascinating.

Man, I am not sure why but in the last 24 hours I have been a part of several conversations, posts and texts which reference the band Drivin N Cryin. It could be a flashback to great collegiate times, or it could be that it’s the lead singer’s birthday.  Which I am not even sure how I even know!

Anyway, the guy is a great lyricst and as a tribute, here are some Kevn Kinney lyrics, that seem appropriate for this blog! Sing along.. you can think about today.

Look what you’ve done to your brother lately
Look what you’ve done, look what you’ve done
Look what you’ve done to your brother lately, lately, lately

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4 ESV