Overwhelmed by His Love

Jesus Prays for Himself

¹After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.²For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. ⁵And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. John 17: 1-5

As I reflect on this Holy Week and think about today that we refer to as Good Friday. It certainly wasn't a Good Friday on that dark day 2000 years ago. I can only imagine that it was dismal, filled with pain, confusion, anger, hostility but in the midst of all that their was a glimmer of hope, a ray of light, an overwhelming love that pushed through all the physical pain to endure the cross knowing what the final result would mean for the rest of humankind. Jesus took all our sin upon him so that we would not be separated from him. I love the words of the song "Amazed" by Jared Anderson, "Lord, I'm amazed by you. Lord, I'm amazed by you. Lord, I'm amazed by you and how you love me."

Many years ago I remember visiting a local church in our area that was having an outdoor Easter display. You drove through the parking lot listening to a tape recorder annoucement as you went from scene to scene. It was taking you through the different events in the life of Jesus and others chronicled in The Bible. Finally as the car approached the Cruxifiction scene. I was sitting on the side of the car closest to the cross. I had the window rolled down and as I looked at the scene- my eyes met with Jesus as he hung on the cross. I can tell you that in that moment I felt as though I had been transported back to that faithful day (you will notice I didn't say fateful day). It was a day of Faith- Jesus was Faithful to us. I felt as though I was looking right into Jesus' eyes. I could feel the love and compassion. It was like I could hear Jesus saying to me "I saw you, I did this for you." Even though I wasn't alive then, I wasn't even a thought to those who know me know, but I was a thought to God and Jesus and so were you.

As you go about your day today will you think on this? Will you strain to hear Jesus say, "I saw you when I was on the cross. I did this for you because I LOVE YOU." Have you been overwhelmed by the love of Jesus? Have you met him in a personal way? If not, then why not come today. The ground at the foot of the cross is level and all are welcome. Jesus is waiting with arms open wide saying "Come just as you are." You will experience the overwhelming love of Jesus and imagine how exciting Sunday will be as you experience the Resurrection of Jesus for the first time. There is nothing like it and it never gets old but I think there is something extra special about experiencing it for the first time. Jesus knew what needed to be done and He choose the will of his Father over his own. I am so grateful that he did. Thank you Jesus for loving me enough to die for me. I am overwhelmed by your love.