Matthew 20:18-19 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death;  then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified;and on the third day he will be raised.”

He knew.  He went in knowing what was coming.

I have a friend who is a non-believer.  I remember a few years ago when we were talking about my faith he expressed how brutal Christianity is.  We hung our Lord on a cross and crucified him.  He claims he wants no part of that brutality.  I can understand that feeling, really and truly I can.

This morning as I meditated on the coming week I thought about my kids.  Would I sacrifice my life for my kids?  Of course I would!  Would I want to die, would I be wishing for another way, you bet I would.  If it came right down to it, would I be willing to die so my children could live?  Yes.

This is only a glimpse of what God’s love is for us.  Jesus was God incarnate.  He came to teach us, just as human parents teach their children.  He loved us and taught us and knew there needed to be more given so that we, his children, might live.  He willingly went forth into the clutches of the enemy, knowing he would be killed.  He did it for us, his kids.

As we move into this holy week of remembrance, I hope the Lord reminds us of our love for each other and uses that as a tool to open our eyes in newer and deeper ways to his love for us.

Lord,

Help me be compassionate to those who do not see or know your love.  Remove my impatience with them and guide me to show them your love in ways that serve you. Help me see them as your children, and my sisters and brothers.  Change their hearts Lord; change my heart too.  I ask these things for your glory and in your honor.  I thank you for your sacrifice of life so that we can live.  I praise you that we can claim victory and live in celebration each day because of you.  All praise, glory, and honor are yours now and forever.  Amen

Isaiah 48:21 “They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock, he split open the rock and the water gushed out.”

God is a God of miracles.

Throughout history he has provided and rescued.  He has brought wrath, instructed and guided, and so many times by the use of miracles.

We cannot explain or understand how water could come from a rock or how water can create a wall in a river bed.  We cannot explain how a baby can be born of a virgin or how death on a cross can bring forgiveness for all.

There are also daily miracles: the growth of a child, our body healing from sickness, a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.  These are harder to notice for sure, yet, no less a miracle.  We are tarnished, battered, and sometimes broken but we can hold hope in our hearts in spite of that with messages like this one.

They did not thirst... water gushed out.

What miracle will you witness today?

Lord,

Thank you for your abundant love and thank you for all of the miracles you create to speak to us and to give your love and life to us.  Open our eyes this day to see the miracles we would have missed.  Help us to drink your gushing water so we may no longer be thirsty.  All glory and honor are yours, forever.  Amen.