Easter Day - (Happy Birthday Frances)

Happy Easter - and Birthday Frances!

 

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

Fortieth day of Lent - A New Heaven and a New Earth

 

Heaven's Gates by Marco Brambilla

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21

We all know that when we see Creation, we see the immense handiwork of the Creator.  It cannot be copied.  Everything is so vivid, amazing, three dimensional, multi sensory.  This to me is heaven. But it was also Eden.  

We will return to the future.

PRAYER: Where you are, there is beauty.  We stand amazed. Your people will be part of this beauty.

Thirty Ninth Day of Lent - Titus - Good Friday

 

Corpus Hypercubus, by Salvador Dali 
Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit NIV Titus 3:5

Not the cross.  Such an ugly thing.  Anything but a cross.  In the west we have got used to it.  What if it was an electric chair? Or the guillotine.  A symbol of faith?  But we are forced to watch; pushed up against the bars.  We must see, we must put our fingers in the flesh wound. We must hear the groans, and the last gasp of oxygen.  We must feel the silence, the despair and the deep pain in the pit of our stomach.  There is no alternative.  We must be brave. 

PRAYER: Help us through this day. When we suffer with you.  When we suffer with all we love.  May we stay a wake and be there with you as you die.

Thirty Eighth Day of lent - Lamb of God

 

Ghent Altarpiece

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” John 1

Enter our man.  We are up against tyranny and injustice.  Our man enters as a lamb.  A lamb threatens no one.  A lamb is innocence itself.  Where is the power in a lamb? 

Our man is far more than a lamb.  He is also 'the Lion of Judah'.  He is the ancient of days.  He is the first and the last.  He is the prince of peace.  

Jesus comes with authority and truth.  Nothing can stand against the truth.  The truth comes with righteousness and love.  This provides life to the truth.  

Jesus is cut down.  He is taken advantage of.  He is slaughtered. But the truth prevails, and rises up.  It is not defeated.  It lives forever.  

PRAYER:  We join you as lambs. Children of the living God. Without power, but surrounded by your power.