From Diana Westfall, Missionary Care Director
Brothers and sisters,
This day is one of simultaneous weeping and rejoicing brought about by our remembrance and ever-growing understanding of the events of “Good Friday.” I encourage you to press into both of these expressions of gratitude, as well as any other you find yourself drawn into by the Spirit. Be assured that you’ll be in good company as you reflect and respond.
Today, we reach the apex of Holy Week and prepare for its resolution. Let us all celebrate in the power of communion and proclaim the Lord’s death (1 Corinthians 11:26).
“Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10, CSB)
As I reflect on my experiences with God, it’s so abundantly clear all the ways I loved God for who I wanted Him to be, but I didn’t love Him for who He simply is.
One of the greatest human fears – if not the absolute greatest – is to find ourselves facing a circumstance that is truly too much for us. When we find ourselves in over our heads, with no amount of strength sufficient enough to get us out, we realize we are not enough. We don’t have the cleverness, the power, or the might. We are just too limited, and we see how inadequate we actually are for the reality of what is in front of us.
In our realization, terrible fears overcome us because we understand that without help, all there is for us is death. We think that we fear the circumstances bringing us to this experience, but we really fear the death awaiting us in the places of panic and sure defeat. We fear not being enough, and we fear the absence of anyone else who maybe, just maybe has what we don’t. These moments expose an incredibly deep longing within us for a god, something supernatural to be proven greater than the ends of all natural capabilities. The fear that this god doesn’t exist or can’t be reached quickly siphons away every ounce of hope we might have.
And then, in my greatest hour of need facing my deepest longings and fears, I was met by God. I will never know what it is to cry out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” I will never taste the reality of fear.
My God is the one who has tasted every form of death that I have or ever will know in this human life. And then He went and gave Himself so that I would be spared from the absolute worst, unending pain.
I proclaim the Lord’s death until He returns because He didn’t wait until I came to my senses to pursue me. He didn’t wait for the world to want Him for who He is. To the unbelievable contrary, He subjected Himself to the greatest injustice so that the power of sin and death separating us from the promises made available in His presence would be forever made powerless.
The earth groaned. And the veil was torn.
Creation wept, and it simultaneously rejoiced. It cried out at the horrific atrocities completed in the fullness of all the power evil has. And it cried out to witness the most unbearably true demonstration of what love actually means, completed and finished. Not an idea to be spoken of, but an experience to be lived.
This is how fiercely He wants to be with us. This is how unquenchably He desires to be intimately known by us.
This is a defining revelation of God’s mysteries over the ages now revealed in Christ – the firstborn He lost with the tenth plague in Exodus; the cornerstone set to hold together all of creation who was never met by Job; the prophet, the priest, the messiah awaited who would deliver us out of the futility that is fighting the power of death in this world.
We expected a human, set apart and made worthy. We never expected Yahweh to take on our human flesh. Walk, live, and die among us. Face every power we contend with, while sharing in all of our same limitations. How could He do such a thing? Why would he do such a thing?
This is God’s response to every human heart’s protest to its own suffering. We can know our God who suffers with us and for us, when truly He is the only one entitled to exemption.
So here we are, with a shared faith which has come because we have tasted and seen that this God – out of all there is to exist or be dreamt up – this One is Good.
This day is good.
Be blessed, brothers and sisters, and know God.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.”
(Matthew 5:3-10, CSB)