Everlasting 33
A Good Friday reflection on the One who saved me
One of my favorite feelings lives in Spring mornings. Stepping out onto my patio, concrete warm on my bare feet, letting the sun land on my not so gorgeous bedhead, listening to the morning birds, taking that first sip of coffee. In total I maybe spend five minutes out there. Sometimes less…my dogs are needy in the AM. But the consistency of that small act is what makes it matter. And I think about why.
I woke up. Air filled my lungs. My legs carried me to the patio door, opening it wide to feel the breeze on my skin. The Chickadee that lands on my bird feeder every morning is a small reminder that all creatures live and breathe through Him alone.
I’ve shared a bit of my testimony in a prior post, which I’ll link below if you’re interested. But I wanted to sit here for a moment and write something reflective — about the gratitude we seldom show, even when we think we’re showing up. Are we showing up authentically?
A Branch of the Vine
So vividly, I remember music class in middle school. My teacher, Mrs.Lafluentes, was not exactly what you’d call gentle. She was firm, no nonsense, and deeply committed to teaching a room full of bratty middle schoolers Catholic hymns we absolutely did not appreciate at the time. In retrospect, her dedication was admirable. At ten years old, I was mostl…
Gratitude begins and ends in our actions. Our actions are a direct reflection of how we are processing what we believe. I’ll be the first to admit I am far from perfect, and I find myself slowing down more intentionally to realign as a Daughter of the Creator. We are called to act. But how we act is the defining factor.
It’s hard to say you wholeheartedly love God without loving your neighbor, even when that’s difficult. You cannot say you are walking with Jesus if you are not in His Word and in prayer daily. My pastor makes a great analogy: you cannot say you have a good marriage if you do not speak to your spouse daily. That same sentiment goes for our marriage to Christ.
As I got older, and before my relationship with Jesus was as deeply rooted as it is today, I used to wonder what makes people want to share so much about their faith. I always felt like if someone wanted to come to Christ, they’d find their way on their own. But now I feel a roaring obligation to share my gratitude with anyone with ears to listen, or in this case, eyes to read. I want the people around me, and those far, to develop the same love I have for my faith. The love that overflows and allows you to live a meaningful, intentional life.
Every Easter during Holy Week, I find myself reading through the crucifixion through the lens of each Gospel. I wanted to share the passages that have been sitting on my heart this year.
Matthew 27:51
“Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.”
Jesus was the bridge between the Old Testament covenant and the new one. This moment…we were given direct access to the Lord. With forgiveness, boldness, the ability to come before Him and feel righteous not because of anything we did, but because of who He is.
We are not forced or restrained to choose the path of Christ. We have a gracious Creator who blessed us with freewill. But choosing to walk as a Christian allows you to bear fruit you would never bloom otherwise. When we invite Jesus into our home, our heart, our finances, our friendships, we are overflowed with abundance. He knocks. We must answer.
We do this in daily actions. Before jumping into the world each morning, rise with intention and fill your mind with prayer. Think before you speak. Represent Christ in your words. Pray for your friends, and even for someone you may not see eye to eye with.
My pastor jokes that he’s heard people say they have trouble hearing God speak to them. His rebuttal: “Are you reading your Bible?” Touché. We have direct access to the Word of God. Again, we must answer.
John 19:28
“After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now finished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, he said, ‘I’m thirsty.’”
In John, the crucifixion account returns again and again to one phrase: so that the Scripture will be fulfilled. As an all knowing God, Jesus knew His fate. He was God…the ending could have been different. He could have altered it. Yet He chose not to, so that the veil would be torn and we could come humbly in a daily, intimate relationship.
Like a loving parent, and a watchful Shepherd, He ensured the plan came to fruition before His own needs were met. Like a marriage, He chose this out of love, so that we might choose Him over the flesh of this world. For an eternity of life by His side.
In John, recurring wording of this writing of the crucification is many times it is mentioned so that the Scripture will be fulfilled. As an all knowing God, Jesus knew His fate. Heck, he was God, the finality could have had a different result, the Lord Himself could have altered the ‘ending’ of his life. Yet He chose to do so, so that the veil may be torn — allowing us direct access to the Father, and be able to come humbly before him for a daily, intimate relationship.
Like a marriage, He chose to do this out of love, so that we may choose Him over the flesh of this world for an eternity of life by His side.
Luke 23:39-42
“Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other answered, rebuking him: ‘Don’t you even fear God...We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.’”
This man has done nothing wrong. At 33 years old, God in flesh ‘cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.’ In the most gruesome manner, a perfect man was erased from the Earth He created.
The criminal next to Christ asks to be remembered him when He comes into His Kingdom. And Jesus says yes.
It’s funny, most of Christianity, at least for me, has been a long series of questions of why. Yet the answer is actually quite simple: because He loves us. God created us in His image. Like a parent who would give their life for their child, He gave His only Son.
I’m not a philosopher or a theologian. But I can feel in my heart that the reason we are meant to walk with Jesus is because the love He so deeply carries for us is meant to be shared with those around us in this lifetime, with a genuine desire for them to be filled with that same love, and to be alongside them when our days on Earth are no longer.
As if there aren’t a million reasons to draw closer to the Lord, I pray that your eyes are opened to the blessings that have been bestowed on you without you even realizing it. Every answered prayer you wrote off as coincidence…that was God meeting you exactly where your needs were.
I pray this Easter slows you down to recognize and reinvent the relationship you have with the Most High, and the One who wants best for you. In this lifetime, and forever.
Happy early Easter, my sweet friends. I pray you enjoyed this post.
Sam this was beautiful! such a beautiful reminder to commune with the Father always and remain anchored in Him. from there flows all good things!!!