[Listen to the sound file while you read — two inches to the right of this line on this page, marked “Aubre’s Gift”]
Preparing Our Hearts for Good Friday and Easter
The Savior Dies On the Cross for Our Sin.
Adapted from the accounts of
Mt 27:49-56; Mk 15:37-41; Lk 23:44-49
The Temple Veil is Torn in Two.
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice,
“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!”
Having said this, He breathed His last, and yielded up His spirit.
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
When the centurion and those who were with Him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said,
“Truly this was the Son of God!”
And the centurion praised God, saying,
“Certainly this man was innocent!”
And the crowds assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.
There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome, and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. And there were also many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Devotional
Isaac Watts poured out in song the appropriate response of the believing heart to the cross of Christ.
When I survey the wondrous cross,
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.
See, from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down,
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Text by: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
“Prince of Glory, Lord of Life, Your love is so stunning in its perfection. Help me to daily preach the cross to my soul. Help me to live always in the shadow of Your sacrifice for me. Help me to give my soul, my life, my all in loving and faithful service to You. Lord of Life, be my life. For the spread of Your fame, Amen.”
An excerpt from Experience the Passion of Christ by Marty Schoenleber, Jr.
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