Numbness…

 Numbness….

Last night our church held the Good Friday Service…

We entered a silent building, lights dimmed, curtains pulled, soft music playing, with scrolling Bible verses on the screen, quiet…

The choir, dressed in black entered silently, took their places…expectation…

Songs sung, words spoken of Jesus’ death on the cross…tears shed…

As this is also the anniversary of my husband’s death…it was a bit more touching…we knew he was on dying and the expectation was there…we just didn’t know how long he had or even what it would be like…

The crowd that gathered for Jesus’ death must have been numb, angry, celebrating…depending on which group you identified with…his mother watching as her son suffered…his disciples wondering what in the world is happening…the naysayers still saying “crucify him…” the military men, casting lots for the clothing…the religious leaders, finally getting rid of that rebel and trouble maker…a myriad of emotions…

Then the darkness, the temple curtain ripping , the earthquake, the thirst…the forgiveness…

The loud cry, “ it is finished!”, the final painful breath, the body relaxing in death…

 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,“They divided my garments among them,and for my clothing they cast lots.”

So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:23-30

Thank YOU….

Christ our hope in life and death…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OibIi1rz7mw&pp=ygUhQ2hyaXN0IG91ciBob3BlIGluIGxpZmUgYW5kIGRlYXRo

Living hope…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u-1fwZtKJSM&pp=ygUYbGl2aW5nIGhvcGUgcGhpbCB3aWNraGFt

Run to the Father…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CoPaP2yQLC4&list=OLAK5uy_k0FQzhoe271uCXWuRaC2GhPAmGxH6nnGY&index=2

God so loved…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jasoo3UDSwY

Man on the middle cross…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce5vYpRpK9U