Today is a day to--

Pause.

To stop... From casually, flippantly, hurriedly-- jumping to the joy of Easter-rejoicing. But to really stop. And not skim over the sacrifice that was made at the Cross, On that horrendous Good Friday so long ago.

So please pause with me for a moment and let our hearts and our minds take in the sufferings of Jesus.

"For six long hours he hung there before a gazing crowd, naked, and bleeding from head to foot-- His head pierced with thorns, His back lacerated with flogging, His hands and feet torn with nails, And mocked and reviled by His cruel enemies to the very last. Let us meditate frequently on these things: ...that all these horrible sufferings were borne without a murmur; no word of impatience crossed our Lord's lips. In His death, no less than in His life, He was perfect. To the very last, Satan had no hold on Him (John 14:30)." ~J.C. Ryle

And for what? For whom did He endure this suffering?

"Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer." ~Isaiah 53:10

"He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all--" ~Romans 8:32

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." ~2 Cor. 5:21

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." ~John 3:16

This hymn, written by Philip P. Bliss back in 1875, is one of my favorite Easter songs. Please take just a minute and read the words with me and then in the comments below, let's use this online space to give thanks to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave all of Himself, so that we might gain everything worth anything.

"Man of Sorrows! what a name For the Son of God, Who came Ruined sinners to reclaim. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude, In my place condemned He stood; Sealed my pardon with His blood. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we; Spotless Lamb of God was He; Full atonement can it be? Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die; "It is finished!" was His cry; Now in heaven exalted high. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King, All His ransomed home to bring, Then anew His song we'll sing: Hallelujah! What a Savior!"

Praising Him with you,

Kara @ The Chuppies