Sometime, I think we disconnect the events of Jesus’ final week on earth because we don’t always see or have a complete narrative in one place (one must read and associate the recorded stories in the four Gospels.)  Jesus and His disciples weren’t just sitting around waiting for Thursday, Friday…or Sunday(!).

I was looking around at lunch and found several Passion Week timelines online, but this one from BibleGateway.com was pretty cool.

I like how it shows the different events, participants, times, places, etc.

(image link @biblegateway.com)

This is an amazing week – why not prayerfully consider and reflect upon all that Christ did, endured, and accomplished each day rather then just one or two!

It’s Tuesday…but Sunday’s comin’!

ps: having written this post and now reflecting on Christ’s week, my post from yesterday seems wimpy and whiny…

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To The Cross
Jason Ingram | Paul Baloche

Where can I go but to the cross
To the cross
For there my shame You have washed away
Where can I go but to the cross
To the cross
For there You gave up Your life for me

You stretched Your arms out wide
I lift my hands up high, to my Savior
You stretched Your arms out wide
I lift my hands up high, to my Savior

So Lord I run to the cross
To the cross
Surrender all to my Savior King
Be my ev’rything

Chains are broken
Shame has fallen
All my sins are gone
Chains are broken
Shame has fallen
All my sins are gone

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“Present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness”
Romans 6:13

I took this picture a few months ago as I was running some errands – I was at a stoplight and it just caught my eye. Now, every time I pass it, one of my favorite Vicky Beeching songs – The Wonder of the Cross – comes to mind.

Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all!

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The Wonder Of The Cross
Lyrics by Vicky Beeching

O precious sight my Savior stands
Dying for me with outstretched Hands
O precious sight I love to gaze
Remembering salvation’s day
Remembering salvation’s day
Though my eyes linger on this scene
May passing time and years
Not steal the pow’r with which it impacts me
The freshness of its mystery
The freshness of its mystery

Behold the God-man crucified
The perfect sinless Sacrifice
As Blood ran down those nails and wood
History was split in two
Yes history was split in two
Behold the empty wooden tree
His Body gone alive and free
We sing with everlasting joy
For sin and death have been destroyed
Yes sin and death have been destroyed

May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
May I see it like the first time
Standing as a sinner lost
Undone by mercy and left speechless
Watching wide eyed at the cost
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross

I tried to keep this service close to an “unplugged” level, using only keyboard on some songs (Pastor John) and acoustic guitar (me) on all.

My prayer and desire was to really make the service a time to personalize what Christ went through/accomplished that day so long ago – a lot of You (God & Christ) and me/I/my/us lyrics. Since there is typically a mix of Christian and non-Christians in attendance at this service, I wanted all in attendance to know Christ’s death was for them – whether it was a reminder or a realization/revelation.

Set List:

• Here I Am To Worship [Hughes]
• Above All [LeBlanc/Baloche] (I had Dan [great bass voice!] read the verse and we came in on the chorus)
• VIDEO (Wonderful Cross)
• Because of Your Love [Wickham]
• At The Cross [Butler]
• Special Music (me): True Love [Wickham]
• Service Closer: The Wonderful Cross [Watts,Walt,Reeves,Mason,Tomlin]

I originally had planned to use a video background for the special music.  When I showed it to my wife, she liked it, but said that it may be distracting.  After thinking and praying about it, I listened to her!  I really wanted people to focus on the deep lyrics and the video probably would have detracted from them.  The video (which is a powerful interpretation of the song) is below.

I think the service went well – I pray it was a good time of reflection and remembrance, even realization and revelation. [I am always critical of myself...but Karen said I did fine.]

amen

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O Gracious Savior,

On this day when You died so long ago for my past, present, and future sins, my heart is thankful, humbled, and in awe. On my “best” day, I am unworthy of such kindness; yet You, who were sinless and perfect, paid the price I should have paid – out of Your love for filthy and imperfect me.

What can I give You in response to such love?  What is sufficient to show my gratitude?  The greatest I have to offer is me…everything…all of me.  So kind Savior, I lay myself at Your feet – broken and filthy – but perfect in Your kind eyes.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You – for You alone are worthy of my praise and undying affection in response to Your great love.

“Thank You” seems such an inadequate phrase for such unconditional, pure, holy, and (some would say) crazy love…but THANK YOU.

dennis

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Because of Your Love
Phil Wickham

Jesus you endured my pain
Savior you bore all my shame
All because of your love
All because of your love

Maker of the universe
Broken for the sins of the earth
All because of your love
All because of your love

Because of your cross my debt is paid
Because of you blood my sins are washed away
Now all of my life, I freely give
Because of your love, Because of your love I live

Innocent and Holy kind
You died to set the captive free
All because of your love
Lord you gave your life for me
So I will give my life for you
All because of your love
All because of your love

Because of your cross my debt is paid
Because of your blood my sins are washed away
Now all of my life I freely give
Because of your love, because your love I live

You did it for me, you did it for love
I’ts your victory, Jesus you are enough

Because of your cross my debt is paid
Because of your blood my sins are washed away
Now all of my life I freely give
Because of your love, because your love I live

cx