“Remember the gospel again; hear his humble plea in the garden, see his blood-stained brow, hear the whip crack as it tears his back, smell the scent of blood that fills the air as he is hoisted up upon the tree, hear him cry in agony as the wrath you deserve is poured out upon him, and he is forsaken.

Then let his words sink deeply into your soul, “It is finished.” All that he had come to do, all that you needed him to do, he has done for you.

Feel the earth tremble, hear the curtain that separated you from the presence of God tear.

Think about that kind of love and welcome, let your heart weep before him, and kiss him in worship as you humble yourself, loving him much.

Now, let the love that’s overflowing in your heart eventuate in true obedience, put off your old, dead, loveless ways of living, and let the love that has been poured into your heart by the Holy Spirit create true holiness of life.”

(from Counsel from the Cross, by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Dennis Johnson)

Amen.