This past weekend, I spent time reflecting on the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on that cross. During this reflection, the magnitude of his sacrifice finally hit me. I got to thinking about times I’ve sinned and the humiliation, guilt, and hurt I’ve felt afterwards. Then I tried to imagine feeling that for not only myself in all of the sins I’ve committed, but that of my family, my friends. I couldn’t even try to grasp that amount of pure shame. But Jesus, he did. And he didn’t do it for only his friends and family, but for the world. He took on everyone’s hurt. Any time anyone has felt dirty, ashamed, mean, broken down, warry, He felt it all. What he was feeling was made clear when he cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). In that moment, he was separated from the perfection and equality of the Lord, feeling the weight of the world’s sin on his shoulders. Can you imagine what that would feel like? I can’t.
And then, three days later, despite everything the world put Him through on that cross, He came back. What kind of love must that be to come back to the people who hurt you the most?
It’s a kind of love that we’re undeserving of. It’s pure, absolute, love. Easter is such a beautiful time for believers. It’s a time for rejoicing in this love that was poured out to us by Jesus Christ.
I pray that everyone had a beautiful Easter weekend and that this Easter Monday is full of the love of Christ. I pray that for the coming year, we all try to emulate the selfless love that Jesus so willingly gave us and that we can show it to others around us.
Happy Easter Monday, friends!
