Christian Response

When Christ cries out “IT IS FINISHED” it is really just the beginning.  It is the beginning of a whole new way of living out our lives of faith.  We know now that there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from God’s love.  We have a savior who walks with us in the most complete way.  We have a savior who has experienced the heights and the depths of the human experience and has redeemed them all.  How are we going to walk into life each day not only knowing this reality, but living out this reality?  There is something amiss somewhere along the line, but the below link well take you to the video.  Just copy and paste it and go to the site!  God’s peace!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_DgtYx9H_0&feature=youtu.be

“Were you there” is a powerful song that invites us into the events of these Holy Days.  As you listen and reflect, what are some of the ways that you have “seen” Jesus alive and well in your life?  These can be events or people that you have seen the hand of God shaping and giving you hope and new life.

So what in the world is so “good” about today?  In a word–EVERYTHING!  This is the day that we remember the death of Christ and on surface level that is horrible.  But, his death marks the beginning of the whole world order changing.  Everything we assumed about life, God, faith, the way things work has been turned upside down.  It forces us to remember this newness that Christ gives to us.  We can never assume that things must remain as they are, because we have a God who has died and makes things alive again and again.  This is the pattern not just of this day, but of our lives as Christians!

“New Again” is a beautiful song by Brad Paisley and Sarah Evans.  It is the Passion Story told through the eyes of Jesus’ mother Mary.  As you watch this video, what is it in your life that needs to be made new again?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ7oAhYNEhg

Have we ever stopped to think, really stopped to think, what it means that Jesus served?  I think we all would recognize that a Lord should never serve those that are underneath him.  That being said what does that mean for how we live our daily lives?  Back in the days when Lord’s seriously did “lord” their authority over others and sat around being served in castles, that was the ideal.  That was the lifestyle to be desired–“the good life”.  Jesus isn’t like that.  The lifestyle he lifts up reverses this.  The ideal is humbly serving, loving–not judging and jockeying for a better station in the eyes of others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPZ_e4wWqr8&feature=youtu.be

Jesus came as a friend of sinners.  He is our friend.  What does that mean for how we live our lives, bearing in mind the loving service that we are called to each day?  Reflect on this as you listen to this song from Casting Crowns: