The Creator God Shows Us Courage Through the Cross This Lenten season we studied the 7 places Jesus bled while on the cross to cleanse us from all our sins. Each place, His head, His hands, His side, His back and His feet are demonstrations of God’s great love for us. Each one repaired the chasm between humanity and God once and for all. Since Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden the Creator God set into motion His plan of salvation. He knew how the chasm between the Triune God and humanity would be repaired. This Holy Week we follow Jesus along His journey to the Cross. A journey He takes willingly. One He must take alone. His courage is on display as He hangs on the Cross. On this night of Holy Week, Maundy Thursday Jesus gave His disciples, and to us today, a commandment - “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 Jesus demonstrated love for us when He willingly sacrificed His life to save us from sin, and from ourselves. He gave the full measure of love. He courageously showed love in each of the seven places He bled on the Cross. If you have turned your back to God, see the blood from His back cleansing you as you turn back towards Him. If you have done things you are ashamed of, see His nail pierced hands washing you clean. If you have walked away from God, believing you didn’t need Him, see His feet with nails in them walking to meet you, wherever you are. If you have thoughts you are ashamed of, or words spoken from anger, pain or pride; know the crown of thorns cleanses you, so you can fix your thoughts on Him. If your heart has strayed from Him, know that the wound in His side brings our hearts in right relationship with Him and the Creator God. Seven wounds. Seven displays of courage. Our response to His command - to love one another as He loves us. No, we are not being asked to give up our lives. But we are told to set aside judgments so we may courageously love one another. To see each other as God sees, beloved children of His. It is not always easy. It does require trust in God and humility to learn from the Holy Spirit. Courage is given to us by the Creator God. This holy night hear Jesus say “I love you”. See His courage by His wounds. It is by His wounds that you are healed. Go now with courage loving one another. Family, friends, neighbors, co-workers. Love without condition, without judgment. Be courageous, in humility, just as Jesus showed all of us through His courage on the Cross. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” ~John 13:13-15 ~Pastor Vicki Epper
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