23. The Surrender of Love
Wednesday 13th March
(for more details see here)
Pause:
“Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity,
we shall harness for God the energies of love,
and then, for a second time in the history of the world,
we will have discovered fire.”
Teilhard De Chardin
May the blessing of light be upon you, light on the outside and light on the inside.
With God's sunlight shining on you, may your heart glow with warmth like a turf fire that welcomes friends and strangers alike.
May the light of the Lord shine from your eyes like a candle in the window, welcoming the weary traveller.
May the blessing of God's earth be on you and as you walk the roads, may you always have a kind word for those you meet.
May you understand the strength and power of God in a thunderstorm in winter,
the quiet beauty of creation
and the calm of a summer sunset.
And may you come to realize that insignificant as you may seem in this great universe,
you are an important part of God's plan.
May He watch over you and keep you safe from harm.
TRADITIONAL IRISH BLESSING
Today's reading: John 18. 12-14
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He didn't have to do it.
There have already been a number of attempts on Jesus' life.
-
His hometown tried to throw Him off a cliff...
-
Pharisees have picked up rocks ready for a public execution...
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The Chief Priests would have assassinated Him on a few occasions but were prevented due to the size of the crowds...
But each and every time Jesus has walked away unharmed.
Except here.
Except now.
He didn't have to do this.
Take a moment to think about the sheer power at Jesus' disposal.
-
That voice that has commanded winds and waves, silenced critics, birthed hope and promise, dispatched heaven's healing powers, spoken freedom and forgiveness to scores of people, now says simply: "Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" (John 18. 11)
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Those hands that have sent demons packing, repaired broken bodies with a mere touch, restored life to death-chilled bodies... now offered up to the ropes and chains of a mob of brutal guards...
"Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound Him..." (John 18. 12)
He didn't have to do this.
He chose this.
He chose this.
He surrenders to this.
He drinks the cup His Father has given.
He becomes
"obedient to death...
even death on a cross..." (Phil 2. 8)
Reflection: The Surrender of Love.
Love can be demonstrated in any number of ways - beautiful words, loving attention, focused service, grand gestures, loyalty, provision, compassion - can all take something invisible and clothe it in ways that can be seen, heard, held, known...
But here we see love displayed not just in something precious being given, but in something far more precious being given up.
Ask me how I know God loves me and I can answer from my own experience in countless ways, but ask me how I am confident that God loves everyone and I can answer it definitively. I know it because of this act of surrender, of supreme sacrifice, of life-giving life giving.
Many people can quote John 3:16 - but 1 John 3:16 is far more personal - moving from the love of God from the "world" and the "whosoever" to the "we" and the "us" :
By this we know the love of God: that He laid down His life for us.
1 JOHN 3.16
Make it even more personal - though this letter wasn't written to you, this verse was written for you... take out the "we" and "us" - and read instead:
By this I know the love of God: that He laid down His life for me.
As the old song goes:
He knew me, yet He loved me
He whose glory makes the heavens shine
So unworthy of such mercy
Yet when He was on the cross
I was on His mind
The look of love was on His face
Thorns were on His head
The blood was on His scarlet robe
Stained a crimson red
Though His eyes were on the crowd that day
He looked ahead in time
Cause when He was on the cross
I was on His mind
He knew me, yet He loved me
He whose glory makes the heavens shine
So unworthy of such mercy
Yet when He was on the cross
I was on His mind
Ronald Payne / Ronny Hinson
Questions for today:
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"“Put your sword back in its place... for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
Prayer:
All for me, my Lord surrendered
All for me You freely gave
If I ever lose the wonder
Lead me to Your cross of grace
You surrendered all
You surrendered all
All for me, my blessed Savior
You surrendered all
Based on: I surrender all
(Winfield Scott Weeden)
I prayed this.
My prayer for today: (if you would like to, please feel free to add your own prayer here):