To All our Church Family and Friends of Heritage, Welcome to Passion Week 2022, I woke up one day last week with this Andre Crouch song on my heart, actually it was like a broken record playing over and over in my head but I didn’t mind.
I don't know why Jesus loved me
I don't know why He cared
I don't know why He sacrificed His life
Oh, but I'm glad, so glad He did
He left His mighty throne in glory
To bring to us redemption's story
Then He died just for you and me
Oh, but I'm glad, so glad He did.
THE SECOND STANZA IS WHAT RESURRECTION WEEK IS ALL ABOUT
He left His mighty throne in glory
To bring, to us redemption story
And then He died but He Rose Again
Just for you and me
Oh, but I'm glad, I'm glad He did.
This is a good week to think about the question that is answered in this song, WHERE WOULD I BE IF JESUS DIDN’T LOVE ME?
Jesus is the first-fruit of them that sleep, His resurrection opens up the door for those who believe in Him to have hope beyond this world. It is one thing for people to say, “I believe in Jesus” but another thing to say, “I know him”.
In life we sometimes find ourselves relying on Him and the more rely on Him, the better we know Him. When Kyle and Angie went through the loss of Palmyr, it was as though they had been ambushed by the unexpected but I watched them get to know the Lord more because they found themselves relying more on the Lord in their loss. It was not something that can be taught so much as something they had to love through together. As their father and father in law I watched as the each grieved differently. Their experience was like reading a journal on broken hearts and with all they were going through they still had to live life coming their way day after day.
Good Scripture seem to fall on hard ground but in the back of their minds they had to come to their own resolution, “that all things work together for good to them, who love God.” I have watched as the years go by as they are from time to time ambushed emotionally. It can be just a memory or a picture on the refrigerator or the mention of her name. I have to admit to drive by the cemetery where she is buried is easy and often I just pull in and set there for a while where she is buried at the foot of her great grandmother. It is a little easier when I have someone in the car with me. One of the best things I learned from Kyle and Angie is they kept on moving, there faith was forward moving and this is a good lesson for all of us. One day we will all disappear but this is not the end, remember Jesus was the first fruit of those whom God would raise from the dead. (Jesus Resurrection is our Connection with Heaven.)
No Slain Lamb, No Blood Sacrifice
No Shed Blood, No Sin Sacrifice
No Sin Sacrifice, No Salvation
No Salvation, No Overcoming Life
No Overcoming Life, No Eternal Victory
No Victory, No Release for those in Captivity
No Release, No Freedom from Sins Tyranny
No Freedom, No Triumph Over Death, Hell and the Grave
No Triumph Over the Grave, Death has the Final Word
But Jesus is the Word made flesh, Who dwelled among us and He is the final Word the Amen, the Omega, The First and the Last, The Source of Life itself and He is Risen Indeed.
And the song still plays loudly in my mind:
He left His mighty throne in glory
To bring, to us redemption story
And then He died but He Rose Again
Just for you and me
Yes, and I am glad that He did. Happy Easter to you and yours.
Pastor Cleddie and GayNell
(Don’t Miss Next Friday Night, The New Video Presentation of Hope for the Hopeless, with Billy Price)
We bless you today with the love of the Lord and at the same time we are blessed by you and your faithfulness to the work of God.