Holy Week

So, I have many random thoughts about what I have read so I'm afraid that my paragraphs don't flow very well together, and it's kind of long so apologies in advance :)

First off I would like to say how I love the simplicity of these stories. They are so descriptive and have shown me the little details of these stories that I have previously missed. Its simpleness helps me to remember all that Jesus has done for me, and it shows what everybody at that time was thinking about the events that took place. In our "grown up" Bible I feel like the disciples' (and others) responses are often left out or I just skip over them, but because of the simplicity and description used, I was able to see their reactions. I love how it said that the women screamed because they couldn't help it. I don't know exactly what my reaction would have been if I was there, but I'm sure that a scream definitely would have been involved. It totally makes the story relate to me so much more.

In John 14:10 it says, "The words I say to you are not my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work." When I read this verse it immediately reminded me of what we talked about this weekend about how we might be the only Jesus some of these campers ever see because of him living through us. It is not only our actions that should represent and be from God, but our words too. Everything we say should not be our own words, but God's.

In the first two sections it talks about all of our sin and pain was poured into Jesus' heart, and by him dying his heart tore apart so that ours could heal. Our brokenness was put on Jesus and completely taken away from us when he died so that our own hearts could heal because of our faith in him. Our forgiveness cannot be earned, and there is nothing we can do to heal our own brokenness. Only through Jesus can our hearts be healed, which is incredible!

In the first section it talks about Jesus' blood washing away our sins and making us clean, which happens to be my favorite picture ever! It goes against everything we have ever learned. Blood cannot make anything cleaner than it was. It's impossible. But Jesus' blood and his death is what makes us clean and pure. Every time I hear or read this I'm am struck by how backwards it seems, but how that is truly how we are saved!

I love how in the endnotes it keeps repeating something along the lines of "not my will, but your's be done" when Jesus was praying in the garden before he was arrested. Jesus didn't want to die. He wanted something and he asked for it, but he realized that it wasn't up to him. This is such a great reminder to me in my daily life. The things I want are not necessarily what God wants for me and I need to remember that. His plan is so much greater than anything we could ever imagine and if he were to give us everything we wanted his plan couldn't be executed in our lives.

Also, in the third section it says, "Jesus could have just climbed down...it wasn't the nails that kept Jesus there. It was love." Jesus easily could have abandoned this plan and not died, but he stayed for us. This reminded me of something my pastor shared with us last year. He read John 17:20 which says, "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message." At the time Jesus was dying, he knew every single one of us, and he loved us so much that he died for us. It's incredible to think that 2000 years before we were even born Jesus prayed specifically for all who would ever know him, aka for us!

In the last section Jesus said, "Even though you won't be able to see me anymore, I will never leave you. No! Not ever! I will be with you. Yes! Always and forever!" I have never seen Jesus, but I have seen him move in incredible ways. He isn't here for us to physically see, but I love that we can take comfort in the fact that he is always here in our hearts! No matter what we are doing (school, talking to friends or campers, or pulling ski runs) Jesus is with us!

Sorry this post is so long! There is so much goodness in this and I just had lots to say. You are all in my prayers and I hope everybody is doing well!