Saturday April 15 2017  I WAS THERE

“Were you there when they crucified our Lord” are lyrics from a famous song about the crucifixion of Christ.   I listened to the song a few moments ago and an interesting thought crossed my mind.  Yes, I suppose I was there when our Lord was crucified.  He died for my sins, His spilled blood made it possible for me to enter into His presence for eternity.  He took the sins and world upon His shoulders as he hung from the cross.  It was because of my sin that He died.  If my sin caused His death, then yes, I was there and just like you, we all contributed to the fact that Christ died so that all man could come unto him.  Even if you have not repented or accepted Him into your life He still died for you to make eternal life possible for you too.

When I partake of the sacraments as a reminder that Christ’s body was broken for me and that His blood was spilled for my cleansing, I am again transported to that fateful hour when in agony Jesus called out to God saying,

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me”.  Matthew 27:46b 

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit.  At that moment the the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  The earth shook and the rocks split”. Matthew 27:50-51

When the curtain, also referred to as the veil, split in two the the doorway of heaven opened.  And it was once again possible that man could be reunited with the One who created all men.  It was possible to again live in His presence for eternity.  Each communion is a reminder of His death and suffering.  And each Easter Sunday is the proclamation once again that HE IS RISEN!  My sins were there with Christ when He was nailed to the tree.  My heart of thanksgiving and gratitude is forever with Him as I rejoice in my salvation.

WAS I THERE?

Kathleen Martens

April 15, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

Was I there when they crucified our Lord?

Was I there to witness His pain?

Though I was yet to be born

My sins on Him were lain.

Was I there when the day turned dark,

And in agony’s ninth hour

Christ cried out in anguish to His Father,

Though God held back His power?

Was I there when Christ was taken away

And laid in a borrowed tomb?

With walls of rock, closed by a stone

So no one could enter “the room”.

Was I there those three days

When Christ was called on a mission

Was I there on the third day

When He once again was risen?

My sin was nailed to the cross,

Though my innocence not yet born.

Only God knew of my hour to come

When my sin would add to His scorn.

But all was ransomed in that moment

When Christ no longer breathed.

I was planned, therefore I had a part

Because He died for me.

Thank You God that my sins were hung on that cross that you bore for me.

GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY YOU REJOICE IN THE CELEBRATION “THAT CHRIST IS RISEN, RISEN INDEED!”