Good Friday

I've always used Good Friday to reflect and think about the sacrifice that this day symbolizes. But this year, I feel an urgency about it. As I drove to work (without Dan since he has today off), I realized that I'm actually irritated that more people don't recognize Good Friday as the significant day that it is. I wish I had this day off. Not to go shopping or parading around, celebrating my freedom from work, but to be able to spend more than twenty minutes doing my devotions, or to spend quiet time in prayer and gratitude what for the Lord did for humanity.

So in that mindset - a mindset of solemnity and wishing for solitude and meditation, here I sit at work, with my headphones in listening to Hillsong United, hoping that I can do my best to recognize this day for what it is. Even if that's done amongst ringing phones, busy co-workers and a stressed out boss.

This week a few lyrics have stuck out in my mind as we're approaching Easter Sunday and I wanted to record them here to share.

"There is life in the blood of the Lamb who was slain
There is power, there is power in His name.
There is love pouring out of the wounds that were made
Pouring out, pouring over our shame.

So praise the God who saves, praise the God who bled,
Praise the God who was nailed to a tree
And wore our sins upon his head

There is truth in His body raised that third day
There is joy in a stone rolled away.
There is hope pouring out of the tomb where he lay
Pouring out, pouring over the grave.
For He lives, that we too might live

And He loves, that we might also love
And know the glory of God above."
-God Who Saves, Caedmon's Call

----------------------------------------------------------------

"Savior I come, quiet my soul,
remember redemption's hill
where Your blood was spilled for my ransom.
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as loss.

Lead me to the cross
where Your love poured out.
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down.
Rid me of myself
I belong to You.
Oh Lead me, lead me to the cross.

You were as I,
tempted and tried... human.
The word became flesh,
bore my sin and death
now You're risen.
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as loss."
-Lead Me To The Cross, Hillsong United

----------------------------------------------------------------

"Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'...

Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, 'Greetings, Rabbi!' and kissed him. Jesus replied, 'Do what you came for, friend.'...

Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him....

'What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?' Pilate asked. They all answered, 'Crucify him!'...

They twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. 'Hail, king of the Jews!' they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again....

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit....

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people....

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, 'Surely he was the Son of God.'"

"YOUR VOICE HAS BROKEN MY DEFENSE, LET ME EMBRACE SALVATION."