It's interesting how the church today does so much to remember Christmas and often so little to remember Good Friday and Easter. If Christ came as a baby to live on this earth and that was it, then we would still be lost sinners and objects of wrath. How much more important is the sacrifice and the resurrection. Remember his Death, remember his Resurrection, and even remember his Ascension.
Today, I hope you remember the sacrifice of the One for our sins.
This hymn has always been one of my favorites. It was written by Isaac Watts in 1707. Beautiful words and theology.
We had an awesome sermon on Friday evening as to why we do call it "Good" Friday. I will post the link when it is available.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see that you included the Ascension in your post too Reb. That is an event most Christians definitely forget.
Here are a few great quotes concerning the importance of the Ascension of our Lord:
“Without the ascension… the biblical story as a whole would lack the outcome it demands” (23).
“We must stress the point that it is indeed the ascension towards which the biblical story constantly strives, especially in its messianic dimensions, not the resurrection…. Resurrection may be a necessary ingredient, since death cuts short our individual journeys, but it is not too bold to say that the greater corporate journey documented by the scriptures continually presses, from its very outset and at every turn, towards the impossible feat of the ascension” (26-27).
“It is important to remember what is at stake here. If there is no real ascension that took place in history then the church’s sacramental acts are devoid of meaning… then the church’s distinction from the world does indeed reduce to something that is purely ideological or ethical or social. If we wish to take [the sacraments] and the church seriously we must also take the ascension seriously” (39).
All taken from Douglas Farrow, Ascension and Ecclesia.
Here is the link to the Good Friday and Easter sermons from my pastor this past weekend. Amazing stuff...
ReplyDeleteChrist URC Seasonal Sermons
The two pertinent sermons are the top two.