This day for me is a day of contrast, suffering and death mixed with hope and love. At the cross the worst of man met the best of God and there is hope. Jesus Christ carried the cross through the streets of Jerusalem to the place called Calvary and there shed His Holy Blood for the sins of the world. This Man, the Son of God who was without sin gave Himself for our sins. Three days after He died He arose from the grave and has ascended to the Father. He is ready to hear our prayers and change our lives into a reflection of the Love of God
No one has ever fallen below the love of God.
I was carrying the cross in the war in Beirut, Lebanon in 1982. My son Joshua and I had stopped to help pick up pieces of human flesh and bone from a bomb explosion. Sadness, death and war was all around. Just after we left the place of the recent bomb blast we walked past where another bomb had exploded weeks or months earlier. I saw a flower blooming in the ashes. There a single flower had risen from the ashes of hate, death and the worst of the human heart and now in beautiful bloom with a message of hope and life stood this single flower. For me this is what Jesus did at the cross. He gave His pure life for the sins of people and arose to offer the flower of a new life and the love of God to whosoever will come.
This day and the cross are also tremendously special to me in a unique way for I have now carried a 12 foot cross around the world since 1969. Through 315 nations, island groups and territories and through deserts, jungles, wars and struggles I have walked with the cross on my shoulder one and a half time around the world at the equator. Yes the cross is heavy but not near as heavy as the suffering and pain I have seen around the world. However I have seen the love and hope that there is in the cross of Jesus.
In a world filled with hate, bitterness, revenge, selfishness and death the love and words shown from the cross is so needed today’. Father forgive them, for they know not what they do’
Jesus with outreached arms and nail pierced Hands says “come to me” I will give you rest’
I have seen the beauty of the people of the world gathering around the cross and experiencing the love, salvation, new life and hope that there is in Jesus, the one who carried the cross that day over two thousand years ago.
So today, even in this troubled world I say “Smile God Loves You’ and I know it is true for I see that love in the cross of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.
Jesus welcomes you! There ‘is’ resurrection and hope and real love and I invite you to receive it now. Jesus lives!
I dream of a day when all people will pause, forgive everyone, love everyone, help everyone and celebrate the life God has given. Let it come, let it come!
Shalom, Peace
Pilgrim follower of Jesus
Arthur and Denise Blessitt
Luke 18:1