Pastor Joe drew his Resurrection Day reflections on the importance of the cross. While his starting premise was a solid standard reading of the Gospel account of the crucifixion, he took his message in a powerful direction.
Reflecting on Galatians 5:24 (“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”), Brother Joe gave us a wonderful personal testimony of where he was when he returned to God.
What I found the most moving was his visually powerful demonstration of the transformational power of the cross. He used a large wooden cross and upon it nailed tags with “the old self” tendencies on them. Words which many can relate such as Anxiety, Fear, Lust, and Death, were systematically (literally) and symbolically nailed to the cross.
But this act of illustration had yet another twist. Brother Joe then reminded us that the old self died on the cross with Jesus, and with His triumph we were transformed. He then flipped the tags to read such things as Peace, Righteousness, and Life.
We are indeed alive and transformed by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, and by the hope and glory of His resurrection three days later. What a timely reminder on Easter Day, that the triumph over death is a triumph to all aspects of the old lost self.
Let each of us remember that today.
Padre
Padre's Ramblings 