As I watch the sun come up this Good Friday morning, I cannot help but reflect on the trials and death of our Savior. I can imagine those trials beginning, just before dawn almost 2,000 years ago, and if I concentrate on the scriptures, I can see the scene unfold. Betrayed by his closest friends, taken in the night from the garden where he prayed until his own will aligned with the will of the Father.

I can imagine the trials, as he was beaten, tortured, maimed, and ultimately killed by those who did not believe and trust in him. Or, perhaps they did believe, as evidenced in Matt. 28:11-15. Maybe they did know who he was, or at least had a feeling about it - but didn't care.

Whatever happened that day, God's will was done. Jesus, in giving himself to the unjust trials, beating, torture - and in opening his arms to the beam of the cross, gave himself in our place. That part, though I believe it, I can't imagine it.

Think, for a moment, about the small inkling of guilt you get when you know you have sinned. A small sin. Perhaps you told a white lie to protect yourself, or perhaps you cursed someone under your breath. Think for a moment about the conviction of the Holy Spirit upon you for that small transgression. Now imagine the weight of a higher sin ... your guilt magnified to theft, perhaps, or worse - think about how the weight of that must feel.

Then think, if you can open your mind to it, about the guilt of every sin you have committed. About the guilt of every sin anyone in your family has committed. Your city. Think about the weight of the guilt of every person who has ever lived on this earth, and then add to that the guilt of sin belonging to every person who will ever live on this earth. On the cross, that day, when Jesus was nailed there in full view of the mocking crowd, he did not just die for your sins, or mine. He became the sin of every person who has ever, or will ever, live. That part, I can't imagine.

My prayer today is that I will be able to begin imagining that part. That I will, somehow, start to feel the true magnitude of that sacrifice. I pray also that others will recognize this - that this Easter weekend will bring a celebration of Christ's sacrifice to the world. I know Christ died for me. Do you know that he died for you?

(This has been cross-posted to my Facebook page as well as HopeFirst.net)

tonight at church we sang Amazing Love. Now as I was reading this, it happened to be playing on my iPod.

Amazing love, how can it be
that you my King should die for me?
Amazing love, I know it's true
it's my joy to honour you
in all I do let me honour you.

indeed.

As on HopeFirst, all I can say is, "Amen!"