Before we went to bed last night, Kendall set our alarm to wake to the song "Garden" by Need To Breathe. It was the absolute best way to wake my thoughts on the events of what occurred this day over 2,000 years ago. The song is written as though Jesus Himself is singing from within the Garden of Gethsemane. He sings,
"Won't you take this cup from Me, cause fear has stolen all my sleep,
if tomorrow brings my death, I pray You'll save their souls with it."
"May the songs I sing bring joy to You, may the words I say confess my love, may the notes I choose be your favorite tune....and Father let my heart be after You."
Listen/watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li8aiGtNyZo
I too pray, "Father, let MY heart be after You."
Years ago Kendall and I had the opportunity to hear Anthony Campolo speak and address us with his sermon "It's Friday.....but Sunday's coming!" Though today is a remembrance that bears with it great sorrow on this good Friday, we cannot remain sorrowful but rather joyful as Sunday is coming and our Mighty God will rise victorious over sin and death.
Below are the lines of Campolo's brief but impactful Good Friday speech. Imagine Tony starting quietly and then rocking back and forth, then louder and louder and louder in culmination of the joyful event, that thunderous sound of a boulder rolling away from a tomb.
Let your mind meditate on these things today. Do not be sad but joyful for it is Friday....but Sunday IS coming!!
“It’s
Friday… Jesus was nailed dead on a cross.
But it’s only Friday; Sunday is
coming!
It’s Friday… Mary’s crying her
eyes out ‘cause her Jesus is dead.
But it’s only Friday; Sunday is
coming!
It’s Friday… The disciples are
running around like sheep without a shepherd.
But it’s only Friday; Sunday is
coming!
It’s Friday… Pilate’s strutting
around washing his hands ‘cause he thinks he’s got all the power and victory.
But it’s only Friday; Sunday is
coming!
It’s Friday… People are saying
“as things have been so they shall be – you can’t change anything in this
world.”
But it’s only Friday; Sunday is
coming!
It’s Friday… Satan’s doing a
jig saying, “I control the whole world.”
But it’s only Friday; Sunday is
coming!
It’s Friday… The temple veil ripped
from top to bottom -the earth shook- the rocks split and tombs opened. The
centurion screamed in fear, “Truly, He is the Son of
God!”
But it’s only Friday; Sunday is
coming!
It’s Sunday- “The
angel, like dazzling lightening, rolled the stone away exclaiming,
“He is not here! He is risen!
“He is not here! He is risen!
It’s Sunday! It’s
Sunday! It is Sunday!” -
Dr. Anthony Campolo
