by Sheila Koester

Created on: April 28, 2008

During this week we remember what Jesus did for us on the cross and the powerful message that His blood sends. He died for all of us. He carried his cross for all of us. He suffered for all of us. He accepted the cup with His grace so that we can be healed and forgiven. Through His blood he gave us thegreatest gift of all - Eternal Life.

He only asks that we accept His great love for us in our hearts. We should pray and asks for His great forgiveness and loving power for our own mortal sins so that we can receive His great gift to us. We need only pick up the cross and follow Him.

His teachings are based on the Old Testament covenant. Yet though the power of His blood He came to establish a new covenant with us. The Israelites in Egypt placed the blood of a lamb on the doorposts of their house so that the lives of their first born would be spared when the Angel of death passed over them.On Good Friday Jesus became the Passover Lamb in order to spare our lives from the Angel of death.

Through His blood Jesus brings us healing, hope and deliverance. He heals us from the hurts in life - loss of a job; spouse; children; home; money; health. Jesus never complained but accepted His fate so His grace could wash over everyone of us.

In church on Maundy Thursday, commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus with His Disciples and His last Passover Seder, the altar is stripped. Everything is removed - the candlesticks, altar cloth and our bishop even removes his shepherds' staff. It serves as a reminder that Jesus was stripped of all his clothing before offering himself as the symbolic Passover Lamb on the great cross that he bore for all of us.

Holy week and Easter sends a powerful message to me. It is a reminder of what Jesus did for me. He forgave me of all my sins when I accepted Him into my life as my personal Lord and Savior. Raised in a Jewish home as He was, this week holds a special place in my heart. It reminds me of where I came from and where I am going.

I hope that I haven't come across as being too preachy with this post. It is how I really feel and what keeps me going in times of adversity. No one could do for me what Jesus did. He was perfect and yet He gave His life for me so that I can be inscribed in the book of eternal life. For that great gift I am forever grateful.

Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
On earth as it is heaven............

Thank you Jesus.

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