Comedian storyteller Garrison Keillor recalled his childhood Thanksgiving dinners, as the family gathered around the table and remembered the blessings of the past year. Uncle John usually gave the prayer, which caused everyone to squirm. As Keillor said, "Everybody in the family knew that Uncle John couldn't pray without talking about the cross and crying . . . Sure enough, Uncle John prayed, talked about the cross, and
cried . . ." Then Keillor adds these memorable words: "All of us knew that Jesus died on the cross for us, but Uncle John had never gotten over it." No one who knows what truly happened on Golgotha's cross is ever going to get over it. As you look to Easter, we have to remember the cross. The great WWII Christian martyr Dietrich Bonhoffer once said, anytime you go to hear a sermon, listen for the cross. It needs to be there. We can’t get over the cross. There is a great hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross” that reminds us what that cross means…
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary.
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.
To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I'll share.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.
Especially this week…be like Uncle John…remember the cross. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Galatians 6:14 NLT As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ
cried . . ." Then Keillor adds these memorable words: "All of us knew that Jesus died on the cross for us, but Uncle John had never gotten over it." No one who knows what truly happened on Golgotha's cross is ever going to get over it. As you look to Easter, we have to remember the cross. The great WWII Christian martyr Dietrich Bonhoffer once said, anytime you go to hear a sermon, listen for the cross. It needs to be there. We can’t get over the cross. There is a great hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross” that reminds us what that cross means…
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary.
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.
To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I'll share.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.
Especially this week…be like Uncle John…remember the cross. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Galatians 6:14 NLT As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ