My apologies for my lack of post last Thursday.
I wrote a highly controversial piece about the tragedy in Nashville, and I just didn’t have the guts to publish it. Real talk: I chickened out.
So yeah. It may see the light of day somewhere someday, but suffice it to say, I am heartbroken and heated about everything surrounding last week’s horrific shooting.
But that’s all I’ll say about that right now.
Somehow, it’s Holy Week. I don’t know where time has gone, and I certainly don’t know how forty days has gone by in the blink of an eye, but here we are.
I think that everyone, once they are of appropriate age, should watch the Passion of the Christ.
Because there’s something about seeing it — and really witnessing the magnitude of what Jesus endured and suffered for you and I — that really puts His death into perspective.
To see the floggings, the humiliation, the beatings, crucifixion and excruciating death — in all the gory realism — it makes you realize how much Jesus truly loved us. It really makes the degree to which he cared about you and I and our salvation truly tangible. He loved us enough to die for.
And witnessing this horrific experience He underwent for you and I…it really makes me think, “Wow, I don’t deserve the incredible sacrifice Jesus made.”
I don’t deserve to have this innocent Man – our Savior – die for my personal sins. All the terrible things I’ve done, all the hurtful things I’ve said, the damaging decisions I’ve made – all the deceit, manipulation and destruction that accompanies an eating disorder….I should be disqualified from His grace.
But you know what? We all should be. None of us have lived perfect lives that have earned Jesus’ incredible gift at Easter. That’s why it’s a gift. Jesus took on the fate that we deserved. He endured it so we didn’t have to. That’s why He’s our Savior. He came to literally save us…save the world.
It’s hard to even comprehend a love like that.
In our world of conditional, transactional interactions, where “there’s no such thing as a free lunch,” it’s hard to wrap our minds around Jesus willingly taking on the Cross.
We witness Him in Gethsemane — sweating blood, pleading to the Father to let this cup pass from Him, but that not His own will, but the Father’s will be done.
A) Talk about obedience. And B) Talk about the selfless love this Man has for…not just humanity as a whole, but you and I personally.
I convicts me, because I should be spending my days so much differently. I should be starting each morning with adoration of this Man who died to take away my sins. I should be building time into my day to go to Mass and worship Him who saved my soul. Every single moment I should be devoting, dedicating, giving to Him.
I am ashamed of how I have taken for granted this ginormous gift we celebrate at Easter.
And it also convicts me: Jesus took up the most momentous cross — giving absolutely everything. And yet, I complain at the littlest “daily cross” I encounter.
I need to keep the perspective of Easter throughout the year, and consistently remember the price Jesus paid so that I could live and breathe and love and one day get to Heaven.
I don’t deserve that. Not with the laundry list of sins I’ve done, and have yet to do.
But that is the significance of Easter. We don’t deserve this gift.
But in Jesus’ immeasurable love, He deems us worthy.
May this Holy Week, we give Him the appropriate praise, honor and adoration that He deserves for such an incredible act of love. This week, and every week.
And perhaps watch The Passion of the Christ — just as a reminder of the magnitude His gift truly was.
Here’s a sneak peak at one of my YouTube shorts!
Thank you for your support on Patreon!! You make this blog possible 🙂
“This is what the Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” Ez 37:5
***THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS ORDERED MY BOOKS, BLOOM: A JOURNAL BY BEAUTYBEYONDBONES AND “MY BLOGGING TIPS“***Click to order your copy!
Be sure to check out my affiliate, Audible. Listening to audiobooks while I cook is literally my new favorite thing. And just for you, they’re offering a Free 30-Day Trial Membership. And with this free membership, you’re going to get 2 free audiobooks! Literally. Free. It is the best deal ever. And if for some reason, you decide it’s not for you, you can cancel within those 30 days and it’s zero money out of your pocket, plus, you get to keep the 2 audiobooks. Soooo…it’s pretty much a no brainer. Plus, it’s a free and easy way to support this blog! So thank you!!
STAY CONNECTED!
@beauty.beyond.bones – Instagram
And really quickly, I’ve had several questions concerning my Amazon link (amazon.com/shop/beautybeyondbones) — You do not need to buy one of my specific highlighted products on my page, in order for it to “credit” my account. Any purchases that you search or make from anywhere on Amazon, after first visiting my Amazon page, will credit this blog and help support this blog ministry! Thank you!
11 responses to “I Don’t Deserve Easter”
Thank you My feelings exactly why did he bother to do that for me What an ibcredible gift
This is so true. I wrote about something similar myself, if you deem it inappropriate, feel free to delete this:
https://simplifyaddlightness.wordpress.com/2022/08/21/unclaimed-credit/
I try to watch the movie each Easter for a reminder of what Christ suffered for me, but from what I’ve heard elsewhere, it’s even worse than depicted in the movie.
Thank you for expressing your heart on the page. It isn’t just the physical aspects of our Saviour”s suffering either is it,? The inner agony, emotional and mental conflict endured … the things which we all walk away from if we can mark thr way of the Cross for us all in some form or another. Easter Blessings.
beware of the Jansenistic attitude, the Little Flower put Gods love in perspective
The Passion of the Christ is a brilliant film Caralyn. Another film I have is ” Jesus of Nazareth” with Robert Powell as Jesus. Hope you both have a blessed Easter.❤️
Excellent commentary on Easter and it’s importance in our lives. I disagree about watching. The Passion of the Christ as remembrance at Easter. We celebrate the resurrection each Sunday Morning. Maybe we should be called to remembrance of the death and burial much more often that Easter. After all,l the central point of the entire Gospel from Adam to Armageddon is found here.Paul explained it best here. “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
II Corinthians 5:20-21 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/2co.5.20-21.NKJV
There is nothing we can do to repay Christ for this wondrous act except to submit to Him as Lord and to obey when He asks us to perform. After all, that is the least a true servant does for his Master. Make no mistake, without making Christ LORD of your life, there is no SAVIOR. The two titles are so closely bonded together, they must almost be considered as one.
May God bless each of you in a special way during this very special time. May a newfound commitment to our Lord and Savior so that, like Stephen, we may find Jesus STANDING at. The right of God cheering us on for our faithfulness and obedience. To God be the Glory!
So right. I’m not worthy. Never will be. But, by the grace and mercy of God, the one who lives in me – Jesus Christ the Son of God – IS. That’s the miracle of Easter.
I enjoyed how you pointed out the “laundry list” of sins that we all have. Sometimes I think, even as Christian’s, we forget how wounded, broken, deceitful, and helpless we are and can be. No one under the sun is perfect & that is why we need to gracious gift of Jesus Christ.
I love how you infuse your writing with your feelings–how you pour out your heart on paper. You did a tremendous job sharing the “good news” in this blog. I’m praying your voice carries to many, many searching, seeking souls. God bless!!!
None of us deserve Easter. That is why Salvation is called a gift. We never deserved it. It was given freely to those who accept it. This is the depth of God’s love.