After the Fact

Easter isn't something I used to ever give much thought to. Growing up it always meant candy, dyeing eggs and usually a dinner with some sort of ham meal with extended family. Since I rededicated my life to Christ a couple years ago, the cross and resurrection mean Easter to me.

From Mark 8:31

"He then began to teach them that the son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed, and after three days rise again."

There's a song that helped change my whole perspective and thought process towards the cross and what was happening there called The Fatal Wound, by Switchfoot. I hate referencing songs for anything but the message in this song is very challenging. Read the lyrics:

I am the crisis, I am the bitter end
I'm gonna gun this down
I am divided, I am the razor's edge
There is no easing out

Son of sorrow, staring down forever
With an aching view
Disenchanted, let's go down together
with the fatal wound

This is the real thing, no rubber bullets now
This is the final bow
My breath avoids me, my chest is in my hands
My stomach's upside down, down.

Son of sorrow, staring down forever
With an aching view
Disenchanted, let's go down together
with the fatal wound.

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Now read Psalm 22:1, 11-19 and pick-up the prophecy being spoken in David's words.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Do not be far from me for trouble is near and there is no one to help. I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint. Hy heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. But you, O Lord, be not far off; O my strength, come quickly to help me.

When Jesus was dying on the cross he asked those same words, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me." I often wonder if Jesus was remembering the cries of David from the Psalms whenever I read that passage. Reading these words puts the death of Christ into a greater picture, a more real picture for me. This was more than some old story we rehash once a year or if we go to church consistently hear over and over again. This was real. This happened so that you and I could experience freedom from sin and it's eternal consequences.

I know that Easter is gone and a couple of days old at this point, but it still doesn't change the fact that Christ suffered for more than a holiday, for more than a once a year celebration. He suffered for every moment of our lives here on Earth. For that, we owe him every moment, and I want my life to be wrapped around that.