No Greater Love

Adding to the list of "first {whatever event} in Australia" we've had so far is Easter.

This year, there is no Good Friday music service to attend. No Easter family gathering. No Passion Play to watch. This year, Nathan's school doesn't do holiday-themed crafts, nor will he be baking any bunny/egg/cross-shaped cookies.

With no previous engagements and an extra-long weekend, I've had some time to think about Easter.

Good Friday isn't just about attending church, feeling guilty about our sins and asking for forgiveness.

Good Friday is about remembering that someone died. Someone died. Jesus died. For us. For me. And for my sins. I don't think I've really, truly, completely grasped how significant that is yet. In recent years, death has become more real for me and I'm learning to understand what death really means. The ending of a life. And through that I'm also learning just how precious life really is.

My life was precious enough to someone that He would give up His life to save mine.


There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.
(John 15:13, NLT)

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

(Stuart Townend, Keith Getty)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:8, NIV)

Your life was precious enough for him to save, too. Did you know that?

* * * * * * * * * *

After Good Friday service today, we went for dim sum with a family from church. They've become really good friends to us and Nathan really likes hanging out with their boy.

We had planned on going to Rocks Riverside Park today with Nathan. He had gotten really excited about the wading pools. Unfortunately, the pools were flooded in January and they still haven't been repaired so when we got there, we found that the pools were fenced off.

Fortunately, we had heard that a bunch of youth from church were meeting at a park near our home to play some sports. We joined them a little while later. Nathan got a chance to play frisbee again and Andrew got to play football and learn a bit of rugby.

It was a good Friday.