You Knew. You Chose.

I was up before the dawn meditating, reading, listening. In the quiet, You reminded me of an encounter we had years ago:

Our daughter—taken from my side in a moment. Unfathomable. Sleep nowhere to be found, I lay on the wood floor of our room almost lifeless. My mind reeling with what happened over and over trying to make sense of any part of the tragedy. My heart frantically trying to find You. My soul processing all the possible “whys” and “what ifs”. Just as the sunrise began to pierce the darkness, Your voice pierced my soul. I recall Your words like it was yesterday, “What would you have done, could you have done, differently that day? What if you had known ahead? I protected you because you could not bear the weight of what was to come.” Your voice shook me. The crashing waves in my soul paused. I heard You!

This Friday morning, I am reminded of what today represents. Though I could not bear the weight of our personal tragedy to come, You could. You did. And, You knew what Good Friday held in store for You, yet You chose to walk it out. You lived that day for the mockers, the haters, the betrayers. You chose the greatest act of love. You chose to bear the shame and sin of mankind so that we could have a chance at eternal life with You. You willingly carried all sin, the absolute wickedness of man, upon Your shoulders—adultery, slander, idolatry, rejection, betrayal, rape, murder, pedophilia, incest, bestiality, pornography, human sacrifice, animal torture... You knew and You chose to hold the cross for our salvation. The cross did not hold You! You chose us—unworthy and so undeserving.

On this holy day, by Your grace, I relish in Your lovingkindness. Thank You for taking my shame and sins to the cross. Thank You for choosing the FRIDAY that came before the SUNDAY!