It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything here. I’ve been working on an entries about struggling to remain in the present without getting preoccupied with the past and future, but in light of what I learned at a retreat my church went on last weekend, I needed to think “aloud” about Good Friday.
So, the theme of the retreat was “Living off the Gospel” and Rev. Dr. Paul Kim of Renewal Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, PA), or simply Pastor Paul, based the sermons on Galatians. It was so fitting because our own pastors have been reiterating the power and glory of the gospel; our vision/mission is to be “an open door to a life-changing grace,” but many of us have forgotten the significance and expense of grace. And in order for us to remember that, we need to be reminded of the weightiness of the gospel, “the good news.”
I personally often forget how this lavish grace was afforded me, so the retreat was a wonderful reminder to me; it came at a perfect time, too, as we’re reaching the pinnacle of “holy week” or “passion week.” Today is Good Friday, and the following song by Stuart Townsend came to mind:
that He should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss – the Father turns His face away
as wounds which mar the Chosen One bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders;
ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life – I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom;
but I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer;
but this I know with all my heart – His wounds have paid my ransom.
I have this song on repeat, and I haven’t gotten tired of hearing these words. They bring on such beautiful heartbreak. All my efforts add nothing to what He finished on the cross; the years of service in youth group, of being a small group/bible study leader in college, the mission trips, ministry at my church, my volunteer work that became my new job, reading the Bible, going on the World Race, praying, you name it, all the things that qualify as “spiritual disciplines” or signs of growth as a Christian – none of these things save me.
One of the benefits of working with children is that it forces us to keep it simple. Seemingly complex theological concepts can be boiled down to the essentials such that a kid can understand. So as we explained what happened on Good Friday, we helped the kids with an art project: we took a picture of them, fashioned a cross out of popsicle sticks, put his/her photo and makeshift cross onto a piece of paper, then also spelled “He did it for me” onto the said piece of paper.
Deceptively easy, that statement: He did it for me. That’s all there is to it. I couldn’t do it, so He did it. And why did He do it? Because He loves me.
No wonder Good Friday is so good.
P.S. You can find the sermons from our retreat here; Pastor Paul had to condense his messages so you can find the fuller versions which were given to his congregation here and here.
