I really wasn't going to blog about Israel (again) this week, but something happened on Sunday that has left me with no choice because it's all I've been thinking about since.
So what happened on Sunday? Nothing major - we took communion. That actually IS major when you really think about it, but most of us have just gotten used to it, myself included. I've taken it a thousand times before...but I've never taken it like I took it this past week. As we took the bread, all I could think about was my time in the Garden of Gethsemane almost exactly one month ago. Being in the garden I thought of Jesus kneeling where I was standing, crying out to Father God in anguish and yet submitting to His will. I pictured him standing in the garden and looking at the temple just up the hill, his heart breaking for the people who did not understand his message. And in the garden, I had one of the deepest understandings of the love of Christ that I've ever had. I pictured him walking past the trees with a heartbroken smile saying , "I remember creating you." And as he looked at the temple, He must have thought about the people..."I just love you so much, I just want you to see the truth, I just want the best for you...and you don't see it..."
All these thoughts came flooding back this past Sunday during communion, and God reminded me how much He loves ME too...that I'm included in all that. That understanding of God's love is one of the things I will cherish most from my trip to Israel...just pure love, no strings attached. He just loves us. I literally can't express it. I'm humbled, and thankful, that He's given me what is probably just an inkling of understanding...which is enough in itself to floor me.
And with Christmas around the corner, it's even more poignant. The phrase born to die has really taken on new meaning this with this communion. Christ was born with one purpose - to suffer and die so that we could be saved. Yes, He rose, but not after some serious anguish and pain. All for us.
Did you catch that last part?
All for us. That's you. And me.
So what happened on Sunday? Nothing major - we took communion. That actually IS major when you really think about it, but most of us have just gotten used to it, myself included. I've taken it a thousand times before...but I've never taken it like I took it this past week. As we took the bread, all I could think about was my time in the Garden of Gethsemane almost exactly one month ago. Being in the garden I thought of Jesus kneeling where I was standing, crying out to Father God in anguish and yet submitting to His will. I pictured him standing in the garden and looking at the temple just up the hill, his heart breaking for the people who did not understand his message. And in the garden, I had one of the deepest understandings of the love of Christ that I've ever had. I pictured him walking past the trees with a heartbroken smile saying , "I remember creating you." And as he looked at the temple, He must have thought about the people..."I just love you so much, I just want you to see the truth, I just want the best for you...and you don't see it..."
All these thoughts came flooding back this past Sunday during communion, and God reminded me how much He loves ME too...that I'm included in all that. That understanding of God's love is one of the things I will cherish most from my trip to Israel...just pure love, no strings attached. He just loves us. I literally can't express it. I'm humbled, and thankful, that He's given me what is probably just an inkling of understanding...which is enough in itself to floor me.
And with Christmas around the corner, it's even more poignant. The phrase born to die has really taken on new meaning this with this communion. Christ was born with one purpose - to suffer and die so that we could be saved. Yes, He rose, but not after some serious anguish and pain. All for us.
Did you catch that last part?
All for us. That's you. And me.
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