Every year, Christians remember the suffering and death of Jesus Christ during the Lenten season. In the Filipino culture, this means a variety of things like the Cenaculo (dramatization of the passion of Christ), Pabasa (singing and reading of verses about the passion of Christ), Visita Iglesia or 14 stations of the cross (visiting 14 churches or the 14 stations of the cross at the Grotto of Lourdes in Novaliches – I remember going there as a child), the Penintensya (this involves men who flag or whip themselves on the back or carry a cross on their back as an act of asking for forgiveness of their sins), “fasting” from eating pork, not taking a bath on Good Friday (huh?) and much more. Do all these things meaningfully reflect what Jesus hoped to accomplish in the lives of individuals?
We were watching the Passion of the Christ movie last night and one of the most important questions one would tend to ask is “Why would Jesus allow himself to suffer such a gruesome and extremely painful punishment? As Pilate said, “I find no fault in this Man” Why would he still have to go through it?
Would you believe – it is because of His Amazing Love?
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 6:23
Jesus endured the cross, died and rose again so that by His amazing love and grace we may receive forgiveness for our sins and be accepted into God’s Kingdom. He died in our place to pay the penalty for OUR sins which we cannot fully pay for by ourselves. And for those who believe in this work of Jesus, God’s gift is eternal life.
If you feel that you are the worst of sinners and God cannot forgive you, have faith. Mary Magdalene thought so too. If you feel that you are good enough to go to heaven and doesn’t need a Savior, think again. Even Cornelius who was a devout man, one who feared God, gave alms generously to the people and always prayed to God needed to hear about Jesus and believe in Him.
This Lenten Season, would you consider giving your wholehearted faith and trust in Jesus? Get Saved Today.
Yes, I know Him as my Savior,
For my sins are washed away;
And I’ll never cease to praise Him
For this truth through endless day. – Hallan, Our Daily Bread April 1998
EASTER GREETINGS FROM THE OLD GEEZERI PRAY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY CELEBRATING RESURRECTION SUNDAY. HE IS RISEN!GOD BLESS YOU, RON
Hallelujah! Jesus is alive. God bless you, too, Ron.