I don't think I am anything out of the ordinary. I'm sure a majority of moms are the same way. In realizing that, I think about one mom and can't even begin to imagine what she went through many years ago. You see, it was about this time of year and I can assure you she was not dying Easter eggs, getting Easter baskets ready, nor was she picking out the best Easter suit for her son. Instead she was having to stand by and watch her son be stripped down to just a cloth. She had to watch him be beaten and bruised, spat upon and called names. She had to watch him carry a heavy, rugged cross on top of the whipped stripes on his body. She had to watch his hands and feet being nailed to this cross as soldiers just laughed and continued to make fun of Him. She had to watch as they raised up this cross and dropped it down into the ground as it jolted his whole body. She watched as her son, in the midst of His agony, still was pleading on the behalf of the criminal hanging beside Him. She had to sit at the foot of this cross in her own puddle of tears and just wait for her son to die. This, my friend, is something that I cannot even fathom. My eyes swell with tears just thinking about how excruciating this must have been. Letting my son die for the sin of other people is something I just don't think I could do.
When Mary found out that she was going to be the mother of the Son of God, I'm sure she had no idea what to expect, but I bet she didn't envision this. I doubt she could fully grasp the magnitude of what her son was doing. She knew that her son had the power to speak just but one word and it could have all been stopped. But she realized, for some reason, it had to be done.
That reason was for you and for me. Jesus' death on that cross was to endure our sins so that He could offer us the gift of grace and abundant life. He bore our sins of pride, indulgence, sexual impurities, lies, hate, unforgiveness, deceit, murder, theft, idolatry, greed, lust, gossip...the list goes on and on. He forgave you that day for any sin that you would ever commit and His will is for you to receive that forgiveness.
I'm sure Mary would tell you that was the worst day of her life, but the best day of her life came only three days later when she realized her son had risen from the dead!
There's an old song that says, "He's alive! He's alive! He's alive and I'm forgiven, heavens' gates are opened wide!" Now my tears are tears of joy! Joyful that I have a Savior that loves me with an unconditional love and forgives me for all of my fleshly weaknesses. Joyful that I have a Savior who would endure such a gruesome death in order for me to have a life of grace,hope, and peace. I am so sorry that His mother had to witness such a horrific experience, but I pray that the salvation of my life and yours will make it worth it for her.
Thank You Jesus for dying on that old rugged cross for me! Now, from one mom to another, thank you Mary for allowing the ultimate sacrifice.
Praise God! Jesus is alive today and still on His throne! If you have never experienced the love of the One who died just for you, don't wait another minute! He's been waiting for you with open arms and wants to give you abundant life today!!!