Tragedy and Glory

It's ironic to me that the week ahead is the greatest celebration of the Christian world as we remember the greatest tragedy of all time.  I struggle for words to describe how I can celebrate with joy a time of great tragedy and loss, but I do, we all do if we know what that terrible day meant.  

In the week ahead we will intentionally remember the death of Christ on the cross, his burial, and finally celebrate his resurrection.  All events of time and history.  All critically important not just for the church, but for the world he came to die for and save.

There is an interesting passage in Colossians 1 that gives a panorama of these events. Here is Paul's grand overview of time, eternity, tragedy and glory,

He is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn over all creation.

For everything was created by Him,

in heaven and on earth,

the visible and the invisible,

whether thrones or dominions

or rulers or authorities—

all things have been created through Him and for Him.

He is before all things,

and by Him all things hold together.

He is also the head of the body, the church;

He is the beginning,

the firstborn from the dead,

so that He might come to have

first place in everything.

For God was pleased to have

all His fullness dwell in Him,

and through Him to reconcile

everything to Himself

by making peace

through the blood of His cross—

whether things on earth or things in heaven

The creator becoming a man, dying on a cross by the hands of his creation, rising again and providing forgiveness and life for the very ones who crucified him.  It's an amazing picture of the great love and grace of God...that he would do all of this because he loves us.  How could we ever doubt his love once we have looked at the cross?

And finally, at the end of time, there will be a day when he will be worshipped by all of humanity from every nation, tongue and time as we all bow and declare,

They said with a loud voice:

The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy

to receive power and riches

and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and blessing!

I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, 

on the sea, and everything in them say:

Blessing and honor and glory and dominion

to the One seated on the throne,

and to the Lamb, forever and ever!

What a wonderful God!  How amazing that he could take the greatest tragedy of time and turn it into the greatest glory anyone will ever see. 

Thank you, Jesus, for what you were willing to do to save me and show me the love of God for me.  Oh might I lovingly tell others of your amazing gift for them.