I’ve recently begun reading and experiencing Contemplating the Cross, A 40 Day Pilgrimage of Prayer, by Tricia McCary Rhodes. It focuses on helping the reader really experience the passion of Jesus, starting with his experience at Gethsemane (Luke 22:39). This isn’t a book you just casually read (that’s why I said I am also “experiencing” it); the author asks us to spend time in prayer as we read, contemplate and meditate on certain scriptures, and really put ourselves into the place of Jesus, the disciples, and other players in the crucifixion story. The idea is that we come to really appreciate what Jesus went through for us, and that ultimately we would come away with a new and deeper appreciation for our Savior, which would result in a new and deeper response to his love.

I started reading this book late (as in on March 19, not March 1, Ash Wednesday, which would have been ideal; I’m just doubling up days until I catch up to where I should be). So, today I was reading Day 5, about Jesus’ humanity and his struggle with wishing there could be some other way for him to save God’s children.  Readers were encouraged to meditate on a familiar verse – perhaps it has become too familiar – For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16 – NASB). As I pondered that well-known verse anew, the words loved, and gave His Son popped out at me. Its hard to really grasp the greatness of God’s love – so great that God would sacrifice his very own son to save us.

If this has become too familiar a thought to you too, maybe you will want to join me, and others, in contemplating this truth anew. God loves us enough, as we are, to send his son to suffer and die for us. Oh what a love!