Pierced for Our Transgressions: The Cost of Redemption

On this solemn day, the skies grow dark not only in remembrance but in reverence. Good Friday—so named not for the pain it brought but for the redemption it accomplished—is the day the Lamb of God was led to the slaughter, bearing upon Himself the sin-stained burden of all humanity.

We often rush to Sunday’s empty tomb, eager for the hope of resurrection. But today we must pause and stand at the foot of the cross. We must see, truly see, the cost of our salvation.

He was not merely arrested—He was betrayed.
He was not only beaten—He was scourged beyond recognition.
He was not simply executed—He was crucified, forsaken, and pierced through... for us.

The cross was not an accident of history. It was the plan of God from the beginning. From the garden where sin first entered, to the hill called Golgotha where sin was judged, the scarlet thread of God’s mercy weaves a tapestry of love that defies comprehension.

We read in Isaiah that He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins—and that the punishment which brought us peace was laid upon Him. There is no greater injustice in all of human history than the death of the sinless Son of God. Yet there is no greater mercy than this: that He did it willingly.

He was not a victim. He was the Victor.

This Good Friday, let us not look away. Let us gaze deeply upon the cross—not with guilt that binds us, but with gratitude that frees us. Let us remember that His final breath opened the way for our new life.

And let our response be more than solemn reflection. Let it be a renewed commitment to live as those who are redeemed—not by silver or gold, but by the precious blood of the Lamb.

May the Lord strengthen your faith and use it for His glory, as you walk humbly in His presence.

Mid-Week Message - Because of Friday

"And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."  Ephesians 3:18-19 (NLT)  

He didn't have to do any of it.  He didn't have to allow Himself to be arrested, but He did.  He didn't have to let them scourge Him.  He didn't have to let them humiliate Him. He certainly could have exercised His power to stop it.  He didn't have to accept a crown of thorns being placed on His head or let anyone spit on Him, yet, He did.  At any time He could have stopped His own crucifixion.  He could have avoided having spikes driven through His flesh, being raised up on that cross, having His clothing stripped away.  After all, He was so much more than a mere man.  He was God in the flesh.  He could have called a legion of angels to rescue Him, or just come down from the cross on His own and struck the soldiers dead.  

Instead, He allowed all of it.  Everything that happened that horrible Friday took place with His permission.  Have you ever thought of that?  He could have said "no" to carrying His own cross.  He could have said "no more" at any time during that dark day.  We know the human part of Him was reluctant to go through with it because He prayed in the garden that the Father would "remove this cup from me."  And it wasn't simply a quick prayer.  It was heart-wrenching.  

So why didn't He say no to Friday?  The answer is this: Without Friday, there would have been no Sunday.  His love for us is so great that He was willing to endure the storm of Friday so that we could have the peace that Sunday brought.  The sacrifice was made.  Death has been defeated.  Our forgiveness and eternal life have been secured.  

Each year as Easter approaches, in my mind I hear the hammer pounding the nails.  What a horrific sound that must have been.  Precious Jesus, our Savior, laid out on the cross and having to endure such pain!  What agony He must have gone through as they raised up that cross and his body fought gravity as He struggled to keep Himself in a position where He would be able to breathe.  All because of the love He has for each of us.  Nails didn't keep Him on the wood.  Love did.  

I have a hard time understanding love that is that deep and pure.  Maybe you do too.  That He chose the nails rather than to allow us to perish is mind boggling. But that is what took place.  You and I were more important to Him than anything He experienced that awful day.  

As we observe Good Friday, let's remember that He was willing to go through the agony for our sake.  And on Easter Sunday, as we rejoice in His resurrection, and each day that we walk in the freedom that His actions provided us, can we each take at least a moment to ask ourselves what we are willing to do for Him?

Mid-Week Message - What Would You Have Done?

“Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”  Luke 24:5-7 (NLT)

If you had been there when Jesus was arrested, what would you have done?  How would you have reacted?  Would you have stepped up to defend Him or would you have sunk into the background out of fear?  

If you had been there during His trial, would you have spoken up for Him?  Would you have shouted for His innocence or been silent as the crowd screamed for Barrabas to be released?  Would your belief that Jesus was the Christ have allowed you to rush to His aid?  

If you had been there as He was forced to carry His cross to the place of His death, would you have offered to help Him carry it or stood back in horror and tears as you witnessed His struggle while so terribly wounded?

If you had been there as the hammer pounded the nails into His flesh, seen the crown of thorns pushed cruelly down into the skin of His brow, seen the mocking and the insults hurled at Him, seen Him denied a fresh drink of water and then witnessed the spear thrust into His side, how would you have handled it?  

The Easter story is one most of us grew up with.  We know what happened to our Savior.  It has become something that is talked about almost matter-of-factly.  We understand it was God's way of uniting us to Himself by providing His Son, His perfect Lamb, as the sacrifice which bought our forgiveness and freedom.  We know, but do we experience it?  Is it personal?  

Now, what if you had been there with the women who discovered His body missing?  What would have been your reaction?  Would you have remembered that He said He would rise again and rejoice, or would you have assumed it had been stolen?  I can't think of anything more glorious than the open tomb of the Son of Almighty God.  I would like to think that I would have fallen to my knees at that moment and begun praising.  But I would also like to think that I would have stood up for Him, fought for Him, been willing to lose my own life for Him.  

Easter is a time of personal reflection as we remember all He did out of His love for each of us.  It is wonderful to know the story, to read the scriptures, to hear the sermons.  However, in order to really appreciate it, we need to place ourselves there.  We need to take part and allow it to become more than a story.  We need for it to be personal and real.  May God bless you as you experience His love on Easter and every day.  

Mid-Week Message - Our Identity in Christ

"But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God."  John 1:12-13 (NLT)

One of the fun memories I have of my daughter when she was little comes from a time that we were a one car family.  When she and I would go to pick her father up from work, we would arrive a bit early and park in front of the building.  As people were coming out she would ask, "Is that my Daddy?" She would ask it about every man that exited then get very excited when she saw her dad.  It was a game.  We had lots of games we played in the car.  I'm sure you did as well.  

As Christians, we never have to ask, "Is that my Daddy?", because we know that our true Father is Almighty God.  Our identity is in Him and was sealed with the blood of Christ.  We are told that we are co-heirs, children of the Most High God, paid for with the most precious possession He had.  We have a home in Heaven where we will spend eternity in praise and worship.  Oh, what a promise!  

As I was thinking about this article, several other things occurred to me as to who we really are.  The scriptures tell us many stories and introduce us to people just like us, through whom we learn about the grace and mercy of our Lord.  So, who are we?  

We are the lepers who were touched by the Savior and healed.  We are the blind who have had our sight restored.  We are the lame who walk because His power is greater than our own.  We are the deaf who hear and respond to the voice of our Shepherd.  We are the wanderers who find our way through and by His direction.  We are the lonely that He has promised never to leave.  We are the grievers to whom He sends His comfort.  We are the poor who find our wealth in innumerable blessings and lay up our treasures in Heaven.  We are the dead who are dead no more but raised up in His likeness.  We are the sinners who are forgiven and adopted as family.  We are the bride who waits expectantly for her groom.  We are the wordless to whom was delivered the Living Word.  We are the orphans who are now members of an eternal family. We are the prodigals whose Father runs to welcome.  We are prisoners whose chains have been removed.  We are the outcast who have been sought out and brought into holy fellowship.  We are the lost who have been found, the frightened who have reassurance and the homeless who have found our forever home.  

I could go on and on.  What I hope that you see is that He is the answer for wherever we find ourselves in life.  Nothing is beyond His power.  You cannot out-love Him nor out-give Him. He is greater than any problem you may encounter.  Hear me.  He is greater than ANY problem you will ever have.  All He asks of us is that we turn to Him and let Him be who He is.  He loves it when His children ask Him to be present in their lives.  His angels rejoice when we accept Him as our Lord. 

Who are we?  We are His.  Created in His likeness and fully loved and accepted.  There is nowhere better to be than in His arms.  He chose to love us.  He chooses each day to give us life.  Our choice is this, what do we do with the life He gives us?  Oh, brothers and sisters, my prayer for each of us is that we learn to rest in the miraculous reality of being His children and that we lovingly share that with those around us.  I look forward to the day that I can look each of you in the face and share a heavenly hug.  God bless.

Mid-Week Message - No Greater Love

 "A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."  John 13:34-35  (NIV)

I will always be thankful that as my daughter grew up, she was around people of different races, nationalities, physical differences and capabilities.  As a result, she loves everyone.  It doesn't matter what color their skin is or where they are from.  Whether they are tall or short, suffer from physical or mental challenges, male or female, black, white or brown, she learned that God created and loves everyone, not just the people who look most like her. 

Jesus came for everyone.  The Gospel is not exclusively for one set of people over another.  His love is perfect and for all creation.  John 3:16 is one of the verses most people learn first  It says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." 

I wish that I could shout that from the rooftops.  I hear such divisive language when I am out and about.  There is so much anger and the things that come out of people's mouths can be shocking.  When I hear one person criticize or berate another I want to remind them that they are speaking to or about someone who is a "whoever", created and loved by the Great I Am.  

The man on the street that is begging for money, whether you believe he is really homeless or not, is a "whoever".  The person who just cut you off in traffic is too.  Every single human being on the face of the planet is to be loved because they have been created by God.  His Son hung on a cross for them just as He did you and I.  

I have been asked, "Would you have loved Hitler?"  My answer is simply, "Jesus did."  If we are truly His followers then we are to love as He loves.  If we were to truly strive to do so, if we would focus on hearts rather than outward differences, how different would this world be?  

This nation and world are going through a lot of turmoil.  During the past year we have seen changes that we never thought we would see in our lifetimes.  The Gospel is needed so urgently as we see people struggling with so many issues.  Rather than allowing ourselves to be divided, we need to come together, join hands and find ways to help.  

I have no idea what you are experiencing this day.  But, I can assure you that you are loved with an indescribable, unconditional, perfect love.  Let's encourage each other and find oneness rather than division.  It is a choice we get to make.  Choose God.  Choose His love.  God bless. 

Mid-Week Message - Active and Alive

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."  Mark 12:30  (NIV)   

Each year after Christmas I urge my readers to leave something out that will be a reminder of the miracle of Christ's birth all year long.  Although that time of year is set aside to celebrate His coming, the fact that He left Heaven to be with us on earth is something that should never be shoved into a box and stored in an attic.  

Likewise, Easter is when we praise Him for His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection.  But sadly, once the weekend has passed, we tend to return to the normality of our lives and store away whatever decorations we have used in order to prepare for the next holiday.  

Unlike Santa Claus and the Easter bunny, Jesus is no fairy tale.  The stories recorded for us in the Bible of His existence are real.  He was with God before creation and is with Him now.  Because of the time He spent on Earth, because of what He gave of Himself to accomplish the will of His Father, we have total forgiveness of our sins available to us if we choose to accept it.  Once we believe in Him as the Son of God, receive Him as our Lord and Savior and repent of our sins we have the promise of eternal life with Him in Heaven.  

How it must grieve Him to be put out of our thoughts as easily as we store away snowmen, wreaths and candy filled eggs.  After all that He went through for our sakes, even as He pleads for us before our Father, once our calendar-planned holidays end, too often so do our praises. 

At any time, Jesus could have said no.  He could have called legions of angels to wipe out those who tortured Him.  Although fully human, He was also fully divine and the nails through His hands and feet held no control over Him.  But He didn't say no.  Philippians 2:8 tells us, "...he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross."   Even for Him, obedience was a choice and he made that choice out of His love for you and for me.  

Our remembrance and our praise should be alive and active just as our Savior is alive and active in our lives.  Our hearts, minds, souls and strength need to remain focused on Him at all times.  All that we do, think and say should be influenced by His example as we allow Him to mold us to become more like Him.

Nothing happens in our lives that He is unaware of.  He is always by our side, ready to take our hands and walk us through whatever conflicts, heartaches, fears or tragedies we encounter.  He promised never to leave us and His promises can be believed.  His death and resurrection didn't take away the hard times in life, but they did give us the assurance that we will never be alone and that death, sorrow, pain and sadness will cease when we join Him in Heaven.  

His love and power cannot be boxed away.  Grab His holy hand and walk with Him today.  God bless.  

Mid-Week Message - Easter

 "Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified.  So they took Jesus away."  John 19:16  (NLT)

Arrested in the garden.  Mocked and taunted as an imposter.  Slapped and slugged.  Spat upon.  Blindfolded.  Flogged with a whip made with pieces of lead and stone.  Forced to carry His own cross upon raw shoulders.  Bloody.  Swollen.  Unrecognizable.  A crown of thorns driven into His scalp.  Nails driven through His hands and feet.  Raised to die upon a cruel cross.  His clothing gambled over.  A spear driven into His side.

His response?  "Please forgive them for they know not what they do." 

After a celebrated entry into Jerusalem just days before, our Lord cried out for the forgiveness of those who had tortured and were killing Him.  As He hung there, suffocating and enduring the pain of His weight pulling Him down, the spikes in His hands and feet ripping through His flesh, His request of His Father was for forgiveness.  

We know the story of the crucifixion.  Most of us have heard it since we were young.  But do we truly understand the agony Jesus withstood for our sakes?  Because of OUR sin, not His, He was punished in ways that we cannot fathom.  There had to be a sacrifice.  A perfect Lamb.  Every strike was ours.  Every taunt, every lash with the whip, every drop of spit on His bleeding body was for us.  So great is His love for you and me that He was willing to take our punishment upon Himself so that we could be reunited with our Creator and have the promise of eternity with Him.  

But the story does not end with His death.  He did as He promised and rose again.  Luke 24 tells us, "But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.  They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.  So they went in, but they didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus.  As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.  The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground.  The men asked, 'Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?  He isn't here!  He is risen from the dead!'"  

As we go through the rest of this Holy week, my prayer is that each of us will spend time alone with the Lord seeking understanding of the depth of His love and all He endured so that all we have to do to be saved is to repent and believe in Him.  As Jesus stands defending us before the Father, may we strive to build a deeper relationship with Him.  

May His mercy and grace surround us all.  God bless.  

   

Mid-Week Message - Finding Value In Christ

"For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ."  2 Corinthians 5:21  (NLT) 

There are those in our lives who seem to think that it is their duty to make sure we know just how badly we have failed.  Some of our children love to inform us of each time we made a mistake in our parenting.  Spouses remind us of each misstep we have taken or each word that we have said that they feel we shouldn't have said.  Coworkers like to call our attention to errors as they seek to assure themselves that they would never have erred in the same way.  

Sadly, forgiveness and compassion do not reign in many of our relationships.  Low self-esteem is lowered even further as we take in each comment or action that makes us feel "less than."  After awhile we begin to believe that we, ourselves, are failures, even before God. 

If you are struggling with this today, I want to encourage you.  The best way to do that is to remind you how precious and valuable you truly are.  

Psalm 139 tells us just how close our Creator is to each of us, even from before conception.  The second part of verse 16 says this, "...all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."  He knew us before.  Before our birth.  Before creation.  Yet, knowing everything about us, still He gave us life.  Would He have done that if He found no value in us?  

As we are approaching Easter, we have even more to consider.  After celebrating the birth of Jesus just a few months ago, we now turn our minds to why He left Heaven in the first place.   Although a miracle, the baby in the manger did not stay there.  His thirty-three years on earth were spent in ministry and teaching.  He knew His time was limited to walk among His disciples.  He came to close the gap between us and God by being the sacrifice needed to atone for the sins of mankind.  

I recently saw an excerpt from the movie "The Passion of the Christ" which tells His story.  As I was watching the soldiers beat, whip and lift the Savior up on that horrid cross, my heart wanted to scream out "NO!"  He who never sinned took the punishment for each of us so that we might have forgiveness and eternal life if we repent and believe.  Now, I ask you again, does that sound like the action of someone who found no value in us?  

The love of the Lord, for you or for me, is so great that He would have endured the same torture if we were the only ones who needed it.  Take that in for a moment.  Before He hung a star in the sky, He knew you and every mistake, error or sin you would ever experience.  And, yet, His forgiveness is true and complete as He reaches out His holy arms to you in a love and a joy that this world cannot offer.  

Oh, beloved, as the days of existence on this orb grow fewer, I beg you to turn your face toward the One who offers an eternity of peace, and of never having to feel "less than" ever again.  He is there. Waiting.  Just for you.       

In His Grace,  

Karla