I remember times when the deepening of the shadows filled the yard and the sun did a slow dance in the space between night and day. Summer sounds of crickets, birds and the occasional croak of a frog created a richness that filled in where the shadows left off. Life with the neighbor kids revolved around one more game of tag or kick the can before the sun said it’s final goodbye. The space between the light and the shadows was safe, comfortable and treasured.
I remember another space of deepening shadows that did not look as safe or comfortable. The time was over two thousand years ago and the place was a hillside. Three crosses stood out as silhouettes against the darkening sky. Three men were hung side by side. Two were criminals and one was hung to fulfill His Father’s plans. People gathered in the shadow of the crosses. Some were family or close acquaintances and others were bystanders cheering on the death of three men, not understanding what was taking place. These shadows were tainted with sin, destruction as well as a small light of hope.
As we approach the shadow of the cross this Friday and everyday of our lives, we can choose to let the shadows consume us or look beyond to the light. We can choose to stand with the boisterous crowd jeering and name calling because that is what the mainstream expects. Or we can choose to stand with the small group gathered whose hearts were breaking because their friend, son, and Savior was dying.
As we walk toward the cross, what will we remember? Will we look past the shadows that covered the hillside? Will we seek to know what happened next? What will our response be as we hear the shouts of Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Clopas, when an angel of the Lord shared the Good News- “Jesus is risen from the dead”?
[Tweet “Stand in the shadow of the cross-acknowledge Jesus’ sacrifice-find the light of the resurrection. “]
But we must first embrace the shadow of the cross and the sacrifice of Jesus before we can stand in the light of His resurrection. We must open our hearts holding our deepest secrets and release them in the shadows. We must admit we are weak and in the acknowledgement embrace the strength and forgiveness that comes from Jesus. We must say “yes” to the light and in saying “yes” we are given the beautiful gift of grace and forgiveness. We become a new creation in the light of the resurrection and the shadows of sin and destruction are wiped away.
This week we look toward the cross. The agony, callousness and piercing thorns become love, hope and a future three days later when Jesus rose from the dead. Our hope is in Jesus.
He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24
Looking to Jesus to redeem our messes begins when we sit at the foot of the cross and say yes to following Him into the resurrection of our own selves away from the death and destruction of the enemy. And even if all our plans never come to pass, our redemption still comes with the gift of Jesus’ grace and love.
Let us walk slowly, with purpose and a deepening sense of the beautiful gift we receive each time we place ourselves at the foot of the cross.
Blessings of grace along the way,
Mary
P.S. I leave this Saturday for Nicaragua. I would cherish your prayers as I finish preparing and then work with the team when we hit the ground. I will be gone one week. Thank you in advance.
Blessed to be linking up with these fabulous ladies!
and Dawn for Grace Moments
Hi Mary! I think you will see travels to the cross on your mission trip. Not only your own, but so many in that country.
May God bless you with His peace and joy, as you bring your own special gifts to another place that is in great need of them.
Hugs!
Ceil
You are absolutely right and I absolutely did! It was an amazing week that I will be processing for quite awhile. Good to see you Ceil! Hope your Easter was blessed.
Happy Easter to you, my friend.
Enjoy the rest of the week and stay blessed!
What a beautiful picutre and reminder, Mary! I’ll definintely be praying for you as you travel to Nicaragua! Somehow, I missed the fact that you’re going on a mission trip! I can’t wait to hear your stories :). Hugs!
I haven’t been real vocal about going on this mission trip partly because of all that had been happening with my dad. I will carry your prayers with me and pray you and your family have a beautiful Easter.
This is beautiful, Mary. So true that we need to focus on the shadow of the cross and Jesus’ sacrifice before turning our hearts to the hope and light of the resurrection. I love how you captured that here. Blessings to you this Easter. Praying for you and your trip.
Thank you for your kind words. If we are truly going to lay ourselves down for Jesus, we must stand first in the shadows of the cross. Thank you for your prayers as I travel. Easter blessings!
Yes, embracing that shadow before walking in the light of our Savior is crucial, Mary! Thank you for bringing that “to light,” my friend! You’re always so wise and inspiring. You’ve set the tone for worship in my heart this Easter!
Your sweet words always make my day. I pray that as we finish the walk to the cross this week we remember that Jesus’ death was for all of us. The shadow of His cross is where we can lay down our sins for His forgiveness. Praying your Easter is blessed for you and your family.
This is such a beautiful post, written with words of gentle invitation and persuasion that speak powerfully heart to heart. There is such richness here that I will need to return again and let it all soak in. For now, these words are playing in my mind and giving me pause for thought: “we can choose to let the shadows consume us or look beyond to the light.” It does take deliberation, courage and trust to release our darkness, and time to acknowledge the need of it.
Because we can become so accustomed to carrying our own darkness, shame and pain that they feel like the very fabric of our being. Thank you for the wisdom in this offering, Mary. I’m praying you will also be given all you need to share as you journey elsewhere. May your heart be open, wise, receptive and giving too as you rest peacefully in the One who takes this trip with you. Every blessing for Easter and beyond. Xx <3
I have no words for the beautiful encouragement you bestowed on me here. You take my thoughts and affirm them as well as clarify them further and it is such a beautiful gift. I treasure your prayers as I step bravely into something totally new to me. I pray my heart and eyes are opened to all God has in store for me. Easter blessings to you and your family.
Praying for you even as we speak, Mary. What an incredible spiritual season to take your leave for Nicaragua …
May your journey change your life forever … in all the best ways. He goes with you and will bless you abundantly.
Because He is risen …
It is just like God to choose this week for me to step out bravely. I love how He chooses us and then provides just the right place for it all to happen. I love knowing that you will be with me in prayer. I imagine that this trip will be life changing. Easter blessings to you and yours!
What a miracle how God turns death to life, shadows to light, darkness to light. Thank you for reminding us of Jesus’ death for us. Praying now for your Nicaragua trip.
Thank you for your sweet words. May we all step out of the shadows of the cross and embrace the light of Jesus. Thank you so much for your prayers. It means a lot. Easter blessings to you and your family.
“Let us walk slowly” I love that, Mary. I tend to go too fast these days, even when it comes to time spent with Him. I need to walk slowly this week (and every week!). I will definitely be praying for you. May God bless you, protect you, and draw all those you meet closer to Him. Blessings!
Your encouragement is such a blessing. I love Holy Week for the chance to walk slowly and reflect on the amazing gift we received from Jesus at the end of the week. Thank you for your prayers as In travel in a few days. I love knowing you are accompanying me in prayer. Easter blessings!
Enjoyed your lovely post today! I saw a tweet yesterday that said, “Truth did not die on the cross!” Yes, our Savior gave up His life, but Truth can never be snuffed out. We can be grateful for that. (Visiting today from #TellHisStory where we are neighbors.)
We know truth because we know Jesus. Thank you for sharing that quote. Love it! I wanted to let you know that I visited your blog and enjoyed reading your words. I know you had your comments turned off so I couldn’t leave you some encouragement. Praying you have a wonderful Easter.
Mary, what a beautiful post. Very thought provoking. We can walk in the shadow or we can cower in the shadow of the cross, or we can look to the light. I love this perspective.
This? “Looking to Jesus to redeem our messes begins when we sit at the foot of the cross and say yes to following Him into the resurrection of our own selves away from the death and destruction of the enemy.”
I am beyond thankful that Jesus can redeem our messes.
I hope your time in Nicaragua is amazing. I’m sure it will hold precious memories, a confrontation of self and amazing fulfillment as you see God at work. I’ll pray, my friend.
I am grateful too that Jesus redeems and extends grace over and over. My weaknesses are made strong because I have chosen to follow Jesus. May we all look to the cross for our redemption and step away from the shadows to embrace the light of Jesus.
Thank you for joining me on my trip through prayer. It means a lot knowing I have community with me in prayer. Easter blessings to you and your family.
That “But we must first embrace the shadow of the cross …” paragraph is excellent! That is the challenge and it is a challenge.
David
Thank you, David! I appreciate your encouragement and for joining me here today. Easter blessings to you!
“We can choose to let the shadows consume us or look beyond to the light.” May we all seek the Light! Thanks, Mary.
Praying for your time in Nicaragua to be healthy, productive, and grace-filled!
May we seek the light each day knowing that it shines with love, grace and peace. I am excited that I am sending Easter in Nicaragua. What an amazing experience it will be. Thank you for the prayers and being here today! Easter blessings!
I love this reflection, Mary. It’s so encouraging that “The agony, callousness and piercing thorns become love, hope and a future three days later when Jesus rose from the dead.” Have a blessed week and a joy-filled Easter! May God be with you and keep you and shine through you in Nicaragua!
I am in awe of the beauty that God continues to display through all of the ugliness and hate in our world. It all started with Jesus dying on the cross for all of us. I appreciate that you will be with me on my trip in my heart. I love knowing that you are praying for me. Easter blessings!
Love! Jesus our “however” to the story. Praying for you and your trip to Nicaragua!
I love being able to say that Jesus is the “however” to my story. I am blessed indeed! Thank you for your prayers! Easter blessings!
Beautiful. It is such a blessing that we have a God who loves us so much! Thanks so much for that reminder of this “Let us walk slowly, with purpose and a deepening sense of the beautiful gift we receive each time we place ourselves at the foot of the cross.” Yes! Walking slowly with purpose…walking towards Him in all we do!
Your sweet words are such a blessing to me this evening. Thank you for joining me here and affirming that God loves us deeply. Praying we all walk slowly and intentionally to the cross as we meet Jesus in the shadows and He lovingly walks us into the light.
Yes, we must say yes to the light and let us walk that path of righteousness being the hands and feet of Jesus. Pray you have peace and calm as you prepare this week for your Nicaragua!
Amen! Blessed by your words and knowing that you are praying for me as I prepare for my trip. May you find Jesus at the foot of the cross and let Him remind you over and over that you are worthy and loved. Easter blessings!
Beneath the cross of Jesus, I fain would take my stand;
The shelter of a mighty rock within a weary land.
A home within the wilderness, a rest along the way,
From the burning of the noonday heat
And the burden of the day.
This old hymn came to mind as I read because it reminds me that a shadow is a comforting place to be at time. Especially if we are in the shadow of the cross where we can leave our sins behind.
Blessings, Mary. Thank you for these meditations for Holy Week.
Thank you for the connection to the old hymn. I also had Kari Jobe’s “Forever” in mind as I was writing this piece. May we all find Jesus in the shadow of the cross but also let Him lovingly guide us into the light. Blessings as we walk to the cross this week and into the light of the resurrection.