The Ultimate Sacrifice

John 15:13- "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lays down his life for his friends."

What constantly amazes me every year about Easter Sunday is the memory that Christ died on the cross for ME! Even before he knew me, and even before I committed my first sin, He came and hung on the cross for ME!?
The scripture says that He laid down His life for His friends, but what "friend" would mock an innocent man with taunts and cruel words? What "friend" would nail an innocent man to the cross to die in painful agony? What "friend" would laugh and shout encouragement as they watched each cut of the whip bite into the bare flesh of His back? And yet, have we not done all these things? Do we not continue to sin in our words, deeds and actions? As much as the Roman soldiers drove the nails into our Lord's hands, we were behind every hammer blow....and yet, He died and paid for our sins that we might have eternal life. What an awesome God we worship!

Yesterday we saw several infant baptisms, and one adult baptism. The children who were baptised were Bin Boon and Kat's two kids, Reuben and Renee, and Kah Keong and Janice's Lisa Emmanuelle. Khoon Sheng was also baptised, and he also shared his testimony with us. It is indeed a joy to welcome these brothers and sisters no matter what their age, into the family of God officially! Rev Eng Kiat conducted the baptism as well as shared the message.

Good Friday service was held at Raffles City, and the ballroom as usual was packed to capacity. The message was really good, delivered by Rev Dr Michael Raiter. He drove home some very insightful and meaningful points; interestingly, he chose to speak from Zec 12:1-13:1, but the message was very powerful. What really spoke to me about the message was how often we take God for granted, and forget what he has done for us. What better time to remember this than at Good Friday, when we recall his ultimate sacrifice for us!

Good Friday has always had special meaning to me, because it was 18 years ago, as a 15 year old that I rededicated my life to Him on Good Friday, 17 April 1987. It has been an incredible journey of faith since then, of course with its ups and downs, but always with one goal in mind for me, that at the end of this journey in God's timing, I will stand before Him and hear the words "Well done, good and faithful servant". May this be the prayer of all our hearts this Easter, and always.