I’ve seriously considered bloggin’ a crapload of times in the last month or so. I even wrote a post on word because it was going to uber well though-out post. I edited and corrected and edited some more. Well… I’m not going to post it. I spent way too much time on it to never “really” finish. The original thought behind it was indirect, sarcastic, somewhat upsetting, criticism of people that well, I’m not going to post.
With that being said here’s what just pumped me up enough to write again.
This year, I get the huge privilege to lead worship on Good Friday at church. We are starting our Easter series called “I am: ________”. Anyways, I try to seek God in the picking of songs for the night and I talked to Pastor Boyd to know what he’s envisioning for the Good Friday service as the pastor and teacher. As I’m reasoning through the choices I have made for songs, based on what I talked with Boyd and what I’ve been learning lately, my heart just experienced the biggest “Heartbreaking Celebration”. Here’s what I mean…
Title of the sermon is I am: Paid For . Immediately my head started spinning. Usually, at least in my experience, Good Friday services in the US have a solemn tone to them, a very important tone at that. Jesus, the Son of God, was betrayed, ridiculed, mocked, spit, beaten, whipped, denied, crucified and killed! All because of my sin, in essence, I spat on him, I ridiculed him. Jesus I am so sorry! Please God, may I never take this lightly! I deserve that cross. Worse, I deserve separation from my creator because I do not measure up to his greatness yet Jesus yells “eloi eloi lama sabachthani, My God, My God, why have you forsaken me!” In order for Jesus to bear our sin he had to go through separation. I’m not sure how this works theologically, but all I think Jesus felt the separation I deserve. In Christ’s loneliest moment, the Father had to turn his face away! WHAT THE… Man, talk about solemn, talk about grieving.
Jesus, with his last breath says “It is Finished”. The veil is torn, no more separation. Unto this realization my heart can’t help but cry out to God, like Brennan Manning said. ”God are you Crazy!?” I ask God. ”Why did you do this?! Why me?!” My heart immediately has a Heartbreaking Celebration. I don’t deserve this. Yet, I am the “apple of his eye” (Zech 2:8 + Psalm 17:8). Jesus is jealous for me! Ephesians 1 says that God chose me before anyone could say the word “before” in accordance to his pleasure. He wanted me, which makes me again just yell, “Are you crazy? Me?” I am lustful, I am prideful, I lie, I cheat, I take advantage of people, I put a million things before God including myself when I hate myself, I have self-image, self-worth issues, but yet I am worth Jesus dying?! I am His portion and that just makes me want to leap out and say “Thank you father for letting me drown in your enormous grace, as if a tsunami of grace engulfed me completely! He tore the veil, he made a way, when he said “It is Finished”
I am:__Paid For
Why did he pick me? Because he is glorified in saving me. Man, all glory be to God because Jesus took my place on that Cross. Even though I am dirt, now I am set apart as He is set apart. There is Love that came for us and was humbled. So let the name of Jesus be lifted higher and higher! To God the Father and Jesus the Lamb of God be blessing, honor, glory and power forever!
This Good Friday, lets mourn the death of Jesus, but let’s honor and reverently celebrate the tearing of the veil, the meaning behind his death, and in the end give all glory, praise, and adoration to him.
So this Good Friday, I want to send that message. I want my friends and family to celebrate with their hearts broken. Oh and by the way, it’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming. 
Btw, within my post I think I put all the songs that we’re doing on Good Friday, don’t wanna give the set list away, but lets just say that I hope I reflect this blog in the set list and vice versa.
I’m in the office most evenings. Tell me if you want to worship through the set together before then.
haha yeah as i was reading, i kept thinking, ‘oh that’s a lyric. oh, there’s another one… hmm i wonder if this was intentional???”
good stuff marcos. it’s weird but i kinda can’t wait for Good Friday. sometimes i like that day more than Easter.
also… is it inappropriate to go watch Clash of the Titans after GF service?
What she said. Looking forward to Good Friday. Heck I might come to a rehearsal. Good stuff Marcos, good stuff.