The wonder of the cross...

Making Easter a big deal is a big deal to us.

There are many "traditions" we are trying to implement in our young family, and one of my favorites is our dough scene. The kids shape a garden, hill and tomb and after it is baked we paint the landscaping on. They use their Playmobile characters and "act out" the story of Easter day by day. Jesus praying in the garden with his disciples sleeping nearby, the crucifixion on the hill, and then his burial. On Sunday morning I remove the giant stone in front of the tomb, unwrap the figure of Jesus and neatly fold his grave clothes. The guards are knocked down and Jesus is placed triumphantly over the grave! Then we wake the kids. This part makes me cry every year...as they come running to the scene and are delighted to find Jesus risen!

This year was extra special.

This year we were able to share Easter with J*.

It seemed to us that he didn't know the true meaning of the holiday. Each day he listened intently and he was very aware that Jesus had died. The days that we didn't play with the scene (while Jesus was in the grave) he kept walking by saying, "Jesus is dead." And his eyes were wide on Sunday morning when Jesus wasn't in the tomb. He asked a several times that morning, "Jesus isn't dead?" and it was a joy to be able to tell him again and again how Jesus was more powerful than death because he is God...

The "official" holiday is over, but we still have the scene sitting on the table. Throughout the day J will pick up the folded grave clothes and tell me, "Jesus isn't dead! He is alive!" It is so new and exciting to him...you can see it in his eyes.

As I thought about J and how he is hearing about Jesus for (what seems) the first time, I was very convicted. That is how I want the Gospel to be in my eyes as well...

Fresh and new.

Exciting and awesome.

O precious sight my Savior stands
Dying for me with outstretched Hands
O precious sight I love to gaze
Remembering salvation's day
Remembering salvation's day

Though my eyes linger on this scene
May passing time and years
Not steal the pow'r with which it impacts me
The freshness of its mystery
The freshness of its mystery

May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
May I see it like the first time
Standing as a sinner lost
Undone by mercy and left speechless
Watching wide eyed at the cost
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross

Behold the God-man crucified
The perfect sinless Sacrifice
As Blood ran down those nails and wood
History was split in two
Yes history was split in two

Behold the empty wooden tree
His Body gone alive and free
We sing with everlasting joy
For sin and death have been destroyed
Yes sin and death have been destroyed

May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
May I see it like the first time
Standing as a sinner lost
Undone by mercy and left speechless
Watching wide eyed at the cost
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross

2007 Thankyou Music

*Using only his initial because this is a public blog. :)