Thank You Jesus for the Cross

I have been pondering all morning what today, Good Friday, signifies and how we are so unworthy of Jesus' love yet He willingly died for us. What an Awesome act of sacrifice---so hard to wrap my mind around yet I am more than grateful and humbled at My Jesus' love for me! As is tradition, every Catholic Church in Costa Rica has processionals (like a parade of people processing down the street) during Semana Santa (Holy Week) that reinacts the events leading up to Jesus resurrecting on Sunday Morning. This year Palmera was asked to be Jesus for Jacó's processional and though he is not Catholic he immediately said yes. They thought he had "the look" with long, wavy hair but to him filling this role was much more. This is the first Easter in many, many years that he is sober and has an understanding of Jesus' true sacrifice for his sins. He was able to share with many there how God has changed his life and he is a new creation in Christ. Though these processionals are very much a cultural tradition it was beautiful to see the truth of Christ's love become so real to Palmera. In fact, he couldn't stop smiling while "playing the role" of Jesus as he was being beaten because he said he felt so happy and free in Christ. The following are a few pictures of Palmera...please continue to pray for him as the Lord does a work in His life...

Isaiah 53:5-6 "He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our sins. The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

Happy Easter and God bless you!