To Hell and back

Every Easter season something different stands out to me more than other years.  Kinda like a theme.

This year I keep going back to the fact that Christ experienced Hell.  I think it started when we were discussing it at dinner devotions one night and one of the residents was surprised to hear that Jesus went to Hell.


As I sat there and listened to Paul explain the scripture that supports it, I was reminded of this, yet another facet of the huge sacrifice Christ did for us.

When I think of Jesus' sacrifice I think about him suffering and being crucified.  That in itself is horrible enough.

But when I think that Jesus went to Hell because He took on our sins and became forsaken by God.

That just deepens my gratitude for what He has done.  This piddly little post just doesn't do it justice because

we

just

don't

deserve

it.

All we deserve is Hell because we are all sinners and none of us is righteous. 
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23 

The wages of sin is death (Hell) Romans 6:23

To think that Jesus went through all that so that I never would.

At the beginning of the crucifixion ordeal, Jesus addresses God as 'Father'
Father forgive them for they know not what they do

But just a few hours later the separation of that intimate relationship can be seen when Jesus cries,
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Jesus experienced the wretchedness of hopelessness.  Of feeling God turning His back on His only Son, a part of the Holy Trinity, so that I never would.

I'm not sure who said it first, because I have heard it and read it in a few different places but:

For believers, this world is the closest thing to hell that we will ever experience.

 Wow, that thought alone can stop me for a moment and make me think.  You do not have to experience Hell because Jesus did it for you.

Thank you, Jesus, for your indescribable sacrifice.  You literally went to Hell and back for me.  I don't deserve it, but I am so very grateful that you did.


Comments

Post a Comment

Tell me how you live intentional. I'd love to know!

Popular posts from this blog

The jig is up

Image
OK, I've kept it a secret for 6 months, but now that it's over, I'm bragging on my man. : ) Since April, Paul has been training to run the Columbus Marathon. We were able to get a few days off of work, grandparents watched the kids, and on Saturday morning Paul and I headed down to Columbus. We headed downtown to pick up his race packet and then spent the rest of the day and night with Ben, Jaime, and Alayna . Dark and early (5 AM) Sunday morning we rolled out of bed, Paul got geared up, and we headed downtown again to find a decent parking spot. Thankfully we found a good place to park and had Paul to the starting area at 6:30 AM (an hour before start). Ben graciously came along so I didn't have to wander around Columbus on my own -thanks, Ben! It was mid-30's at the start with a slight breeze, but skies were clear and the sun came out once it rose. Ben and I saw Paul off at the start and then headed to the halfway point (got some coffee along the way) and ...
Read more

Want to play frisbee golf?

Image
  Relationships. "Mom, can we go frisbee golfing?"   In my head, my first thought is, "No, I'd rather not go out in 95 degree heat and toss a frisbee at targets for 2 hours." I'd gladly read a book in the shade, go for a hike, take a nap, or go for a cup of coffee. But frisbee golf?   But, when your 14 year old asks to do something WITH you, it's best to jump on that train because you don't know when it will pass by again.   So, we went frisbee golfing. And though it did end up being fun, the most joy was seeing my son doing something he enjoys and being a part of it. It's life-giving to the relationship.   I see this play out big time in other areas as well when it comes to our kids. I pretty much take life seriously and don't slow down to have fun a whole lot. But setting aside my own interests, and taking up one of my child's instead, always proves fruitful.   When I'm tempted to groan and maybe even sigh at the one h...
Read more

Madeline Nichole Suvar

Image
The newest addition to our family came into this world on February 1st. She weighed 6 lbs 3 oz and was 19 inches long. She surprised us all with having black hair - Owen and Hannah were born with next to nothing for hair and even then it was real light. She impressed the doctors at the hospital by gaining back her birth weight and passing it by an ounce (a rarity, I guess). Our first day at home (today) went well. She was awake for most of the morning and through lunch and then took a nap in the afternoon. She nurses well and doesn't get upset by all the noise Owen and Hannah make. Hannah loves to come over and pat her on the head and Owen will talk to her and hold her hand. I am working on wrapping my mind around the fact that I am a mother of 3 - it makes me feel old! :) I'm healing well from my C-Section, the hardest part is forcing myself to stay put and letting Paul do things for me. He's a great nurse, cook, father, husband.... : )
Read more