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With a Grateful Heart for HIS Passion!
Jennifer
Lynn Joy © 2004 "I Love YOU too much not to." The words are deeply engraved for eternity upon my soul and spirit. Like most teenagers, I was looking for answers to a million questions. One of those questions was, Did JESUS really die on the cross? Being raised Baptist, that is not a question that one asked during the family dinner. It was a question asked in a private moment of prayer, hoping GOD’s answer was not eternity in hell. Like a racehorse at the gate, I could not hold back the urgency that kept compelling me to seek GOD about this and so I asked GOD to take me to the cross of JESUS. The Holy Spirit gave me the following dream at the time, although more times than not, it has been closer to reality than my own life. As a Gentile, I did not join the crowds that walked the recognized path up the hill but took the less noticed even though more physically challenging, back way. I stayed hidden in the brush until the sound of the relentless hammers were silent, until the agonizing groans of pain lessened. Holding back until most of the crowd had returned to their places of trade, places of importance and familiar positions in the community. Most everyone had seen a crucifixion before. Carefully I moved closer. The sound of my own heart pounding through the simple linen garment tied at the waist with a sash. Brown leather sandals kept the rough terrain from bruising my feet. A burgundy colored scarf was draped over my head and shoulders covering most of my face, concealing my youthfulness. Then I looked up and saw HIM. Our eyes met and immediately the sounds of gambling soldiers, the remains of taunting crowds, grieving friends and family, all faded into the shroud of death over the placed called Golgotha…the mountain of the skull. Time stopped. Sobs erupted out of my soul and spirit like a pent up volcano being released. Completely incapable of comprehending HIS love, HIS purpose, HIS destiny, HIS deity, HIS majesty and HIS mercy, I pleaded with HIM, You don’t have to do this. Piercing me with HIS love HE whispered, "I Love YOU too much not to." As the magnitude of that grasped me, I collapsed in a crumpled heap on the ground as the heavens released thundering bolts of lightning. One of HIS followers scooped me up and carried me down the hill in my traumatized, semi-conscious state. The next day I awakened lying on a simple cot in a Jewish home. In 2004, thirty-eight years later, the movie Passion was released in theaters around the world. Many were deeply offended that I would not go. Others lovingly pleaded with me not to go. My memory of HIS cross, HIS love, HIS sacrifice, HIS purpose had only become more intense over the years. I completely appreciate and bless the work that Mel Gibson accomplished in the destiny of JESUS CHRIST being released through this movie, this means of communication. The one thing the movie did not bring was the smell of HIS blood mixed with the dirt, the smell of death or the aroma of HIS sacrifice, which is very different from the tantalizing fragrance of buttered popcorn. HE was heaven's perfume, a fragrance of perfect grace and beauty poured out for us. Even now, the sound of HIS whisper, the sound of HIS mercy, the sound of HIS compassion, the sound of HIS obedience encompasses me. ~ I Love YOU too much not to... ~ My prayer has often been, FATHER, in the name of JESUS, cause me to love you so much that I will not walk in disobedience, self-centeredness, or in the flesh. Cause me to love you so much that immediate obedience is commonplace and immediate forgiveness and unconditional love is as normal as breathing. Cause me to be willing to count the cost. As the season of Thanksgiving approaches throughout America, perhaps we could take a moment and be grateful for HIS obedience unto death, HIS resurrection power, the privilege of being called HIS own, the joy of eternal life, HIS healing touch, HIS restorative favor, HIS overt love and grace and because HE loved us too much not to. Give thanks with a grateful heart… ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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