Calvary calls…

 

Good Friday…

I am reminded of a portion of the Footprints Poem by Mary Stevenson that says the following: 

“Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would walk with me all the way,
but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints.
“I don’t understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me.”
The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never, never leave you
during your times of trial and suffering.
“When you saw only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you.”

     However, in Christ’s death march to Calvary, His footprints were joined by another’s, “Simon the Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.” (Luke 23:26).

By now the footprints of Simon and Jesus merged as one along with the trail gouged by the end of that heavy cross dragging behind.  Exhaustion, blood loss, and beyond the threshold of pain, Jesus allows us to partake in His obedient drive to accomplish His Father’s will.  Soon Simon the Cyrene will depart from Calvary leaving one set of footprints.  Engaging the crucifying work of Jesus can change a person.  Although footprints before and after an encounter with Christ may appear the same – they are not.   Footprints will either carry the immeasurable hope of resurrection or contemptuous folly.  The very footprints that lift Christ up in His necessary crucifixion allows His finished work to draw all newfound love to Himself.  Life is more than leaving a carbon footprint marking our existence.  Life is leaving the imprint of hope, faith and above all – Love.

Look behind you, what do you see?

Love your neighbor,

Chris