At the Cross

March 31, 2018

DAILY READING

1 Peter 4:1-8

Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9

This weekend’s reading: John 20:19-23

FIELD NOTES
So here we are. At the cross. We have heard the final instructions from Jesus to live our lives as a servant, to love each other well, and to remember him when we drink the wine and eat the bread. We have seen Jesus betrayed by a friend, denied by his followers, and completely rejected by the people he came to love. We have seen Jesus suffer a brutal death, all in the name love. Where should we go from here?  Should our earthly lives remain the same or do we walk always from that hillside as changed women and men?

If you are anything like me, you may have many crosses placed in various locations in your home, office, or elsewhere. For some, collecting crosses is something of a hobby. I personally like to acquire crosses or other symbols of Christianity from all of my world travels. One of my favorite crosses I picked up in South Korea… it is carved from a beautiful piece of wood, and it is wrapped in a small thread of gold, on which there are a few small, fragile flowers. I love how this cross looks, but I also love how it represents what Jesus did for us. Something that was supposed to be a symbol of torture and death, transformed into something truly beautiful.

We do know that we can walk away from the cross changed. We are called to live our lives with the confidence of children of God, seeking his will in all that we do. We know how the story ends, and we know what we will find on Sunday morning.  May we continue to approach the throne of God with grace and confidence, receiving all that we need for the steps ahead.

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD

• What does the symbol of the cross mean to you? Do you have a favorite cross? Why is it your favorite?
• How can you live as a confident child of God, knowing what Jesus Christ has done for you?

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• Draw pictures of crosses together, incorporating if you wish, scenes from the stories of Holy Week.
• What do you see or think of when you look at a cross?

PRAYER GUIDE
Loving God, you have redeemed us and given us the confidence to approach your throne to receive all of the grace and mercy that you have for us. Helped us to live our lives as changed people, and share the good news of the cross with all whom we meet. We infinitely thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus Christ. May we be more like him. Amen.