Praise the Lord for this GOOD Friday. I
spoke to some of my friends and family members overseas this morning
. They are celebrating Good Friday services at various times and in
various forms. Some attend the services during the morning , some
during the Midday, and some attend in the evening. I spoke to a
couple of dear friends, who live out of State. Their son who
was 50 years old died a few weeks ago. Their daughter works and
lives in Saudi Arabia. They shared that even though they are going
through the grief over the death of their son the Lord, the risen Lord, has
given them His peace. Their daughter who lives in Saudi
Arabia will be celebrating her first Easter in Saudi Arabia. I also
spoke with our daughter, Laureen, who will be leading the Easter services at
her church in Washington, DC. We are planning on attending
an Easter Vigil in our Neighboring Episcopal Church tomorrow evening, and
will be attending the Sunrise service hoisted by the local Baptist
Church. We will be gathering for our Easter Celebration Sunday morning at
11:00 AM. There will be special music along with praise dancing by the
children. This is our First Easter Service and celebration at our new
Church. We are excited and are thrilled to be here. Those of
you who live in the vicinity, please join us for a great celebration and
worship. It is going to be brilliant and beautiful. Somehow Jesus,
the Risen Lord, visits His people wherever they gather to worship Him.
It is, indeed, Good Friday. As I reflect on our Lord’s bitter sufferings and death on the cross, I am reminded abut a service in which communion was shared with a small group of people who had Downs Syndrome. It was a Sunday evening service in a small local church. That night one of the neighborhood nursing homes which cares for a group of adults with Downs Syndrome had brought them to the service. Some in the church may have been distracted by their outbursts, laughter, and mis-timed amens. The pastor was impressed and amazed by their simple childlike faith and genuine enthusiasm for hearing God’s word.
When it came time for communion they all gathered round the altar and the pastor began to make his circuit with the bread and the wine. Communion was crowded that night. The gathering was two deep. Standing directly in front of the pastor, was one of the men from the nursing home.
When the Pastor arrived at the place at the altar he offered the bread to the man in the front and said “The Body of Christ broken for you.” He then gave him the wine and announced, “The blood of Christ shed for you for the the forgiveness of all of your sins.” Upon hearing these words the man blurted out, “For MY sins. For MY sins.” He sounded like he was being given a precious gift. The joy in his voice rivaled the joy of any child I’ve ever seen on Christmas morning. This man, in simple childlike faith actually believed the words spoken by the Pastor. But they were not the Pastor’s words. They were Christ’s words. They were words of forgiveness. They were words of good news. That night this young man with the faith of a child believed the words of Christ and as a result he tasted the forgiveness of HIS sins.
The scene that unfolded was powerful and glorious. It was moving and uplifting. This man with Downs Syndrome preached a joyous three word sermon that night at the altar that ranks among the best sermons ever preached. As I reflect on the event I am blessed and moved and humbled. As we meditate this Good Friday upon our Lord and Savior bleeding, suffering, and dying on the cross, let our hearts turn to the simple words of this sermon preached by a man with Downs Syndrome; ‘For MY sins. For MY sins.”
In Christ,
Brown
https://youtu.be/3M4uUJibpvw
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