This weekend, I was reminded that when Christ died (before he rose again), he spent three days in hell. (I didn't really forget, I guess I just hadn't thought about it in a while.)
My view of hell is not necessarily one of fire and brimstone, but of total separation from God. It is a desolate and joyless place, with no hope, no second chances and none of the love that we so readily take for granted. Here, on Earth, we have the opportunity to be near God, even if we don't embrace him as our savior. We easily forget that he is always near, and in hell, he will not be in the wind, a song or in our neighbor's hearts.
Christ went from perfect and constant communion with God to partial communion with God when he was born as a human to absolute separation from God in the span of 30-odd short years.
When Jesus was 9 months old, he was learning to crawl, blowing raspberries, pulling off his socks, testing out his new teeth, doing face-plants on the kitchen floor and "helping" his mama with laundry.
Thirty years later, he hung on the cross.
These are the things Mary thought about. She felt his kicks in her womb, and then watched him die for her own sins.I'm just saying.
Today I am thinking about 2 Peter, Chapter 2.
6 comments:
Oh my goodness what an awesome terrible awesome picture.
Thank you Erin for reminding me of how blessed I am to know Jesus as my savior. In a few short sentences you sum up the remind us of who God is and who we are. lovemom
Mary, did you know? Is one of my favorite Christmas songs. It wasn't one of my favorites until AFTER I was a mama myself.
I can't imagine what she went through. I always want to just give Jesus and Mary a hug and say, "I'm sorry and thank you.", when I hear that one.
Being a Christian is just a very awesome thing.
Being a parent shines a whole new light on what Christianity is... a new dimension that simply wasn't seen before. Pretty incredible.
Hhmmm, I didn't know that he was in Hell, better find that bible:)
1 Peter 3:18-19
18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison
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