Out for a round of shopping recently, I about had a temper tantrum. “Am I seriously staring at sixteen tables of Christmas décor, one stacked with Elf diapers and another with three types of holiday breakfast cereal?!”

It’s tough to find God in Christmas. Makes me think of an elaborate birthday party where the crowds are many, and the activities consuming enough that it’s the norm to make it through the night, and even home, lying awake in bed, when it dawns on you—“I forgot to see the birthday-boy! Saw him from afar a couple times, I think, but wish we’d gotten some face time." In other words, fun party, fuzzy centerpiece. Great play, but central character could’ve been more central. You get my point. And if you’ve grown-up anywhere around America in the month of December, I’m supposing you can relate.

I sat down with my friend Seeran recently to talk a bit about a trip she took to Turkey. Thoughts of reconciliation came to mind for me as we spoke. Specifically these verses from Corinthians,

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

I watched this video today and it just is amazing to consider what Christ did for us! We have an amazing Savior, Friend, Hope and Sacrifice in Jesus. He truly paid it all and thanks be to God for giving us Jesus. Today is a day to remember his suffering. Today is a day, not to move to His resurrection, but, to soak in his suffering. Today is a day where we remember, that where animals used to be slain for the remission of our sins, while we were still sinners Christ died for us. He took the place of an animal, a Lamb, but, moreover, a PERFECT LAMB that we might be Co-heirs with Him in the Kingdom of God.

In a few sentences what does Christ suffering mean to you? Comment if you would!

Listen as this Surgeon explains, from a medical perspective, what Christ did for us on that cross. Reflect, consider, be still, contemplate, medidate and remember Christ in his suffering today. Let Easter come where it will this weekend, but, for today just consider Christ in his suffering for us.