Past the Empty Tomb.

Oops. I'm sorry.

I didn't mean for that to happen.
I didn't mean for it to come out that way.
I didn't mean to hurt you.
I didn't mean to make you feel that way. 
I didn't mean to be fearful. 
I didn't mean to think those thoughts.
I didn't mean to gossip.
I didn't mean to cause tension.
I didn't mean to.... 

There are SO many things throughout the day that can bring about an apology.

You do something and without meaning to, you hurt someone's feelings. You mess up. You fail someone. You fail yourself. You disappoint. 

It happens. We live in a fallen world. We're all human. We all make mistakes. We mess up on the daily. We're not perfect. We never have been. We never will be. 

Over the years, Easter has grown to become one of my favorite holidays. I was sitting outside over the weekend just thinking about it. Thinking of how many times, personally, I mess up on a daily basis- whether by thought, words, or actions.

Guys, it's a lot.
And then I got to thinking.. Jesus KNEW how much I would mess up. He knew how much you'd mess up. He knew it all. 

He knew how each of us would fall short. That the roads would be winding and we'd veer off the path at times. He knew that we'd question Him. Doubt Him. Get upset with Him. Do things contrary to what He wants for us because we think we know better. 

Yet still.. Jesus was flogged. Crowned with thorns. Carried the cross. Nailed to the cross. Died. Resurrected. 

According to Mirriam Webster, the definition of flog is: 
1a: to beat with or as if with a rod or whip
b: to criticize harshly

It wasn't a spanking like our parents would spank our bottoms. He was beaten harshly, underwent pain we can't even imagine, and then carried the cross that they would crucify Him on.. so that we could live. So that we, who He knew would be sinful, could live. WHAT?! 

He could have saved Himself. He could have, but He didn't. He would have rather died for us than live without us. He would rather bare the weight of our sins on His shoulders so that we could live. It doesn't make sense and we can't wrap our minds around that kind of love, but it's the love that He has for us.

He leaves the ninety-nine to find the one. He takes our brokenness, our sinful nature, and makes beauty from the ashes. There is nothing too bad, there is no one too broken, there is nothing that we have done that could ever make Him stop loving us. 

No matter where you are, no matter what you've done, no matter what others have done to you, no matter how you feel about yourself, you are a treasure to Him. You are valued. You are enough. You are not too far gone, you are not too messed up. He died for you so that you could live. His love is never ending. His love is fierce. His love is one of a kind and He has that love for you. For me. For all of us. Each and every day. 365 days a year. 24 hours a day. 

Easter is a time to celebrate that. And I hope that it isn't just a one-day celebration that ended when you went to sleep last night, that you only remember on the day we celebrate the empty tomb. I hope that you remember his love for you is more than you can imagine each and every day. It wasn't just the day He rose from the dead. The tomb is empty for you day after day. 

You were worth dying for. You still are. And nothing will ever change that. 

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