Hot Crossed Buns
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Good Friday...this is the day for us Christians. A very special day that quite frankly I usually overlook. Not today however, today I woke up with Good Friday on the brain. The day Jesus allowed himself to be hung on a cross to save all of humanity from their sins. All of humanity, but also me. God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believed in him would not perish but have everlasting life. The whole world but also me. It is easy to gloss over the truth behind Good Friday when we think of it in broad strokes, but what about when we take a look at it through the lens of our own lives.
All of the sin in my life, all of the ugliness and hatred, all of the darkness and weakness, Jesus Christ, took it upon himself and covered it with grace and mercy so that I could live outside of condemnation and despair. That is enough isn't it? If God never did another thing in my life, if I never felt another goose bump or received another blessing or miracle that is enough.
Today I have been very mellow, thinking about the love that the father laid down on me when the crucifixion took place, thinking about Jesus and how my life reflects him, if it even does. I am overwhelmed. There are so many days that go by when I am lost in my selfishness and weakness. Days that I feel insignificant or alone, days when I am confused and can only think of myself. But then there are a few days here and there that I have the opportunity to share what Christ has done in me with someone who doesn't know yet what God did.
Today i have had the chance to talk to my kids about it. I have been able to talk to them about how amazing Jesus is, what an unbelievable thing that he did for us. I wanted to mark this day as special, but I didn't know what to do so I decided to make hot crossed buns. Which until today I had no idea that they had anything to do with Easter. Today I learned that it used to be tradition to make these yummy buns on Good Friday. Hot Crossed Buns, which I also learned are not easy to make and pretty much take the entire day. (http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/04/hot-cross-buns/) I had a lovely day planned with the kids, in my head there was lots of laughter and joy, in reality there was a lot of dishes, whining and a burnt pan of buns. However, at the end of the day we ended up with some lovely buns to enjoy.
We have traditions for Easter, we spend time focusing the power of the resurrection. Each easter we have candy and spend time with family. We go to church expecting to hear about the day Christ rose from the dead. But Friday, Friday is what made it all possible, Friday is the day he allowed himself to be beaten and abused, Friday is the day he died, the day he took all of it on himself and submitted his will to God's will, for me. Friday is a good day.
I know that hot crossed buns don't really mean much to us now, but it is a reminder, a way to celebrate, a way to remember what today is all about. I hope I never become familiar with the price that Christ paid. I hope I never think of this weekend as just another weekend or just another day. As a believer in Christ, someone who tries to really pursue God, this should be a big, big weekend.
I am so thankful that God sent Jesus to die for me all those years ago before I was ever thought of, before I was ever created, Jesus looked out and saw me. Think about your life, what did Jesus cover in your life as he was dying on the cross? The most heinous sins, the worst of the worst, he covered them all so that we could be clean and new, washed white as snow in the eyes of the Father. With nothing separating us from God, so that forever more when God looks out on his children, on me and on you He doesn't see our sin, He sees Jesus, the spotless lamb of God. That is worth celebrating...
Hot crossed bun anyone????
