When it seemed we have 7 days to go, we have another 14 days of lockdown added. This is not a shock to me as I said in yesterday’s note, but to many it is an enormous shock. Irrespective of how the government and its partners come to the aid and support through the funds set up to help, the going will get tougher and many will experience severe hardships. It is a MUST that we pray for those experiencing these hardships, especially those we know personally.
This extended lockdown comes in the face of Bloody Friday, where we remember the greatest sacrifice, and Resurrection Sunday, where we remember the greatest miracle.
The Coronavirus and lockdown will cause many across the globe to suffer extreme hardship, including many around us. But, as we reflect upon the days that follow from Friday to Sunday–the Days of Passion–we become aware that our God experienced the greatest sacrifice, the greatest pain and the greatest loss … the substitutional, penal, sacrificial death of God the Son for wicked people like you and me. He did not have to do this, but sacrificial love does the unthinkable for the objects of love.
As we start the next three weeks of lockdown, with all it will mean to us personally, let us be reminded of what our Saviour did for us, in our place, for our eternal salvation from our greatest enemy–sin.
Just think of Isaiah 52:13-53:12, which reads:
Isa 52:13 See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. 14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness—15 so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand. Isa 53:1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the LORD’S will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Thank You Jesus for Your love and sacrifice. Amen