The Most Important Day of the Year (Easter)

In Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross, Nancy Guthrie remarks that many churches make more of Mother's Day than Easter. This challenged me to spend the next few weeks to considering him who endured the cross (see Hebrews 12:2-3). Toward this end, I am reading the abovementioned book of devotions between now and April 4th (Easter). I will share these with you in hopes that you will also condering him who endured the cross. First up, Martin Luther (True Contemplation of the Cross)... "You must be overwhelmed by the frightful wrath of God who so hated sin that he spared not his only begotten Son. What can the sinner expect if the beloved Son was so afflicted? Ponder this and you will tremble, and the more you ponder, the deeper you will tremble." "When you see the nails driven through his hands, be sure that you are pounding, and when the thorns pierce his brow, know that they are your evil thoughts. Consider that if on thorn pierces Christ, you deserve one hundred thousand." "When tribulation and sickness assail you, think how slight these are compared to the thorns and nails of Christ. If you are twarted, remember how he was bound and dragged. If pride besets you, see how the Lord was mocked and with robbers despised. If unchastity incites your flesh, recall how his fless was scourged, pierced and smitte. If hate, envy, and vengeance tempt you, think how Christ for you and all his enemies interceded with tears, though he might rather have avenged himself. If you are afflicted and cannot have your way, take heart and say, "Why should I not suffer when my Lord sweat blood for very anguish?" "Astounding it is that the cross of Christ has so fallen into forgetfulness, for is it not forgetfulness of the cross when one wishes not to suffer but rather to enjoy himself and evade the cross?"