Dear Family at Christ Community,

On Sunday, we will be confronted with the crucifixion, death, and burial of Christ in Matthew 27:32-66 which will prepare us well to receive the elements from the Lord’s Table. We will taste of the broken bread that represents Christ’s body so brutally broken for us and drink of the cup which reflects Jesus’ shed blood so freely poured out for us. This physical brokenness and blood-letting Christ endured to save us from our sin. In fact, Christ became sin so that we could be restored to our Abba Father (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21)!  Christ’s sacrificial act should humble and cause us to seek and obey the Lord. As J.C. Ryle wrote in his Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Volume 1: Matthew—Mark:

…let us ever learn from the story of the passion, to hate sin with a great hatred. Sin was the cause of all our Saviour’s suffering. Our sins platted the crown of thorns. Our sins drove the nails into His hands and feet. On account of our sins His blood was shed. Surely the thought of Christ crucified should make us loathe all sin. Well says the Homily of the Passion, “Let this image of Christ crucified be always printed in our hearts. Let it stir us up to the hatred of sin, and provoke our minds to the earnest love of Almighty God.”

As you prepare to take of the Lord’s goodness offered at His table, give thanks for Jesus being willing to pay the price for your sin. Grant God the praise due His name for offering up His own Son to be crucified on your behalf so that you might become His child! Offer forgiveness where you can to those you have been separated from by sin no matter where it comes from. Forgive others as you have been so freely forgiven. Remember that your sin has been crucified with Christ, and walk in obedient newness of life to the glory of God!

In Christ,
Cameron