The angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in flames of fire within a bush……. Moses thought “I will go over and see this strange sight – why the bush does not burn up.”….. God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Exodus 3 vs. 2-5
As you read these words today, Good Friday, you may think them a very strange choice on this day of all days as we remember the humiliation and death of the Son of God for helpless sinners. I have chosen them specifically because this morning we are surely standing on ‘holy ground’!
We are privileged to view the eternal Son of God in his hours of greatest need and deepest grief as be bears the sin of the world – your sin and my sin.
We see him in Gethsemane when his anguish was so great that he sweated blood.
We see him alone as his closest friends desert him.
We see him falsely accused, mocked and abused.
We see him nailed to a cross like a common criminal
We hear his cry “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” as your sin and my sin temporarily break that bond between Father, Son and Spirit.
What more is there that can be said? This is truly Holy Ground!
I stand amazed in the presence
of Jesus the Nazarene,
and wonder how he could love me,
a sinner, condemned, unclean.
How marvellous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
How marvellous! How wonderful!
Is my Saviour’s love for me!
For me he prayed in the garden
and bowed to the will divine;
he had no tears for his own griefs,
but sweat drops of blood for mine.
He took my sins and my sorrows,
he made them his very own;
he bore the burden to Calvary,
and suffered and died alone.
When with the ransomed in glory
his face I at last shall see,
’twill be my joy through the ages
to sing of his love for me.
Lord show me afresh today the wonder of your love as I stand on such holy ground.