Good Friday and the Bride Price

This Good Friday, I'm focused on the bride price Jesus paid, the sacrifice God offered, the amazing plan of our loving God. Jesus saw us, had mercy on us, came to us and gave His life in our place so we could know Him, love Him, see Him, and be forgiven. Hallelujah, what love!

Here's one of my favorite passages from Ephesians 1 in the The Message:

How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! 

He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, 

and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. 

Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, 

had settled on us as the focus of his love, 

to be made whole and holy by his love. 

Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family 

through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) 

He wanted us to enter into the celebration 

of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, 

his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, 

we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments 

chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. 

Abundantly free! 

(from Ephesians 1 MSG)