Encouragement for Life

Crucified

Laid behind a stone

You lived to die

Rejected and alone

Like a rose trampled on the ground

You took the fall and thought of me

Above all   

(From Above All by Michael W. Smith)

You are probably familiar with these words from Michael W. Smith’s song. The song describes Jesus as being above all powers and all created things.  Yet, He allowed himself to be crucified and laid behind the stone of the burial cave. Then, in the refrain, Mr. Smith compares Jesus’ death to a rose “trampled on the ground.” Just as a rose blooms, petals fall and are blown away to be trampled underfoot; Jesus was rejected, crucified, and left alone behind the stone. 

The next words remind us of how personal Jesus’ death is to us. He died because of His love for us. He didn’t want us to perish in our sin so He made a way of escape, if we accept it. 

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins”

(1 John 4:10).

How thankful I am for Jesus’ love and sacrifice for me! How thankful I am for His resurrection! He rose from behind that stone and lives today! He is keeping His promise to prepare a place for us and one day He will return to take us to that place of eternal happiness. 

Last week, my Mr. Lincoln rose reminded me of Michael W. Smith’s song and what it means. It began as a beautiful bud which blossomed into a full bloom. But in the heat of the next day, the petals fell scattered on the ground. Isn’t it wonderful to know that the comparison to Jesus ends right there? Jesus rose from the ground to live eternally! His beauty shines in every person who chooses to follow Him. 

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved“

(Acts 4:12).