So, who besides me is totally freaked out that it’s already February? Actually, I’m not that freaked out because you know what February means? Candy conversation hearts, oh yeah!
But forget Feb…you know what Wednesday means? A guest poster! I feel honored to welcome award-winning author Rachel Hauck! Oh, I Iove Rachel’s books…and her teaching, too. Her class on symbolism seriously changed my writing.
February’s guests are all writing on love, and Rachel took that theme such a beautiful direction. I know you’re going to be blessed.
In addition, I’m doing a giveaway today!! Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of Rachel’s latest release, Love Lifted Me. This is the third book in Rachel’s series co-written with country music star Sara Evans. Post about the contest on Facebook or Twitter to be entered twice. The contest closes at 5 p.m. CST on Tuesday, February 7.
A Picture of Love. Mary at the Cross.
She didn’t recognize Him. Bruised, bloody, beaten.
He stumbled under the weight of the thick splintered cross. Wind tunneled down the narrow street, billowing His blood soaked robe. Flesh hung and she could see the jagged edges of His skin and muscle. She could see through to the bone. Bile rose in her throat and tears streamed down her face without restraint. What had they done to Him? Why?
The man she loved, whose feet she’d washed with her tears, was tried as a common criminal. Battered and humiliated beyond recognition. For what? For loving them? For healing them?
“He’s in the market every day,” she shouted, against the jeering and mocking of the crowd.”You know Him. He is innocent.”
Isn’t that how He defended her the night she washed his feet with her perfume? “Leave her alone,” He commanded Judas and the others. “She’s done this for my burial.”
She knew then of His complete acceptance, His unrelenting love. His eyes never left her face, yet no man ever looked at her the way He did. Pure. Without demand. Without lust. Now, oh now, she dared to gaze at Him again. She should be the one, bloody, beaten, carrying the cross.
“Get up!” The soldier demanded, kicking his ribs.
Pain gripped his torn face. He tried to rise, but the cross tipped off His shoulder and He stumbled again.
Help him. Help him.
Then, there, His hand, reaching out to her. To her. His eyes were swollen closed, but his hand, trembling, red and dripping, reaching. To her? His friend. My friend. Mary, oh Mary…
But she drew back, afraid to stretch her hand toward His.
Caught up in the throng, Mary followed the procession to the hill. Sobbing, uncontrollable, helpless to stop them as they nailed His hands, His feet to the splintered tree. He flinched with each blow of the hammer, but not once, not once did He cry out.
Willing He went, she now knew. But why? He’s innocent. So beautiful.
When they raised Him up, the cross settled into the hole in the ground, the air went silent. Mary shoved forward — let them do to her what they will — and stood at the foot of His cross, and with one last breath, He gazed down at her. There were others, crowding around, but she knew He saw her alone.
Blood streamed into his eyes, seeping from the thorns. She dared, reaching up to touch his trembling, pierced foot. And when she did, He sighed.
Any other time, any other man, she would not have recognized Him. But there, in His eyes, she saw her true love. His lips parted. A smile. Did he smile? In the midst of such suffering, did he smile? At me?
Then she understood, with every part of her being, the purpose of this Man. More than the night she wiped His feet with her hair. More than when she looked at His face as He silenced her accusers. His purpose was complete and Mary, yes Mary of Bethany, knew complete and utter love, without condition.
Nothing could separate them now. Not even death.
Rachel Hauck lives in lovely central, coastal Florida and writes books from her turret tower, overlooking her backyard. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year award and finaled in RWA’s prestigious RITA Award. But none of that means a thing without love. She’s married to Tony for almost 20 years. They have no children, but a dog. Which is practically the same thing. So she’s been told. 🙂 She graduated from Ohio State in 198blabla and is a huge Buckeye sports fan. Follow her on twitter. She occasionally shouts for JOY!
Wow, thank you, Rachel. I’m guessing I’m not the only one who finished reading with goosebumps. Readers, how did Rachel’s words impact you? Remember to leave a comment to be entered into a drawing to win Rachel’s latest release, Love Lifted Me! Contest deadline is Tuesday, February 7, at 5 p.m. CST.
Comments 25
Beautiful. Nothing is more beautiful and glorious than the unconditional and overflowing love of Jesus Christ for us.
A moving excerpt, Rachel. I read this at the end of my devotional time this morning. The perfect focus for the rest of the day!
Tagg, I love your welcome vlogs. You’re too cute! 🙂
Thanks, Jess! So, I usually prepare my vlogs the day before the post…but I’m waiting for the day I don’t get to it until the morning of the post, and have to film in my PJs. 🙂
That’s one of those posts where I have nothing to say. But I can’t exactly leave blank lines here:) Seriously, I read it and simply sat staring at the screen when I was done. Stunningly beautiful and powerful, His sacrifice. For me. For you. For all. Gets me every time. I love my Jesus!
Thanks for writing it, Rachel. And thanks for sharing it, Melissa.
I’m the same as you, Susan. The first time I read it, I just stared at the screen…through blurry eyes. 🙂
Jesus is the very definition of love. As I read this, all within me cries, “Yes!” And my soul sighs.
Thank you for this moving post. What a great way to start my day.
I just love Rachel’s insight and her beautiful way with words. 🙂
I forgot to watch the vlog, Melissa.
I started reading Rachel’s post … and couldn’t stop.
Yes, chills ran up and down my arms.
Tears in my eyes.
And a more bittersweet understanding, just a glimpse, of the Truth.
I had the same reaction, Beth!
Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Praise His name.
Random memory! Sarah R. reciting “Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” in the Awana musical. Remember that?! 🙂
MTagg, thanks so much for having me. The vlogs are great!! You’re so cute.
Jessica, so glad the post helped you focus your day!
Susan, the post always moves me. I posted it on my own blog about eight years ago, and reposted a few years later. When Jesus reaches His hand out to Mary, I feel like it’s me. Makes me weep. Oh Lord, may we truly understand your sacrifice.
This blog was actually inspired by a man who shared of an encounter with the Lord where he was transported “back” to the Cross and he saw Jesus walking the Via Delarosa with the Cross on His back. He explained how torn up Jesus was, and the man could see through to his bones. Incredible.
So, that was my version of “being there.”
Lindsay, Yes!!!
Beth K, yes, a bittersweet understanding. Doesn’t it drive you to want to embrace everything the Cross stands for? It does me.
Sherrie, yes, nothing can separate us! Echoing your truth!
Love,
Rachel
I loved your post, Rachel! And now I love hearing how it was inspired. And I’ve thought before about how Mary, the mother of Jesus, might have felt that day…but never Mary of Bethany…definitely a new, deeper understanding!
Wow. What a beautiful reminder of how Jesus loves me. If I were the only person left in the world who needed saving, He would have gone to the cross. Just for me. Thank You, Jesus. And Rachel for such powerful words.
So true, Pat. The love of Christ is amazing.
Fun video visit, MTagg, and love Rachel’s beautiful writing in this passage–as well as sharing equally great memories of the Deep Thinkers retreat last Feb. in sunny Florida. Thanks for your great blog!
Oh yes, that was such a good retreat. I soooo remember sitting there on the beach with Rachel and Susie…their laughter and excitement and “oooh, oooh, ooohs” was hilarious…I’m pretty sure someday if/when I’ve got a book on bookshelves, it’ll need to have “with My Book Therapy” as the co-author. 🙂
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We love to “ooooh, ooooh, ooooh,”
Pat and Delores, love being here with you all. That Jesus loves us makes it all the more poignant dear sisters!
R
Very vivid and poignant. Thanks for sharing this, Rachel (and Melissa)!
Thanks Stacy!
Echoed – thanks, Stacy! 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing. That pure love and acceptance, oh my!
Thanks for reminding me of just how much I am loved.
Alena T.
Thanks for stopping by, Alena…and so fun to chat with you for a few minutes the other night!
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