His Life For Mine!!!
So, Easter is a special time of year for me, as it represents my spiritual birthday. I come from a family of pastors and missionaries, and so I was immersed into the Christian experience from the day I was born. But one thing my parents always taught me - from early on - was that I had a choice to make, to believe in Jesus or not. It was my choice, but one that was a result of listening to the whispered call of the Holy Spirit to draw close to Yahweh.
When I was around 7 years of age (give or take a year either way), we were visiting a church and they had a play on during their Easter service. And you might assume that it would be about the crucifixion of Jesus, or his triumphant act of being risen from the grave - but you’d be wrong. For some reason they acted out the stoning of Stephen. But it resonated with me.
Here was something worth dying for. Not in the crazy suicide bomber kind of way…but rather here is something so valuable that I would gladly lay my life down for it. I knew, even at that young age that God, HIS word, and HIS son Jesus who died and rose for me…well they were the supreme truth, and that truth is something worth laying my life down for.
Now, this post isn’t going to be some life altering study of some hidden aspect of the gospel accounts of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There’s a plethora of people out there posting some great stuff about the Easter story.
Rather, I thought I’d share some poetry of mine that I wrote this week (while I’m bedridden with migraines). It is a poem about how Jesus’ sacrifice is not only personal to me and to you, but also to all of humanity. About how it was something that the author of life itself had foreseen, and so he chose death for a time so that we could have a restored relationship with Yahweh, as it was in Eden.
I pray that you are blessed by the words that follow…
His Life For Mine Since before the beginning of time HE’s had me in mind The folly of Eden has cursed mankind We sin-soaked souls seek that which was lost To walk side by side with ADONAI Oh! to hear HIS voice – that breath of life Resound once more in our ears In those days darkness rose - but was cleansed by the waters ADONAI’s wrath poured out in full The darkness banished from view – a promise in the rainbow Hope sprung from sodden ground like wildflowers in a meadow So, Noah’s seed spread upon the Earth And subdued it for themselves All the while empires rose and fell amidst flames and ashes Eons come and go Passing swifter than a sparrow on the wing Time…time is such a fickle thing One moment…then the next Even more-so when the corruption of sin runs through it We must admit that it plagues us so And so, we cry out for salvation – for an end to this misery Yet, all we have is tears The weary drudgery of this life So full of struggle and strife Minds torn and tormented All the while our bodies decay to our utter dismay With our first breath we draw – we cry And so, our frail hearts beat…till our end of our days This shattered world offers no hope Only death and decay But on one blessed day – a babe was born A lowborn with a destiny of a king Son of a carpenter - a mother’s cherished son Grew to be more than a prophet – more than a rabbi For HE is the son of Yahweh – chosen for this very day The earth groans under the weight of sin Human hearts stained; souls forsaken As vile deeds are undertaken at the whim of our desires All because Lucifer lied lusciously in the garden This time flooding waters denied as ADONAI rages A sacrifice in its stead – a death for death An unblemished lamb to be bled As so HE – the CHOSEN ONE Scourged and cursed While a crown of thorns was thrust upon his broken brow Held aloft on an accursed tree for all to see An echo of the past – the true Passover at last So, that I could be free of the sinful shackles that bind Soul, body and mind For three days in the depths, HE warred HIS light alone shone in the darkness of the deep And as HE raged against the eternal night Death lost its sting – ending the fight Then HE rose from the very pits that sought to ensnare HIM Taking the keys of Hades, HE opened the gates of Heaven So that we may be in the presence of Yahweh once more And it is this I cherish the most… That it was HIS life for mine… R.S Redner © 2025
I hope that during this Easter period, you find the time to pause, to reflect on all that Jesus has done for you in your life - both the great and the small. I pray that you draw ever closer to Jesus, that you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, encourage you and strengthen you.
And if you do not yet believe in Jesus as the Son of God, who died and rose again so that you might be forgiven of your sins, and be welcomed into the family of Yahweh - I pray that the Holy Spirit stirs in you a longing for more than the things of this world.
May you all go in the peace and blessing of Jesus this Easter - our salvation and our KING!!!