Love, Pure Love

Deborah Goshorn-Stenger
Apr 18
4 min read

2 P&P Weekly Blog for 19-25 April 2025

The morning dawned like an artist’s palette on display. Azure blue in the upper atmosphere met pillowy clouds … and close to the horizon sat the first glimpses of the golden sun. Pinks, roses, and lavender unfurled like a canvas that had been set to life.

It was pure love, pure love,

That was painted on a tree.

Not with oil and brush,

But with blood and nails,

That set us free.

It was grace, pure grace,

Sketched out like a design.

Not with a quill and ink,

But with mercy and forgiveness,

Writing the lines.

The day held promise and wonder, but within hours, the sky would grow dark and forbidding, looking like it was about to mourn. Instead of falling rain or hail, there was, instead, the pitter-pat of blood. Instead of thunder, there was the sound of hammer hitting nails, murmurings, mocking, and jeers …

Matthew 27: 27-30 (CEV): “The governor's soldiers led Jesus into the fortress and brought together the rest of the troops. 28 They stripped off Jesus' clothes and put a scarlet robe on him. 29 They made a crown out of thorn branches and placed it on his head, and they put a stick in his right hand. The soldiers knelt down and pretended to worship him. They made fun of him and shouted, ‘Hey, you king of the Jews!’ 30 Then they spit on him. They took the stick from him and beat him on the head with it. 31 When the soldiers had finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the robe. They put his own clothes back on him and led him off to be nailed to a cross. 32 On the way they met a man named Simon who was from Cyrene, and they forced him to carry Jesus' cross. 33 They came to a place named Golgotha, which means “Place of a Skull.” 34 There they gave Jesus some wine mixed with a drug to ease the pain. But when Jesus tasted what it was, he refused to drink it. 35 The soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross and gambled to see who would get his clothes. 36 Then they sat down to guard him. 37 Above his head they put a sign that told why he was nailed there. It read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

Matthew 27:45-54 (NLT): “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lem sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’). …. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Matthew 28:1-10 (NLT): “Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. 5 Then the angel spoke to the women. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.’ 8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. 9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.’”

It was hope, pure hope,

Like a song floating on the breeze,

That announced His resurrection,

Brought the dancing of the leaves …

It was love, pure love,

Painted on a tree.

You are the work of art,

Whom Jesus purchased at Calvary.

Will you love and serve the Master?

And faithfully, give Him your all?

Will you surrender your heart,

By yielding to the Spirit’s call?