A Beautiful Scandalous Night

You’re so excited you just want to share it. I will never forget the day in the car when Nikki, my second daughter, wanted me to hear the song that Joey, her big brother introduced to her, which created a bond between them as she knew it would with me as well. The look on her face was like that of someone who had discovered hidden treasure. It described what Jesus did on the Cross. For her, and me, and you.  She wrote the lyrics to this song, “A Beautiful Scandalous Night”, in her journal after experiencing the impact it had on her.

Prior to this revelation of hers, she struggled with her faith. Nikki was a thinker. She often tried to understand Christianity with her mind and when things didn’t make sense, she struggled to believe. But we truly can only apprehend God with our hearts, as she soon discovered. Through this heart-revelation of what Jesus did for her, she was now experiencing God.

What Jesus did was so shocking.

The chief priests wrongly accused Jesus of blasphemy. Next, He willingly allowed the Roman soldiers to torture Him by a violent whipping. He was silent when lied about. They mocked Him by placing a purple robe on Him and twisting together a crown of thorns to place on His head. They spit on Him like an animal and treated him as a criminal. The torture and shame He endured were so offensive and atrocious it seemed scandalous. The mocking and insults continued through it all.

After His last breath, Jesus had defeated death and hell by the sacrifice of His life on the Cross. His death provided life eternal for everyone who will believe. Even those who crucified Him.  As a result of bearing our sins, the Heavenly Father pardoned us from the just penalty for them, which is eternal separation from God. For this reason, we were reconciled to the Father through His death.

A Cross of Victory

It was on the Cross that the greatest victory of all time was accomplished. It truly was a beautiful, scandalous night. It’s a truth and reality that provides a bridge, joining young and old, extending beyond cultures, personality, and music style. It has the power to unite people of every ethnicity. It was truly a Beautiful Scandalous Night.

“Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried. Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But He was pierced through for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging, we are healed.  All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.“ (Isaiah 53:4-7).

A BEAUTIFUL, SCANDALOUS NIGHT

Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore
Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified

Follow Christ to the holy mountain Sinner, sorry and wrecked by the fall
Cleanse your heart and your soul
In the fountain that flows
For you and for me and for all

At the wonderful tragic mysterious tree
On that beautiful scandalous night you and me
Were atoned by his blood and forever washed white
On that beautiful scandalous night

On the hillside, you will be delivered
At the foot of the cross justified
And your spirit restored
By the river that pours
From our blessed Savior’s side

Written by Steve Hindalong/Derri Daugherty

Hope

What Jesus did on the Cross gave Nikki hope at a time she was in despair. It also gives me hope and a reason to keep on living. My spirit can daily be cleansed and restored by the fountain of life. Jesus provided this from the wounds He endured on that Beautiful Scandalous Night. This truth flows freely for all who will come to His shore of love, and drink.

He has experienced and tasted every cup of sorrow there is and knows how to heal and comfort each broken and weary heart. If you are weary and need cleansing, come up to the mountain of mercy, go under, and be purified.

I’d love to hear from you, so please scroll down and leave me a comment. 

Please remember that you are eternally loved. There was no beginning and there will be no end to God’s love for you!