Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.
4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man! So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”[c] 37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.
These are the only verses that talk about what was physically done to Jesus. In the past few years I have heard some sermons, watched The Passion, and did some research on the Crucifixion of Jesus and have heard it in extensive detail. After I read this story again last night, 2 things struck me.
1. I had forgotten how "little" detail was actually in scripture about what had happened during the crucifixion scene. It doesn't talk about the number of whips and lashes Jesus took to save our lives. It doesn't talk about the flesh that was ripped and shed for you and me. Scripture doesn't show the magnitude of suffering Jesus went through willing to fulfill His call and be obedient. Then number 2 hit me.
2. Our lives are not about the amount of suffering we endure. Our walk of faith is not about the extensiveness of our pain, but it is about our obedience. Even to the cross Jesus was focused on being obedient to what His Father had sent Him to Earth to do, pay the price for OUR sins. And Scripture DOES focus on this. It is clear throughout the whole Bible that those lives, those people who are "heros of the faith" were obedient to their calling. Even when they didn't always agree or understand what was going on, they stayed obedient.
That's my prayer going into this Easter. Reflecting and remembering the Sacrifice that was made, that I would remain obedient to what my Father has told me not matter the cost. That when things may seem to be falling a part or not going as I would like, that I would remain obedient to my Father. It doesn't matter how much I suffer in this lifetime, the only thing that matters is my obedience. I must remember this on the hard days at school, God has called me to be a teacher and when the days get rough and I feel inadequate, I keep my eyes on Christ and let Him guide my every step.
Happy Easter and Praise Jesus for His Love. The power that rose Jesus from the grave is the power that has changed my life! :)
No comments:
Post a Comment