Sunday, April 2, 2006

Suffering Savior

Much emphasis is put on how much Jesus suffered on the cross (and for good reason). But there is not much attention given to his emotional pain, both on the road to the cross and while he was hanging. The walk to the hill, he had to carry his own cross, while guards whipped him and harassed him. Surely he passed bystanders whom he had taught or healed. Many were probably confused, or hurt, or perhaps even angry. Maybe they thought he had deceived them. Maybe they were upset he didn't fight. When he became too weak to carry his cross, many may have thought about how he had the ower to heal even raise people from the dead, but now he could barely stand. His time on the cross was equally humiliating, as people stood around to watch the spectacle. How hard it must have been to be filled with such love for these people, and realize they had no idea what was happening, to them it was just a show.

Am I willing to humble myself to do the work of God, knowing that the world won't understand, that to them I may seem strange? Do I value their life and their salvation more than I value my name and reputation?