Yet Good Friday morning the cross, that instrument of torture and pain and suffering was also the beginning of hope for the world. And the most troubling thing is that the Man who we are most interested in was innocent. Not sort of innocent. Not just a good man. Not nearly perfect. He was indeed perfect in every way. And He was not just a Man but He was God and the whole thing can turn our minds into a scramble. And of course the fact that He simply blew out of the grave three days later can literally “send the mind reeling!” Torture, death, resurrection. For God…for you!
Clearly no one except the very sadistic enjoys watching a body writhe in pain or hear the cries of anguish. But there were travelers on the road that passed right by the three crosses, refusing to look at the men nailed there, assuring themselves if they did not look they would not have to deal with it, not have to feel the pain, not have to ask “why”. Perhaps we are no different because in truth looking at the cross IS painful. It still forces us to look at the pain and suffering of Christ and ask “why”. The problem isn’t so much the cross as it is the answer to that very question. And then we are forced to look at ourselves and sin, the reason for the cross. We know what is lurking inside of us but until we take the time to look at the cross, we can convince ourselves it is no big deal.
Sunday as we were driving to church to celebrate Easter along with other believers, I was struck by the fact there were folks out jogging or cutting their lawns or standing talking with the neighbors. It is an ordinary- weekend- thing that we do. And yet I wondered if any of them had any idea of the great significance this day held for them…for the world. I wanted to hang my head out the window and shout to them that the lawn can wait and the jogging can be done next week and that neighborly conversation is not all that important, that today because of the cross there is an empty grave. I wanted them to stop what they were doing and THINK about the meaning of that cross, not just travel right by through life ignoring the very thing that can give them true LIFE because one way or another they will not be able to ignore the cross.
Still I wonder why on every Easter God doesn’t cause every ordinary activity to come to a stop and cause every knee to bow in gratitude and every voice to sing out with a glorious chorus. I wonder why EVERYONE doesn’t gather together and feast and fellowship with rejoicing because of one Man and one Cross and one Power and one Hope and one Love and one Mercy and one Way: the Shepherd, the Lion of Judah, The Bread of Life, The Living Water, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, The Groom, the Holy One, the Great I AM , the Savior of all mankind, the Risen One, the Lamb of God, the Messiah, The One Who Went to the Cross for them: Jesus the Christ.
But then it is not time. Today like those travelers two thousand years ago, many hurry along through life busy with the unimportant and turn away not willing to look. But the day is coming when all will look one way or another. It is something that is promised when He will come and when He does those knees will bow and those tongues will confess that He is Lord. And then…well …let the celebration begin!
Therefore, also God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2: 9-11
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