I have seen “The Greatest Story Ever Told” many times over the years, and though it is a beautiful rendition of Jesus’ adult life and death, I know that it is a watered-down version of what He really went through. The part where they have Jesus nailed to the cross and stand it up and thump it into its whole brings me to tears every single time I see it. So I was not sure I would be able to make it through such a graphic portrayal as The Passion until now. Or so I thought; sigh.

I learned years ago that Jesus was literally beaten to an unrecognizable state, but to watch this take place for nearly two hours was totally devastating for me. I could barely breathe when He lay on his stomach; one arm chained to a stump, as they ripped his flesh on the back of his body open with the Cat of Nine Tails, and then turned him on his back and did the same to the front of him. He never once cried out. The actor played Jesus to a T as far as I am concerned. The look of love in his eyes when he caught the soldiers’ eyes as he took our stripes, clearly spoke, “I do this for you.”

I made myself sit through the movie, trying to choke back the sobs, while yelling, “Stop! Stop! Enough!” at the Romans who were spitting on Jesus, kicking him, mocking him, and whipping him all the way down the road to Golgotha. I tried to tell myself that this was a stark reminder of how really filthy and heinous our sin is to God and that our sin requires a sinless blood sacrifice. I contemplated the fact that they sacrificed animals in Old Testament times, but I thought, “They did not torture those animals, they just killed them. Stop torturing my Lord!”

For a while I was angry because I felt that God let it go on for too long. He is, after all God, He could have stopped it. Then I was furious that the Roman general only gave Jesus temporary reprieve when he told the other soldiers, “I said to punish him, not scourge him to death.” I have never had such a difficult time watching a movie before in my entire life. It is beyond amazing to me that He even lived to make it to the top of the hill. Yes, I know, He rose again on the third day, and I am oh, so happy that He did. I just wish He did not have to suffer as He did.

I shared my feelings (very strongly) with some dear sisters in the early morning ours of our recent church Ladies Retreat. Miss Bonnie gently reminded me that had Jesus just simply been put to death, it would not have the impact it does to save souls. I had to agree with her, but gee what does that say about us. Another sweet sister said something that finally got through to me, duh. It was something like this, “Remember that Satan was controlling those Romans and others who wanted Jesus crucified. He had many blinded. BUT, Jesus has the victory. He rose on the third day.” It was like it was the devil’s party. He is pure evil and what they did to my Lord was pure evil. Our sin is also pure evil.

I am overwhelmingly grateful that Jesus Christ paid the price that I could never pay for my sins. At the same time, I am so utterly sorry that I have such a sinful nature that required Him to go to such lengths for me. I am devastated to sobs when I think about the horrible beatings and mutilation He endured for my sake, but I will not dwell on that. I will be ever so thankful to the point that there are just no words to express my gladness that He thwarted that devil’s party and came back to life.

I find this scripture a great comfort, especially at this time of the year:

John 14: 1-3 (KJV) “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Jesus was the first to die and rise again, and when I die, I will rise to be with Him. With the signs we see in our world today, I may not even have to die, but be caught up to Him with The Rapture. “Even so, come Lord Jesus.”

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!

My favorite passage about the resurrection is found in John 20.

John 20:11-18 (NKJV) “But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.” What a splendorous sight to see God’s angels in person like that!

“13. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” I can almost hear her sorrow in her words.

“14. Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

“16. Jesus said to her, “Mary!” (Wow! Mary was first to see Jesus after He rose! What an honor!) She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). 17. Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’” Jesus’ command was, “Do not continue holding or clinging to me” (in order to restrain Him). Inappropriate because of His new relationship as resurrected Lord. BUT, I must say I would want to hold onto my Lord, whom I thought was lost to me, and never let Him go.

“18. Mary Magdalene came and told the desciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.”

As I celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection every Easter, it is terribly grievous to me to recall the horrific beating and humiliataion that he took because of me and a world full of sinners. (It is so grievous to me that when The Passion came out, I was one of the first to buy the DVD, but I have not yet been able to watch it. Our family will try to do that this year.)

I do not believe it is God’s desire for us to weep over the sacrifice that His only son made for us. Just as Mary must have done when she learned that Jesus was alive, we are to hold Him in high reverence and be ever grateful, relieved, and joyous. Let us ever praise Him and thank Him for having the final victory over death.

“I thank you with all my being Dear Heavenly Father God Jehovah, Jesus Christ my saviour, and sweet Holy Spirit. May I never take what you have done for me for granted.”

In one of my recent quiet times in God’s word, I was reminded of this in Matthew 27:50-53 (NKJV) “Jesus, when He had cried out again with a loud voice, yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” Note that it says “many bodies of the saints”. It makes sense to me that when God’s saints die the earthly death, our souls go to be with Him, and our bodies rest. What an awesome God who can take decayed skeletons and make them new, and unite them with our heavenly souls.

Also, consider this account in Luke 23:39-43 “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into Your kingdom.”

And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

What more explanation do we need?