Each year our church puts on a fanominal Easter production. I'm bragging on it, becuase it's all our own church people working to glorfiy the Mighty God. It's awesome. From makeup, to actors, to singers, it's all just church members. I thank God for this ministry.
Since I have the opportunity to sit through this play on Jesus' life and Resurrection, I'm finding my faith deeply moved, and maybe even challenged. I've sat through it 3 times now, one practice ... and 2 real performances.
Picture this.
There are big brutal muscular guards coming out onto the road to Calvary. One guard yells, "Make way!" Another bellows, "Move!" In those deep bellowing voices, it makes your hair stand up! And then ...
There is Jesus. He's been beaten. He's been spit on. He's been kicked, and punched, and there is blood all over him. His face, the pain and agony is apparent. All the while, he's in so much agony ... he is carrying that heavy cross with thorns from the crown of thorns piercing his head.
He drags that old cross. It’s so heavy. He moans as they kick him ... mock him ... and beat him. Whack! Ooooowwww! This continues down that long road.
Coming along behind him are the followers of Jesus. “Help him!”
“Somebody please ....” Others in the group are crying. The guards are big and powerful and block the way. There is nothing anyone can do.
They take him up to the hill, and they throw him. They kick him again, and angain. They beat him more and more.
They take him up and nail him on to the old, heavy, dirty cross. Bang, bang, bang the hammer meets the nails with a piercing sound. Bang, bang, bang .... for the other hand. Blood pours from his body from his new piercings, and all of the wounds from being so badly beaten.
They raise the old cross up, with Jesus hanging there, struggling. Hurting, immeasureble pain.
Oh my friend, this is real. This did happen. The only thing I can think is ... I'm sure it is far worse than what I can ever imagine, and to think he did it for me, and for you!
Watching this, and thinking on this night after night has deepened my faith. He went through this to me. I almost can't comprehend it. That anyone would do such a thing to anyone, and yet that anyone would willingly go through such for me, and for you.
As he hung on the cross he prayed that final prayer. "Father, please forgive them for they know not what they do ... it is finished." Then he died, and there was a great storm. Utter chaos, as people ran in fear in the realization that truly this was the Son of God. What have we done??? We have killed the Son of God!
They took him into that tomb. Yet the tomb with that giant stone could not contain him. On the 3rd day he rose triumphantly over death, sin, and the grave to sit in heaven on the throne with the Father.
How powerful. How amazing. How much love!
I encourage you to think about what Jesus went through this week as we head towards the Easter holiday. He did it for you and for me. He would do it again, for you and for me.
"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe on Him, should not parish, but have life everlasting." John 3:16
My faith has been deepened through this production. I can hardly bare the thought of what Jesus went through for me to be able to have eternal life. I can not fathom the pain.
It’s unconditional love.
But I thank God, He made the way for me, and for you to make it into Heaven. So we too one day may walk pain free, sickness free, we can walk, we can see again. It's all coming one day when we too rise up!
I hope this challenges you, as it has me.
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