It’s easy to let the true meaning of Easter (much like with Christmas) get lost in the midst of family dinner planning, school time off, images of bunnies, baskets of candy, and eggs. I was reading my daily devotional today — written by Charles Stanley of InTouch Ministries — and he chose Mark 15:26-32 to drive home his message about “The Power Of The Cross.” Part of the story especially struck me. Particularly the imagery in Mark 15:29-30 NIV:
29Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
30save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”
Can you imagine being there? The very people Jesus was dying for were making fun of Him to save Himself? If they only knew that saving Himself would be the most selfish act any person could ever do as it would rob mankind of the very Freedom that Christ was sent to give! A Bible study I attend shared a list of questions recently to go through when reading a story or teaching in the Bible to dig deeper into the Scriptures. As I went through them, the question, “What would you have done in this situation?” struck me. I really don’t know? I supposed if it’s the 2009 me in that situation… and perhaps I was one of Jesus’ disciples… would I have been like Peter and rejected Him out of fear of what man might do to me, saying “I do not know the man!” I shudder at the thought of it. But if I was not who I am today and was just a common man in Jesus’ time… would I have followed Him and have been there by His side until the end? Or would I have mocked Him as I passed by the cross. They’re humbling thoughts to consider. And to even go as far as considering all Jesus had to endure to save a bunch of people who just mocked Him and spit on Him, and made fun of Him — people who would widely use His name in vain as profanity centuries later… I know I could never do what He did. And I think God for Jesus’ sacrifice.
Just some thoughts I was thinking today that I thought I might share given the holiday weekend and Good Friday being tomorrow (it seems so odd to call the day that celebrates the events of the cross as “Good Friday”… but it truly is!). Let’s not forget His sacrifice… and that He is risen!
So… how would you guys answer those questions?