That Geeky Christian

I decided to shake up my reading today for a number of reasons which I won’t go into here. Today, I read about what’s probably the most confounding thing in the entire Bible, Jesus’ crucifixion. Though there are four accounts, I chose to read John’s which is found in John 19.

We live in a selfish society, and I know I am one of the selfish people. I’d say most of us are if we really are honest with ourselves. I am blessed with a comfortable life, a wonderful family, and an amazing group of friends. That’s not to say that I’ve not had ups and downs in my life, we all have, but my life is good. As such, I’m selfish with it. I don’t want to give up the comforts in life. I don’t want to give up my family, or friends. I like my climate controlled apartment and vehicle. I like my motion picture box in the living room, and various products featuring a fruit with a missing bite. God has been good to me, which is why this lesson is so confounding.

Jesus gave it all up for me. Now, I do not pretend to be a scholar of history. As a matter of fact, I avoided history in college by taking an economics class. That said, I’m sure Jesus’ life as a carpenter, though hard by our standards, had some nice comforts. He could see his family daily, have the joy of good friends, feel the accomplishment of building something with his own two hands, and experience any number of thinks things that you and I currently enjoy. Yet, despite that, he agreed to do God’s will and be killed for us. Not just killed, but beaten, humiliated, and basically tortured. It’s when I look at the gravity of that action in light of my own actions, that I feel so unworthy.

I don’t understand a love like that for people. I mean, I love people, and I have some friends and family that I would die to protect, but this is on another level. I find it hard to remember to help people in need if they’re not right in my face, and here Jesus was, giving it all so that I can have access to God! It’s a fact that I know, but only really seem to get when I stop and think about it. Why would he do that? Why would someone take on the abuse he did? Would you or I do that? If someone came to you and said that if you endured excruciating physical torture and then death then natural disasters that kill thousands could be avoided, would you do it? I can’t say that I’m strong enough. Jesus, however, was. Sure he dreaded it, just look at his prayer in Gethsemane, but he did it. Why? LOVE! Jesus did it because he loves us. It’s that love that I live on every day. Were it not for that, I’d be nowhere and nothing.

This coming weekend is Easter weekend and it will be filled with chocolate and rabbits and eggs. I’ve celebrated it for years that way. It’s been bugging me that I don’t celebrate the real reason for this holiday more. So, this year I will pray that I celebrate the true meaning of Easter, Jesus undying, never ending, hardcore love for us. If we remember that, we’re on the right track and no amount of confusion can derail us.

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