Those who looked upon a weak, suffering and crucified Messiah, such a sight made no sense to them. In our current modern day, thousands of years later, how can God be part of this horrific act? While with human eyes that were devoid of spiritual insight and heavenly wisdom, those who witnessed this historic event, and those today who have heard or read of Messiah’s crucifixion saw/see only darkness and pain. Well within our human reason, we contend that God cannot be working in and through this!
The crucifixion of Jesus the Nazarene is the greatest act of love and salvation in all history. It epitomizes God’s grace and His mercy upon each human soul that is willing to accept the lasting present and eternal benefits that is promised by our Creator on our behalf.
The ones who witnessed the crucifixion, misunderstood the Cross, so they called out to Messiah to “come down now from the cross,” sneering, He saved others…but He can’t save Himself.” [Matt. 27:42]. But what they did not realize He could save others only because He did not save Himself!
Suffering dispels the illusion that we have the strength and competence to rule our own lives and save ourselves. Before we get the joy and love within our living, helping us to face and overcome suffering, suffering must first empty us of our pride, thus leading us to find our true joy and only real security in Messiah.
Only through Messiah’s weakness and pain did our Creator save us and show us in the deepest way, the infinite depths of His grace and love for us. In this one act, God’s love and justice were forever satisfied. Only through weakness and suffering could our sins be atoned-it was the only way to end evil within and outside of us-without ending us. For this reason, I am forever indebted and humbled into eternal followship and service to Messiah.
[The above contents were gleaned from my notes taken in my reading of the book Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by, Timothy Keller]
Grace and Peace
Alonzo E. Thornton
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