"We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross and resurrection,
you have redeemed the world."
Because by your holy cross and resurrection,
you have redeemed the world."
Introduction
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It isn't too rare that we often come across times when we misunderstand God and His motives, especially when we face hardships, sufferings, and even our own "death"s. Jesus' death of example, is one that is often familiarly unfamiliar for many. Yes, "Jesus died for our sins." Yes, he "saved the world." But what does that really mean? Why did God allow this to happen? Why didn't Jesus fight?
The death of Jesus was a turning point in his life-- it defined His love, and Him as a person and our savior. After seeing Jesus go through so much in his mission in spreading the love of God, we see him suffer, and now, breathe his last breath. (But) Beyond the brutality and negativity of Jesus' death, we start to unravel a deeper mystery: his ultimate love-- a love that is unconditional and is bounded by no limits. Truly, there was more to his death than just death. Join us in dissecting this chapter in his life, and be with Christ in his hour of crucifixion and death.
The death of Jesus was a turning point in his life-- it defined His love, and Him as a person and our savior. After seeing Jesus go through so much in his mission in spreading the love of God, we see him suffer, and now, breathe his last breath. (But) Beyond the brutality and negativity of Jesus' death, we start to unravel a deeper mystery: his ultimate love-- a love that is unconditional and is bounded by no limits. Truly, there was more to his death than just death. Join us in dissecting this chapter in his life, and be with Christ in his hour of crucifixion and death.
The Gospel of The Lord
John 23: The Cruxifition, Death, and Burial of Christ
The Crucifixion
26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said,“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things whenthe wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals,one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father,forgive them, for they know not what they do.”[a] And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up andoffering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him,[b] “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,[c]saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your |
kingdom.”43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” The Death of Jesus 44 It was now about the sixth hour,[d] and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,[e] 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances andthe women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. Jesus Is Buried
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.[f]55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. |
Story Analysis
A quick look at the Gospel
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In the first of the three mysteries, we left off with Jesus' gruesome suffering. He was left battered and whipped, with others helplessly watching, his disciples even betraying him. Now, his perilous story unfolds to reveal the next chapter of Jesus life: His death.
During the crucifixion of Christ, we are presented with a man, who in all his purity, holiness, and innocence, is treated as if he took the lives of thousands of commoners. He was crucified beside, and eventually killed instead of, criminals more deserving of this punishment than he. And yet, he did not hesitate. "He did nothing wrong!" people would shout. "I knew he was innocent" the guards admitted. And yet nothing happened. No one was doing anything. Despite all of these cries of sorrow and mourning; despite his trial as an innocent man, Jesus accepted it.
Now, it just comes to knowing why he did it. In fact, why would anyone want to "die for the sins of others"? Is our God so cruel that he sent his only son to suffer for our wrong doings? Is Jesus himself senselessly accepting all this pain and trouble for undeserving and sinful people like us?
We can go dive into the perplexed world of "human choice"; We can always say that the death of Jesus was brought about by our sins, and it was. It was us, we, the people, who in our selfishness brought sin to the world, and failed to correct our ways. It was us, we, the people, who in our selfishness chose to let Christ die on the Cross. Pilate had all the means to stop this cruel act, but in the favor of himself, he didn't. Human choice and the temporary triumph of evil really is what leads to so much of these problems and cruelty, but truly, the answer to the enigma that was, his acceptance of his death, is simple: God loves.
During the crucifixion of Christ, we are presented with a man, who in all his purity, holiness, and innocence, is treated as if he took the lives of thousands of commoners. He was crucified beside, and eventually killed instead of, criminals more deserving of this punishment than he. And yet, he did not hesitate. "He did nothing wrong!" people would shout. "I knew he was innocent" the guards admitted. And yet nothing happened. No one was doing anything. Despite all of these cries of sorrow and mourning; despite his trial as an innocent man, Jesus accepted it.
Now, it just comes to knowing why he did it. In fact, why would anyone want to "die for the sins of others"? Is our God so cruel that he sent his only son to suffer for our wrong doings? Is Jesus himself senselessly accepting all this pain and trouble for undeserving and sinful people like us?
We can go dive into the perplexed world of "human choice"; We can always say that the death of Jesus was brought about by our sins, and it was. It was us, we, the people, who in our selfishness brought sin to the world, and failed to correct our ways. It was us, we, the people, who in our selfishness chose to let Christ die on the Cross. Pilate had all the means to stop this cruel act, but in the favor of himself, he didn't. Human choice and the temporary triumph of evil really is what leads to so much of these problems and cruelty, but truly, the answer to the enigma that was, his acceptance of his death, is simple: God loves.
"God loves, because He loves."
Yes, we are all familiar with God's love. It's "eternal", it's "pure", it's "unending". But when we come to say God loves. What it is really, is simply just the absolute showcase of what love is-- It is THE ultimate love, and Jesus' death further magnifies that image. He did not necessarily die to only "save us from sin", nor die because our "Loving" Lord sent him to die for us. He died and suffered all these consequences for his [good] actions because he, in his self-giving love (agape) simply chose to do so. He willingly went through these trials to redeem us and show us a way out of this sinful life. Through his redemptive love and example, Jesus presents us a way into our salvation; a gift we still have to be willing to accept ourselves. God loves despite our wrongs; God loves because it is His ultimate message; God loves, because he loves.
Surely, with all the risks that Jesus has been taking for his Father, He knew this was all eventually going to lead to things that were not necessarily in his favor. Death and betrayal was imminent. He knew this, and yet he went on with his mission; He knew this, and yet he was more willing to serve us than he was afraid of his passing. He had no reason to do so, other than his recognition of his mission. And yet he did it. His love was unconditional, pure, and true. And in the darkness of his death, we see the glistening light of his love-- this was the message of his death. Jesus was our savior.
Our very faith stands on the pillar of God's love. It was the redemption and care he offered us that fuels many of our beliefs today. And it is in our busy life that this faith is left unnoticed; not nurtured. With this, God's love appears less "glisteny". and is often left unseen. It is at times of our inner wars and hardships that we tend to misunderstand our Lord. It is in our very own "deaths", that we come to abecedarian conclusions of "Why me?", "Where's the love?". It is in our darkest times that we fail to see our faith at work. (And yet) It is also in our darkest times that we are most open to seeing this faith; this love.
Now, we dare ask ourselves: What does this mean to me?
Surely, with all the risks that Jesus has been taking for his Father, He knew this was all eventually going to lead to things that were not necessarily in his favor. Death and betrayal was imminent. He knew this, and yet he went on with his mission; He knew this, and yet he was more willing to serve us than he was afraid of his passing. He had no reason to do so, other than his recognition of his mission. And yet he did it. His love was unconditional, pure, and true. And in the darkness of his death, we see the glistening light of his love-- this was the message of his death. Jesus was our savior.
Our very faith stands on the pillar of God's love. It was the redemption and care he offered us that fuels many of our beliefs today. And it is in our busy life that this faith is left unnoticed; not nurtured. With this, God's love appears less "glisteny". and is often left unseen. It is at times of our inner wars and hardships that we tend to misunderstand our Lord. It is in our very own "deaths", that we come to abecedarian conclusions of "Why me?", "Where's the love?". It is in our darkest times that we fail to see our faith at work. (And yet) It is also in our darkest times that we are most open to seeing this faith; this love.
Now, we dare ask ourselves: What does this mean to me?