Reflection On The Passion
Who would you have been when Jesus was arrested and killed?
Judas?
The man so lost and confused that he believed that by handing over Jesus, his truest friend, he would be helping him. The man who thought Jesus would defend himself, prove he was innocent... The man who believed that this would cease all accusations against Jesus. The man who was devastated to see that Jesus did the opposite. The man who was so filled with shame and brokenness that he decided that he was not worthy of God's relentless mercy. The man who swallowed his tears and vowed that he would kill himself. The man who decided that he was a waste of oxygen.
Peter?
The man who believed he would give his very life for his best friend. The man who fell asleep at the hour of Our Lord's agony. The man who never heard the cry of his best friend as he suffered. The man who was not there to comfort Jesus while he sweat His Precious Blood. The man who, filled with passion and trying to defend Christ, sliced off the ear of a roman guard. The man who believed he was helping, but was shocked to be reprimanded for doing so. The man who ran away- fled from his Saviour. The man who, in fear, denied meeting or even loving his truest friend. The man who felt so empty and broken after doing so that he ran to the Mother of God and pleaded for forgiveness. The humble, stubborn, repentant man. The man so lost without his Lord that he went back to his trade, his lifestyle before Christ called him: fishing. The man... who became the Rock.
Pontius Pilate?
The man who saw another man, like himself, and found no evil in him. The man who gave into pressure. The man who knew that Jesus was innocent, but chose to punish him because he was afraid. The man who washed his hands, thinking that he would assuage the guilt of handing over a willing Lamb to the slaughter. A man who believed in making a better world for himself, his family, and people. A man who let selfish, misunderstanding people destroy the very Person who can do that.
Veronica?
The woman who saw Jesus suffering and was determined to help Him no matter the cost. The woman who reached out her hand to offer a bit of comfort and love. The woman who became a light in the dark world around Him. The woman who pushed her way through the crowd to reach her Saviour. The woman who was yanked and pulled, but persevered and did not stop until she got to Jesus. She kept her eyes on Him. She wiped His face... a small token of her love for what He was doing, a small recognition that He was human, while others treated Him as less than the dirt that clung to their clothes. The woman who, by doing so, received a small token in return for her faith, love, and sacrifice.
Dismas: The Good Thief?
A murderer. A zealot. A betrayer. A man who some would call the worst of names. A man who carried his own cross, knowing he deserved it. The man who witnessed Jesus accepting the cross to save souls that his heart was converted and he asked Jesus to remember him when He went into His kingdom. The man who was washed clean and entered Paradise with the One whom his heart had longed for all along.
The Other Thief?
The man who was so blinded by his pain, anger, and anxiety that he could not grasp what was happening before his eyes. The Perfect Lamb was offering Himself as a sacrifice to redeem His people. The man who could not comprehend or fathom who Jesus really was. The man who misunderstood. The man who desired no more than to be saved from his physical pain, physical freedom. The man who doomed himself by his lack of faith and trust.
The Roman Soldier?
The young man who was ordered to nail the blasphemer to the splintered, rough wooded cross. The young man who decided to pierce Christ's side, rather than break His knees because He was already dead. The man who felt blood and water touch his face as soon as he did so. The man who was unintentionally part of a miracle. The man who aged years by realizing who the Man on the cross was and what He had done.
The Little Girl?
A small girl, clinging to her mother's cloak. A girl who watched as the One who raised her from the dead was crucified. A girl who remembered a gentle voice, filled with authority, reach into her soul and breathe His own life into her very being. A girl who opened her eyes and saw her parents wiping away their tears because their once dead daughter was alive again. A girl who owed her life to God and owed her new life to the One before her eyes. A girl who would spend the rest of her life spreading the Good News to those in need.
Mary Magdalene
The woman who lived a life of sin. We know not how she got into the situation she was in. We know not what experiences led her to the place she was in. We know, however, that when she was thrown down into the dirt- her face scratched and her clothes torn- that she saw the One who could help her. This woman reached towards Christ and grasped his outstretched hand. He pulled her up and whispered words that would forever embed themselves in her heart. The words reminded her that she was a human who had dignity and worth no matter what she had done. This woman stayed with Jesus and watched Him suffer and die. She went to the tomb with other women, determined to anoint Him. They knew that there was a heavy boulder blocking the entrance, but they continued anyway. Mary Magdalene and the other women either 1) were going to move the stone away themselves no matter what pain and effort necessary, 2) the were determined to convince the guards to do it, or 3) they believed that the boulder would miraculously move for them. Any of these ways show that Mary Magdalene and the other women were passionate, determined, and had a beautiful conviction. If we witnessed His Passion and death, would we have stayed with Him? Would we have continued our faith?
John: His Beloved Apostle?
The man who was with Jesus for three years of His life. The man who served with Him, was ridiculed with Him, and laughed with Him. The man who experienced the most beautiful, satisfying, miraculous things with Jesus. The man who was confused and puzzled by His teachings, but believed anyway. The man of incredible faith. The man who ran away at his Friend's time of need... The man who cried bitterly when he returned and followed Jesus as He carried His cross. The man who swallowed with determination when He accepted Jesus' words, "Son, behold your Mother." He represented the whole human race when Jesus spoke these words to him. If John was beloved to Christ, and he represented us all, then we are beloved to Christ as well. You may be thinking, "Yeah, but John heard Jesus' voice for three years and He knew when Jesus spoke and he listened. He knew how to recognize the voice of Jesus when he heard it." But John was human. John was like any one of us. He laughed, was confused, was in awe, abandoned someone in a time of need, cried, and sinned. John was not perfect, but he became a saint. We can too.
His Mother?
The perfect woman. One who was always there for her son. A mother who brushed away His tears, rocked Him to sleep, kissed His little head. The one who believed in Him, trusted Him, nurtured Him. The one who's heart jumped when she saw her little son trip and fall. The woman who, filled with joy, watched Him enter the Temple when He was twelve years old. The woman who listened to Him chatter about His dreams, plans, hopes... The woman who knew He would do the right thing at the Wedding at Cana. The woman who's heart tore in her chest as she witnessed the life she brought into the world be snuffed out. The woman who said yes again and again throughout His Passion. The woman who prayed to take His place, but knew it could not be so. The woman who remembered all these things when she heard His voice call out to her and John. She looked into His face, His eyes, in her mind- she wiped away all the blood and tears, sweat and pain, dirt and anxiety. In her mind, He was a little boy once again and she closely cradled Him to her chest. She imagined the boy she once knew. The boy who was innocent and naive about the ways of the world. A boy whom she could protect, wrap in her mantle, and shield from the world's wicked ways. The woman who held the broken, bruised, bloodied, lifeless body of her son and knew that He had redeemed the world and would come to life again. A Lily who wiped away the blood of the Lamb.
(ik this is late, so I'm sorry about that. I hope, however, this brings new thoughts into your heart:)
The man so lost and confused that he believed that by handing over Jesus, his truest friend, he would be helping him. The man who thought Jesus would defend himself, prove he was innocent... The man who believed that this would cease all accusations against Jesus. The man who was devastated to see that Jesus did the opposite. The man who was so filled with shame and brokenness that he decided that he was not worthy of God's relentless mercy. The man who swallowed his tears and vowed that he would kill himself. The man who decided that he was a waste of oxygen.
Peter?
The man who believed he would give his very life for his best friend. The man who fell asleep at the hour of Our Lord's agony. The man who never heard the cry of his best friend as he suffered. The man who was not there to comfort Jesus while he sweat His Precious Blood. The man who, filled with passion and trying to defend Christ, sliced off the ear of a roman guard. The man who believed he was helping, but was shocked to be reprimanded for doing so. The man who ran away- fled from his Saviour. The man who, in fear, denied meeting or even loving his truest friend. The man who felt so empty and broken after doing so that he ran to the Mother of God and pleaded for forgiveness. The humble, stubborn, repentant man. The man so lost without his Lord that he went back to his trade, his lifestyle before Christ called him: fishing. The man... who became the Rock.
Pontius Pilate?
The man who saw another man, like himself, and found no evil in him. The man who gave into pressure. The man who knew that Jesus was innocent, but chose to punish him because he was afraid. The man who washed his hands, thinking that he would assuage the guilt of handing over a willing Lamb to the slaughter. A man who believed in making a better world for himself, his family, and people. A man who let selfish, misunderstanding people destroy the very Person who can do that.
Veronica?
The woman who saw Jesus suffering and was determined to help Him no matter the cost. The woman who reached out her hand to offer a bit of comfort and love. The woman who became a light in the dark world around Him. The woman who pushed her way through the crowd to reach her Saviour. The woman who was yanked and pulled, but persevered and did not stop until she got to Jesus. She kept her eyes on Him. She wiped His face... a small token of her love for what He was doing, a small recognition that He was human, while others treated Him as less than the dirt that clung to their clothes. The woman who, by doing so, received a small token in return for her faith, love, and sacrifice.
Dismas: The Good Thief?
A murderer. A zealot. A betrayer. A man who some would call the worst of names. A man who carried his own cross, knowing he deserved it. The man who witnessed Jesus accepting the cross to save souls that his heart was converted and he asked Jesus to remember him when He went into His kingdom. The man who was washed clean and entered Paradise with the One whom his heart had longed for all along.
The Other Thief?
The man who was so blinded by his pain, anger, and anxiety that he could not grasp what was happening before his eyes. The Perfect Lamb was offering Himself as a sacrifice to redeem His people. The man who could not comprehend or fathom who Jesus really was. The man who misunderstood. The man who desired no more than to be saved from his physical pain, physical freedom. The man who doomed himself by his lack of faith and trust.
The Roman Soldier?
The young man who was ordered to nail the blasphemer to the splintered, rough wooded cross. The young man who decided to pierce Christ's side, rather than break His knees because He was already dead. The man who felt blood and water touch his face as soon as he did so. The man who was unintentionally part of a miracle. The man who aged years by realizing who the Man on the cross was and what He had done.
The Little Girl?
A small girl, clinging to her mother's cloak. A girl who watched as the One who raised her from the dead was crucified. A girl who remembered a gentle voice, filled with authority, reach into her soul and breathe His own life into her very being. A girl who opened her eyes and saw her parents wiping away their tears because their once dead daughter was alive again. A girl who owed her life to God and owed her new life to the One before her eyes. A girl who would spend the rest of her life spreading the Good News to those in need.
Mary Magdalene
The woman who lived a life of sin. We know not how she got into the situation she was in. We know not what experiences led her to the place she was in. We know, however, that when she was thrown down into the dirt- her face scratched and her clothes torn- that she saw the One who could help her. This woman reached towards Christ and grasped his outstretched hand. He pulled her up and whispered words that would forever embed themselves in her heart. The words reminded her that she was a human who had dignity and worth no matter what she had done. This woman stayed with Jesus and watched Him suffer and die. She went to the tomb with other women, determined to anoint Him. They knew that there was a heavy boulder blocking the entrance, but they continued anyway. Mary Magdalene and the other women either 1) were going to move the stone away themselves no matter what pain and effort necessary, 2) the were determined to convince the guards to do it, or 3) they believed that the boulder would miraculously move for them. Any of these ways show that Mary Magdalene and the other women were passionate, determined, and had a beautiful conviction. If we witnessed His Passion and death, would we have stayed with Him? Would we have continued our faith?
John: His Beloved Apostle?
The man who was with Jesus for three years of His life. The man who served with Him, was ridiculed with Him, and laughed with Him. The man who experienced the most beautiful, satisfying, miraculous things with Jesus. The man who was confused and puzzled by His teachings, but believed anyway. The man of incredible faith. The man who ran away at his Friend's time of need... The man who cried bitterly when he returned and followed Jesus as He carried His cross. The man who swallowed with determination when He accepted Jesus' words, "Son, behold your Mother." He represented the whole human race when Jesus spoke these words to him. If John was beloved to Christ, and he represented us all, then we are beloved to Christ as well. You may be thinking, "Yeah, but John heard Jesus' voice for three years and He knew when Jesus spoke and he listened. He knew how to recognize the voice of Jesus when he heard it." But John was human. John was like any one of us. He laughed, was confused, was in awe, abandoned someone in a time of need, cried, and sinned. John was not perfect, but he became a saint. We can too.
His Mother?
The perfect woman. One who was always there for her son. A mother who brushed away His tears, rocked Him to sleep, kissed His little head. The one who believed in Him, trusted Him, nurtured Him. The one who's heart jumped when she saw her little son trip and fall. The woman who, filled with joy, watched Him enter the Temple when He was twelve years old. The woman who listened to Him chatter about His dreams, plans, hopes... The woman who knew He would do the right thing at the Wedding at Cana. The woman who's heart tore in her chest as she witnessed the life she brought into the world be snuffed out. The woman who said yes again and again throughout His Passion. The woman who prayed to take His place, but knew it could not be so. The woman who remembered all these things when she heard His voice call out to her and John. She looked into His face, His eyes, in her mind- she wiped away all the blood and tears, sweat and pain, dirt and anxiety. In her mind, He was a little boy once again and she closely cradled Him to her chest. She imagined the boy she once knew. The boy who was innocent and naive about the ways of the world. A boy whom she could protect, wrap in her mantle, and shield from the world's wicked ways. The woman who held the broken, bruised, bloodied, lifeless body of her son and knew that He had redeemed the world and would come to life again. A Lily who wiped away the blood of the Lamb.
(ik this is late, so I'm sorry about that. I hope, however, this brings new thoughts into your heart:)
*OMADG*
How beautiful and thought-provoking!!
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