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February 26, 2004
The Passion
I went to the movie last night. My day did not go at all as planned, and I didn’t really feel prepared to experience the story. But, God is amazing. I simply prayed that it would be real to me…and it was real. I found myself shaking in response to all the emotion. Even today it’s hard to sort through…there are so many complexities to the story, the real life experience, what it means for my life, my response to experiencing it in sight...and sound.
I think the hardest part for me was the beating, and the ridicule of Jesus. It was completely unnecessary. The two criminals next to Jesus were blood-free except their wounds from being nailed to their crosses. I forced myself to watch, keep my eyes open as much as possible, but even the sounds of the instruments used to beat him were piercing to my heart. It was for me, for my sins that he endured that pain. It was out of love, that I would not be separated from Him for eternity, that He endured that suffering. It was for me, it was for all of us.
I was reading in Purpose-Driven Life today (I’m a little behind) and Rick made this comment when talking about how we are shaped for serving God and His power in our weaknesses: “God wants you to have a Christ-like ministry on earth. That means other people are going to find healing in your wounds. Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts.”
I don’t think the term ‘Christ-like’ will be the same in my mind again…will I lay my life down; will I truly ask that the Lord’s will be done, and not my own; will my life leave en eternal impact on those around me; will I reflect even the smallest bit of Christ? I can only hope, I can only press on toward the mission…
Posted by Angelina at February 26, 2004 03:41 PM