I was listening to a sermon by Bishop Robert E. Smith, Sr, and he made a statement about the crucifixion of Jesus that was an eye opener.

We are in the season of Easter, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  Every year a new movie comes out about it and Christians around the world flock to see it.  The movies get better and better at demonstrating the agony he went through. We are always alarmed at the brutality Jesus suffered while on his way to the cross. 

Bishop Smith said, we have the wrong response to the sufferings of Jesus.  I thought about that and looked back on how I respond to seeing the son of God beat, whipped, and nailed to a cross.  I always feel distressed, hurt to see how he was beaten, and how badly he suffered.

This week, I had an opportunity to watch a portion of the latest movie out about the passion of Christ.  As I watched, I thought about what Bishop said concerning how we respond to seeing the suffering of Jesus.  His main point was that we do not recognize or respond in such a way as to acknowledge that he was suffering for us, He was suffering for me.  As I watched how he agonized when the cat of nine tails ripped the skin on his back, I began to say…. Lord, thank you for taking that beating for me.  Lord thank you for enduring the pain of it all for me. Thank you for giving me a way out of sin’s grip.

Isaiah 53:4-5 says, “But He was wounded (pierced in the side) for our transgressions (sins), He was bruised (crushed) for our iniquities (wickedness); and the chastisement (punishment) for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes (39 lashes on his back) we ARE healed.”   Yes ARE is in all caps…..because objectively (the truth) our healing is a done deal; but subjectively (our experience/our reality) we are still sick.

So, the next time you see or hear about the suffering of Christ, don’t respond in horror but express your gratefulness for His ability to endure the pain so you can be free from the law of sin and death.  Thank you Jesus for your willingness to suffer and die for me.