Lent Reflection, Day 36, April 11

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again…
John 10:17-18

Additional Reading: Acts 2:23-24, Matthew 26:47-56

Last year at this time, a few days before Easter, I finally saw the movie, “The Passion of the Christ.” It was hard to watch, but it had a terrific effect on me in two specific ways. One, it made me fall even deeper in love with Jesus. Two, it showed me a visual image of the strength Jesus had, the power He withheld in every moment of the questioning, humiliation, and crucifixion He endured. In the middle of the ugliness, He was beautiful.

It blew me away when I heard that people were criticizing the producer of this movie, accusing him of blaming Jesus’ death specifically on the Jews. I don’t know anything about the opinions and beliefs of this producer, but I know this: No one, Jew or Gentile, took Jesus’ life from Him. He gave it willingly.

Sometimes we see pictures of a sad, weak, pale-faced Jesus who looks so sorry that these evil people chose to kill him. But the fact is, Jesus never stopped being a King, never stopped being the Creator of the Universe, and never stopped being the Man who healed the sick and raised the dead. He gained the weakness of being human but never lost the power of being God. Every move He made was made with the authority given to Him by His Father, and They were one. They could have at any time called on angels to rescue Jesus, and as Jesus said in John 19:11, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.”

Isaiah 53:7 describes Jesus as a Lamb, the sacrificial and perfect Lamb who was silent as He was led to the slaughter. Yes, this Lamb is our Jesus, because He was in perfect submission to His Father as He gave His life for us. But He is also, and forever will be, the Lion of Judah reigning in power and majesty. I really enjoyed seeing the movie, “The Chronicles of Narnia.” The story by C.S. Lewis depicts Jesus as the lion named Aslan. Aslan gave me another visual image of the strength and restraint Jesus had. There was a specific time for His suffering and withholding of power, and there was a specific time for His glory and authority to be revealed.

I’ve heard it said that it was not nails that held Jesus to the cross; it was His love for us. I believe that with all of my heart.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being the Lamb that was slain in my place. I want to fully grasp what You did for me in Your humility and sacrifice. And Lord, thank You for being the Lion who reigns, who is in control, and who is mighty to save.