There are two highly emotional holidays among Christians and non-Christians alike. Those are Christmas and Easter. It is good that they are emotional. Emotions are the means by which man expresses and marks his life moment by moment. How can it not? Jesus Christ according to doctrine is the author of our salvation. Of course its highly emotional. However, is it possible we miss vast amounts of knowledge and insight by strictly observing the emotional application of the holidays?
I just want to focus on Easter since that is the holiday for today. The main picture people recall in their head of Easter (aside from bunnies and eggs) is the cross and Jesus affixed upon it in agony and death. Yes, this is factually and historically correct. He gave up his own spirit in order to save mankind from their sins. This, in order to erect that bridge, once again from our feet back to the Father. Yet, is there anything else we can glean from this scene?
There is a Christian hymn called "How Sweet the Joy That Easter Morn." In it is the phrase,
If Jesus Christ was and is a God then is it possible that the very elements of all nature became distressed at such a profound climax as the physical death of that God? I dare say yes! Now, look at the picture again of Him upon the cross. Imagine the epic shock of his very body cells at the absence of His spirit. Here we have flesh, from the beginning conceived only by the Spirit, in distress. Flesh out of their element for thirty years housing the Spirit of God. Now, like a lamb without her mother or a parent at the loss of their child the elements are surely in a state of "groan."
This thought kind of magnifies the depth and humility of the significance the Atonement of Jesus Christ truly has on each of our individual spirit salvation. If his elements hang helpless without its God upon the cross then surely it is real for all of us. If the skies and the moon darkened in repose of the state of man then surely it is real for all of us. If tombs cracked at that moment and many dead truly rose then surely it is real for all of us.
Imagine kneeling at his lifeless feet upon the cross. You know He is dead and you reach down and gently raise a handful of sand. Slowly if flows from the hand back to the ground. Would there have been a different emotional response than before his death? Would the elements in shock fail to produce joy in the simple pleasures of dropping sand from the hand?
The soldiers and guards who hold dear their spears and swords. Did their weapons suddenly grow cold at the absence of the One literally holding all creation in their form? Other records prove out that great world tumults occurred even upon the Americas at the moment of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. Even though they must have had sheer fear of the physical events taking place do you think those people had that cold loss in their hearts? Perhaps they did and were utterly bewildered at the loss of all hope in that moment that we were all born with. Hope is the product of God within each of us.
Of course, as Christians we know that hope and salvation soon rang through the earth as the Atonement had been completed. Man, no longer subject to the Fall, can now worthily enjoy rest and renewed work with loved ones and family in the presence of God.
The purpose of this post was not to bring a "lull" to anyone's spirits or a sense of dismay or shame. It was meant to inspire and bring a sense of awe to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Look at the picture of the Savior upon the cross again. After these thoughts to ponder does it magnify your part in all of this. This great design is exquisite in nature, brilliant in order and epic in binding all elements and all of us as one.....in Him.
Yes, Mary mourned. Yes, the disciples mourned, Yes, the thousands touched by Jesus mourned. YET, all elements on earth and all in the vastness of space groaned at the transformation to a more exalted state of a God.
We are so small yet so big. We bicker over petty things. We even kill each other over petty and ill-guided things. We puff ourselves up and claim our knowledge over our brother. We lament when we cannot pay the rent. We rightfully grieve at the loss of a child or a parent. Especially in modern times we find offense over the smallest insignificant things and demand recompense for it.
All this mud has been paid for 2,000 years ago. Even your physical makeup, the dust that forms you, existed at the time and groaned. All matter is connected through all generations of time. His appearance to thousands three days after and many days beyond bear testament of his divinity. The Alpha and Omega has bridged the gap between us and the Eternal Father.
Yes, there is much more to ponder than the mere emotional observance of Easter. Let us ponder with curiosity. Let us be humbled by it and let us finally treat one another with common civility.
I just want to focus on Easter since that is the holiday for today. The main picture people recall in their head of Easter (aside from bunnies and eggs) is the cross and Jesus affixed upon it in agony and death. Yes, this is factually and historically correct. He gave up his own spirit in order to save mankind from their sins. This, in order to erect that bridge, once again from our feet back to the Father. Yet, is there anything else we can glean from this scene?
There is a Christian hymn called "How Sweet the Joy That Easter Morn." In it is the phrase,
"All nature groaned in deep distress, The sun and moon grew dim."
If Jesus Christ was and is a God then is it possible that the very elements of all nature became distressed at such a profound climax as the physical death of that God? I dare say yes! Now, look at the picture again of Him upon the cross. Imagine the epic shock of his very body cells at the absence of His spirit. Here we have flesh, from the beginning conceived only by the Spirit, in distress. Flesh out of their element for thirty years housing the Spirit of God. Now, like a lamb without her mother or a parent at the loss of their child the elements are surely in a state of "groan."
This thought kind of magnifies the depth and humility of the significance the Atonement of Jesus Christ truly has on each of our individual spirit salvation. If his elements hang helpless without its God upon the cross then surely it is real for all of us. If the skies and the moon darkened in repose of the state of man then surely it is real for all of us. If tombs cracked at that moment and many dead truly rose then surely it is real for all of us.
Imagine kneeling at his lifeless feet upon the cross. You know He is dead and you reach down and gently raise a handful of sand. Slowly if flows from the hand back to the ground. Would there have been a different emotional response than before his death? Would the elements in shock fail to produce joy in the simple pleasures of dropping sand from the hand?
The soldiers and guards who hold dear their spears and swords. Did their weapons suddenly grow cold at the absence of the One literally holding all creation in their form? Other records prove out that great world tumults occurred even upon the Americas at the moment of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. Even though they must have had sheer fear of the physical events taking place do you think those people had that cold loss in their hearts? Perhaps they did and were utterly bewildered at the loss of all hope in that moment that we were all born with. Hope is the product of God within each of us.
Of course, as Christians we know that hope and salvation soon rang through the earth as the Atonement had been completed. Man, no longer subject to the Fall, can now worthily enjoy rest and renewed work with loved ones and family in the presence of God.
The purpose of this post was not to bring a "lull" to anyone's spirits or a sense of dismay or shame. It was meant to inspire and bring a sense of awe to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Look at the picture of the Savior upon the cross again. After these thoughts to ponder does it magnify your part in all of this. This great design is exquisite in nature, brilliant in order and epic in binding all elements and all of us as one.....in Him.
Yes, Mary mourned. Yes, the disciples mourned, Yes, the thousands touched by Jesus mourned. YET, all elements on earth and all in the vastness of space groaned at the transformation to a more exalted state of a God.
We are so small yet so big. We bicker over petty things. We even kill each other over petty and ill-guided things. We puff ourselves up and claim our knowledge over our brother. We lament when we cannot pay the rent. We rightfully grieve at the loss of a child or a parent. Especially in modern times we find offense over the smallest insignificant things and demand recompense for it.
All this mud has been paid for 2,000 years ago. Even your physical makeup, the dust that forms you, existed at the time and groaned. All matter is connected through all generations of time. His appearance to thousands three days after and many days beyond bear testament of his divinity. The Alpha and Omega has bridged the gap between us and the Eternal Father.
Yes, there is much more to ponder than the mere emotional observance of Easter. Let us ponder with curiosity. Let us be humbled by it and let us finally treat one another with common civility.
