Is. 52:13-53:12; Heb. 4:14-16, 5:7-9; Jn. 18:1-19:42
There was once a bridge
that spanned a large river. During most of the day the bridge sat with its
length running up and down the river paralleled with the banks, allowing ships
to pass through freely on both sides of the bridge. But at certain times each
day, a train would come along and the
bridge would be turned sideways across
the river, allowing the train to cross it. A switchman sat in a shack on one
side of the river where he operated the controls to turn the bridge and lock it
into place as the train crossed. One evening as the switchman was waiting
for the last train of the day to come, he looked off into the distance through
the dimming twilight and caught sight of the train lights. He stepped onto the
control and waited until the train was within a prescribed distance. Then he
was to turn the bridge. He turned the bridge into position, but, to his horror,
he found the locking control did not work. If the bridge was not securely in
position, it would cause the train to jump the track and go crashing into the
river. This would be a passenger train with MANY people aboard. He left the
bridge turned across the river and hurried across the bridge to the other side
of the river, where there was a lever switch he could hold to operate the lock
manually. He would have to hold the lever back firmly as the train crossed. He
could hear the rumble of the train now, and he took hold of the lever and
leaned backward to apply his weight to it, locking the bridge. He kept applying
the pressure to keep the mechanism locked. Many lives depended on this man's
strength. Then, coming across the bridge from the direction of his control
shack, he heard a sound that made his blood run cold. "Daddy, where are
you?" His four-year-old son was crossing the bridge to look for him. His
first impulse was to cry out to the child, "Run! Run!" But the train
was too close; the tiny legs would never make it across the bridge in time. The
man almost left his lever to snatch up his son and carry him to safety. But he
realized that he could not get back to the lever in time if he saved his son.
Either many people on the
train or his own son - must die.
The train sped safely and swiftly on its way, and no one aboard was even
aware of the tiny broken body thrown mercilessly into the river by the on
rushing train.
It was in the eternal plan
of God that his son should be sacrificed to bridge the gap between us and
Him. John tells that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son..."
[Jn. 3:16; 1 Jn. 4:9] The death of Jesus, associates with our salvation. We
remember that Jesus died for us. We remember that He died for bridging the gap
between God, the Father and us.
The suffering of
Jesus is beyond human comprehension. From the moment of his passion
in the garden of Gethsemane to the evening of Calvary the suffering of Jesus
prolonged. During these hours many dramatic events took place and many
faces passed by. Friends departed and enemies came together. The disciple
of Jesus deserted Him and Peter denied that he knew Jesus. On the other
hand two great enemies Herod and Pilate became great friends. Jesus felt
dejected and alienated from his fellow men and God, the father. But this
redemptive suffering was instrumental to remove the alienation of mankind
from God. In the garden of Aden when man sinned, God came in search of man and
asked him, “Where are you?” At the moments of the culminating moments of
redemption Jesus sought the presence of God, and asked Him, “Why have you
forsaken me?”
During the trial many said
lies that were testified against Jesus? [Mk. 14:56]. Some of the people spit on
Jesus? [Mk. 14:65]. He was whipped [Mt. 27:26]. He was stripped of His
clothing? [Mt. 27:28]. He had a Crown of Thorns placed on His head? They mocked
Jesus by bowing on their knees before Him? [Mk. 19-20]. He was beaten by the
soldiers? [Jn. 19:3]. These are the rewards given for doing good. These
are the rewards reserved for Him for feeding the hungry. These are the rewards
for healing the sick. These are the rewards for teaching to be noble. These are
the rewards for announcing the Kingdom of God.
When Jesus turned water
into wine none would have imagined that he would be offered vinegar to quench
his thirst. When he multiplied the loves to fee thousands, none would have
imagined that he would have to go hungry for days. When he cured the cripple
none would have imagined that He would be crippled. When he cured the outcast
lepers, none would have imagined that he would be treated as outcast. When he
raised Lazarus, none would have imagined that He would be killed.
All these Jesus accepted
silently as part of his redemptive suffering. But He asked the soldier who
struck him, one question? “Why do you strike me?”
Jesus was absolutely sure
that His ways were God’s ways. Jesus was absolutely certain that He did the
right thing said the right thing. From that deep conviction came the words,
“Why do you strike me?”
About two thousand years
ago, Jesus asked the unjust soldier, "Why do you strike me?" Today
when we fall short of showing love towards others, Jesus asks us the same
question. When we refuse to feed the hungry, Jesus asks us the same question. When
we turn away the strangers, Jesus asks us the same question. When we refuse to
take care of the sick or refuse to visit the prisoners, Jesus asks us the same
question. "Why do you strike me?"
When we stand at the foot of the cross today this question is addressed to us” Why do you strike me?"
When we stand at the foot of the cross today this question is addressed to us” Why do you strike me?"
Satish