I was just thinking about ...
“Oh, Honey, could you bring in my
computer?” I glanced at my watch and groaned inwardly. This was my fifth
attempt at leaving our
Now,
she probably thinks that she really put me out by asking me to go get her laptop
out of the car. Especially since I took it upstairs for her and this was the
fifth attempt to leave the church. (Oh, by the way, I went around the outside of
the church to make sure I could leave after that.) The truth is, though, I enjoy
doing things for her. I always have and always will. I don’t always show it as
much as I should, though, because I do have to watch the clock. And yes, I feel
the pressure of meeting deadlines and keeping schedules. But while I’m doing
whatever it is that she needs, I don’t think of it as a sacrifice or even as
having a burden.
A
while back, our Bible study group was in the 4th chapter of
Ephesians. It talks a bit about sacrificial living for the witness of Christ
Jesus. And I asked them about sacrificing they’ve done in their life. You
know, for children, for friends, for family, for just about anyone we loved. And
we centered around a theme of our sacrifices not being recognized as sacrifice
by us. It always seemed to be someone else who recognized sacrifice we made.
Which leads me to wonder…what was on Jesus mind as he was going through the
events of the passion?
I
mean, if we don’t see sacrifices we make, did Jesus see what he did as a great
and huge sacrifice? Or was he just doing what comes naturally for those he
loved? Was he thinking about how he would be revered as the Messiah, the
ultimate martyr? Somehow, I don’t think so. I think he was just doing what had
to be done. He suffered, yes, but perhaps the suffering was eased a bit by the
love he felt for so many; knowing that this last act of love would save so many
lives. We have been taught to think of the suffering servant, of the great debt
we owe to him and to continually sacrifice for him in return. But then, who
wrote the Gospels? They were friends of Jesus or friends of friends of Jesus who
witnessed, firsthand, the huge sacrifice made for them and for the rest of
humanity. When we look at the life of Christ, we may want to take an alternative
view of his crucifixion.
I
can’t help but believe that we were on Jesus mind while he was on the cross.
But not in such a way that we owed him something. No, I think he was smiling on
the inside, thinking of all the people this course of action was going to save.
He looked on us with generosity and compassion and love in mind, never expecting
anything in return. After all, isn’t that how we’re suppose to give to
others? And that’s the key to sacrificing for Christ. If done right, we’ll
probably never know we’re sacrificing. We’re just doing what comes
naturally, what’s necessary for the good of others. And that, my friends, will
shine the Jesus’ love around more fully than all the pious, grimaced martyr
looks we can muster in our “great sacrificial moments”. Jesus told his
followers to wash their faces when fasting. “Don’t let anyone but God know
when you’re suffering for Him.” (That’s probably according to the Revised
Standard Dennis Version!) But enjoy life, enjoy your friends, enjoy all that God
has put before you. And when life gets hard, think of those you love, including
Jesus. It will help you get through the tough times. Hey, I gotta go, work’s
calling, until next time,
Drop
on by anytime, I'll be here and so will God,
Dennis