You know,
A good serious post isn't that bad every now and then.
I just watched some scenes from The Passion of the Christ.
I grew up in a christian home. And I guess by standards of society (which mean nothing in this case), am a "Christian"
But as much as I like going to church, hanging with my youth group and being the target of public "jokes" from my small group and youth minister, (okay, those last one isn't nice at all never mind),
After watching imitation scenes from the death of someone as gentle, and flawless as my savior, I realize,
I deserve none of it. And I mean it.
I struggle with a lot of things; bitterness, addictions, gluttony.
And it tears me apart to just see imitations of someone like Jesus Christ just... be ripped apart to die in my stead, for all the things I've done, when he did nothing to deserve something like that.
It's almost embarrassing to think that that was done for me... Because I am not worth any of that.
And while it's hard to imagine someone like Jesus being whipped, beaten, stabbed, pierced, ripped and torn open for a twisted person like me,
I just cry every time, knowing why it was done,
Christ endured that humiliating death so I could see my grandma again someday,
so that I can talk without stuttering and tripping over my words,
so that I can be free of my addictions that I think are impossible to part with,
so that I can be in a place without bitterness, anguish, hated or sadness.
And so I can walk to him, with a truly happy face and say to him,
"You rescued me from waters when I deserved to drown,
You picked my up from the road I was righteously beat on,
You healed wounds that were meant to bleed out and kill me,
Thank you."
I don't know, if you're reading this and you're not what you'd call a christian, or agnostic or atheist, or another religion or a cult.
I'm not going to say that you need Jesus or argue your justifications on being what you are,
What I do know is this,
When I think about Jesus, and his love for me, the twisted glutton I am, and how he wants nothing more than just to love me.
And when I think about the death he suffered to save me from everything I deserve,
I am brought to tears every time, when I genuinely think about it.
I feel happy, truly happy. You can quote me on that.
Thank you guys,
-Connor
Warning!
What you are about to read might possibly be so epic, you might just die, just FYI
My favorite scene from "Passion of the Christ," that brings tears to my eyes each time I watch it, is on Holy Thursday when he says, "If the world hates you, remember they hated me first." How else can you feel better about being despised by someone, especially for something as meaningless as it usually is, than by knowing you draw comparison to Christ? As he chose, I normally walk away from the haters too, except sometimes I exhibit more sarcasm in return that He did. :-)
ReplyDeleteThen there was the more popular, "Forgive them, Father. They know not what they do." This is something that comes to mind daily at work, especially when I'm cursed out or hit by students. LOVE this part in "Jesus Christ Superstar." It really brings it all home.
Great job Connor! You really gave me something to think about today. Keep up the great work bud.
Frank
PS I googled the "hated me" quote just to make sure i had it exact and someone posted the bible passage that it stems from. Thought I'd share:
"John 15: 18 -- 25 (English Standard)
18"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin,[c] but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.'
You asked for the entire passage, so I gave it to you... context is crucial."