Jesus was a 'man of sorrows', and it was the Lord's will to 'crush him' (Isaiah 53:4,10). He knew this. He lived with this. He spoke of his own coming crucifixion (Mt 16:21).
Many people sentenced to death take their own lives before the sentence takes it from them. Jesus uttered words of the darkest sentiment: 'My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, even to the point of death.' (Mt 26:37). Jesus navigated life on a level of the deepest empathy with those most hurting: he wept with us (John 11:35), was moved with compassion over us (Mt 9:36), moved with pity towards us (Mk 1:41), and yet breathed words of life into those places and spaces. He promised that through himself, the 'door' (Jn 10:9), we could live eternally (Jn 11:25-26), and know rushing waters of life from within. Jesus was led by the Spirit of God to the desert to be tempted by the Devil. He self-starved for 40 days lest any comfort or fortitude might be attributed to his physical strength. He was surrounded by wild animals, but angels were also about him (Mt 4:1-11). At one point in this cosmic nightmare of desolation, the devil challenges the fabric of his identity ('If you are the Son of God¼'), and leads him - tempts him - from the top of the highest local jumping place. Jump to your death, and God will catch you, give you life. What is suicide, but the seeking of life, not death, through death, not life? Jesus, tempted to jump, indicated that in this - this which he was being 'tempted' by - he would be testing God, which is not right. Have you been tempted to jump? Hebrews 4:15 says that we have a 'high priest', Jesus, 'who was tempted in every way', and so can 'empathize with us in our weakness.' Call on him.
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AuthorPeter Walker. I hope you enjoy these reflections. Please feel free to comment!:) Archives
February 2024
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