Jesus Lived The Cross
My wife, Lisa, is the movie expert in our family. I’m so useless when it comes to movies that when someone asks if I have seen a movie, I have to turn to Lisa and ask if I have seen it.
Once I walk out of the theater, I cannot even remember seeing the movie I just watched. Lisa knows every movie she has seen and who played what part in each movie. She knows a lot. I know nothing. I don’t know actors. I don’t know directors. I don’t know movie trivia. That’s not what I do.
That being said, I am more intrigued by movies that have this small phrase at the beginning of the movie: “Based on a true story.” Now, we all know that even when Hollywood has that disclaimer, that the movie-makers take great liberties in retelling the story.
Sometimes that is to make the facts flow a little better and the story to move along. Sometimes that is to make the “true” story more exciting. Facts are omitted. Or, truth is stretched. The director has to Hollywood-ize the true story to make it a better movie.
But, it means something to me when I understand that a real person lived the events (or some semblance of the events) being portrayed. It makes the relationships seem more authentic, the heroism seem more heroic, and the struggles seem more difficult because someone actually lived this experience.
It is vital for a follower of Jesus to remember that the crucifixion event is more than “based on a true story.” Jesus lived this ordeal. He heard the hatred in the voices of the crowd shouting, “Crucify Him!”
He took that brutal beating from mocking Roman soldiers. His head bled as the crown of thorns dug deeply into His brow. He walked that road of suffering. He carried that cross until He could carry it no more. He climbs that hill called “Golgotha, the place of the skull.” He laid down on that rugged wooden cross.
He felt every blow of the hammer driving the nails into His hands and feet. He experienced the anguish of the cross be lifted and dropped into the prepared hole. He labored for every breath as the weight of His body inhibited His diaphragm from expanding His lungs without great pain and effort. He lived it.
The physical pain was unimaginable. But, the spiritual weight of the sin of the world being placed on Him was even worse. He bore our sin. God Himself, in Jesus Christ, paid the cost that sin requires. Again, He lived it.
Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin (see Hebrews 9:22).
We remember. But, He lived it.
If you have never considered the cross of Jesus and why He would go to such lengths to show His love for us, I invite you to investigate the cross. Let Jesus show you His personal, eternal love.