History Has A Face
Too often, we take history for granted. We see it as a set of facts with names and dates attached. We forget the humanity involved and the experiences and suffering that have brought us where we are today.
This revelation was brought home to me as I recently viewed "The Passion of the Christ," directed by Mel Gibson. I sat in a dark theatre and watched an innocent, loving man being beaten almost to death for what seemed like hours. In reality, it was only forty-five minutes of the film. Yet, as I watched him being tortured, I found myself silently pleading with the soldiers to please stop beating this man who did nothing but show love and reveal the truth.
The character Simon of Cyrene, who carried Jesus’s cross echoed my thoughts. He stated "Enough! Stop hurting that man or I will not carry this cross one step further!" While my eyes are transfixed on the screen, my thoughts agree with Simon. "Yes! Enough!" I think to myself. Simon tries to give Jesus encouragement saying "It’s almost over. We’re almost there." Jesus looks at this man as if he could embrace him. Finally, they reach Golgotha and Simon is excused from his duties yet longs to comfort this broken man. He is finally forced off by the soldiers who are not in a mood to deal with emotion., stating "We haven’t got all day. Hurry up!"
Another poignant scene occurs when Jesus is on the cross in the middle of two other convicts. One mocks him and a crow eventually plucks his eyes out. The other man states "I have sinned and I deserve to be here. This man has done nothing wrong!" Then, he turns to Jesus and says "I only ask that you remember me, Lord, when you enter your kingdom." Jesus turns to him and says "verily, I say unto you, on this day, you shall be with me in paradise." The message here is that this is a gift, free for all who believe.
Probably the most significant scene in the movie for me is when Jesus is on the cross and the next thing you see is this hand with a hammer in it. The hand-clasped hammer raises in the air and then comes down with such force that it echoes throughout the room. Why is it poignant? Because, all you see is a hand with a hammer in it. That hand could represent anybody. It could be me, you, the next-door neighbor or anyone else. "For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:20 I don’t think people showing off their breasts on national television is very glorifying to God. In fact, I see very little in the media these days that is edifying to God. Here, this man named Jesus went through all this suffering and died on a cross and for what? So, we can idolize someone who will run around half-dressed and talk of sex, drugs and alcohol? I don’t think this is what Jesus had in mind. That is Satan at work. He is fighting a losing game. Jesus defeated him when he died on the cross and rose again.
Are you searching for something but can’t put your finger on it. Do you feel something tugging on your heart in those quiet moments? Maybe it’s Jesus knocking on your heart’s door, offering this free gift. He died for you, too. Are you going to let Him in?
