Love Has a Name

My posts typically have a catchy, quirky or unusual title. This one however, is straight to the point.

Good Friday! Today is the day that followers of Jesus commemorate the eternal sacrifice completed by the Saviour of the world.

To many people this is a long weekend and a weekend where we get 3 or 4 days off from work. I admit that this is a definite bonus and escape from the regular race and pace of everyday life, however, there is a significantly deeper meaning and level of importance to this day.

I therefore cannot think of this day as an ordinary day. For those who are not followers of Jesus, or do not accept Him as their personal Lord and Saviour, the meaning of the day is mostly lost. I don’t mean that people who don’t know Jesus can’t remember, pray and take a moment to reflect but instead I mean that the true meaning and value behind the crucifixion is not embedded within their very being.

This post is hopefully a simple yet profound depiction of why a follower of Jesus takes time to reflect and cogitate on His sacrifice 2000 years ago.

I start with a brief introduction. Jesus’ ministry was simply a message of love, salvation and gift of eternal life to the world. He travelled and spoke to many people and shared the craziest love story of all time. He was never violent and never fought back, even when He was accused, spat on, beaten and accused of treasonous actions He remained steadfast and received the drubbing of man in order to rescue all of mankind.

Jesus, being fully man and fully God, was aware of what awaited Him. He knows what would soon happen. Even though He was the symbol of peace and openly spoke about being peaceful when facing persecution He quickly had to prove this, to which He demonstrated to the world what He meant.

Jesus was then arrested and confronted by a group who began to mock and degrade Him. In the Gospel of Luke 22:63-65 we read:

^“63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. ⁶⁴ They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” ⁶⁵ And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.“

Jesus knelt blindfolded and silent while many began to abuse Him.

Soon after Luke 23: 9-10 shows us that in the face of false accusations, by the government official, and mockery Jesus remained silent and obedient to God’s will.

” ⁹ So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. ¹⁰ The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.”

This leads us to the mob of citizens shouting down the government officials of the time demanding He is killed. As a result Jesus is sent to be crucified.

The official at the time shouted that Jesus had done nothing worthy of death, yet, eventually caved to the citizens pressure. Jesus was flogged and beaten and given over to the religious leaders.

Jesus, the innocent and only Holy man was then sent to hang on a cross and to be displayed for all to see. His body broken and blood spilled out for all so all mankind could be reconciled to the Father for all eternity.

Below is a photo of what a crucifixion looks like. While it is bloody and brutal to say the least, it is a beautiful thing when realized that this was a willing and conscious choice by Christ. He knew what was ahead of Him. He also knew that the breaking of His body and spilling of His blood meant any person could then reach out to Jesus and be saved.

I have written before about this gift and I feel the necessity to reiterate it again.

This man, the one and only true God, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, came from heaven to be  crucified, the most violent and savage of deaths, so that all of mankind would be reconciled to Him if they so chose. Jesus died for everyone and those who call on His name alone are given eternal salvation.

No other religion, belief system, god, deity offers this. No other god has died for man.

The Father, God, created man and in response man crucified Jesus, God’s one and only begotten son. This is harsh, however, was necessary to cleanse the world of their brokenness in order for them to be given right standing with God, the Father and Creator of all things past, present and future.

I ask of you to look and reflect upon the death of a man who died so you and I could have a relationship with Him.