Today’s Daily Encounter is by courtesy of Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts, Pastor, Irvine Presbyterian Church, California

The Paradoxical Horror and Wonder of the Cross

For Christians who tend to romanticize the cross, and that’s most of us, “The Passion of the Christ” will be a sharp slap in our spiritual faces. It forces us to confront the physical torture endured by Jesus. Crucifixion was one of the most terrifying means of capital punishment ever devised. It was so horrible that polite Romans rarely talked or wrote about it. What Jesus experienced, however, was far worse than mere crucifixion. He was beaten terribly in a variety of ways. He endured such savagery that he died after only three hours on the cross—far less than the average duration of crucifixion, which often lasted days.

If you’ve never grappled with the physical horror of the cross, The Passion of the Christ will be a stunning eye-opener. You just won’t be able to think of the cross of Jesus—nor to sing of it, nor to remember it in communion—in the same way again. You’ll realize more profoundly what it cost Jesus to die for the sin of the world—including your sin. I’ve spent a good part of my life studying the crucifixion of Jesus. Nothing in the movie surprised me, but it certainly led me into a more heartfelt experience of what I had known in my head.

Yet there is a danger in being overcome by the physical awfulness of Christ’s death. The danger comes in focusing too much on the physical, while ignoring the spiritual. Yes, Jesus’ execution was horrendous in the extreme. But his even greater sacrifice can’t be filmed. Jesus, the beloved Son of God, experienced the penalty for sin. In the stirring words of the New Testament, God “made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NRSV). On the cross Jesus cries out to his Heavenly Father, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34, quoting from Psalm 22:1). Jesus, the sinless Son of God, was indeed forsaken by God as he bore the penalty for our sin. From a spiritual point of view, this is even more terrible than anything he experienced in the flesh.

And, at the same time, it is wonderful. What Jesus endured, he did out of love for you and me. He became as if he were sin, “so that in him we might become the righteousness of God,” that is, so that we might have a right relationship with God both now and forever. Thus the cross, as horrible as it was, becomes good news for us. The instrument of Roman cruelty becomes, ironically, a symbol of love, forgiveness, and new life.

Our response to the cross of Christ—and therefore to the film, The Passion of the Christ—is one of gratitude, worship, and self-giving commitment. Perhaps no one has put it better than Isaac Watts in his classic hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” Here are his last two stanzas:

See from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
Amen!¹

If you live in the U.S. you can preorder advance tickets for “The Passion of the Christ” by calling 1-888-269-1878 or clicking on:

http://www.thepassiontickets.com/passionFormStart.asp?ap=P31&rd=

1. Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts. Copyright © 2003 by Mark D. Roberts

For the entire review of Mark Robert’s article “The PASSION of the Christ: An In-Depth Review” go to: http://www.markdroberts.com/htmfiles/resources/passionrev.htm

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"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (Jesus, John 15:12-13, NIV).

In ancient Rome, the 14th of February was a pagan holiday in honor of Juno, the goddess of women and marriage and the queen of the Roman Gods and goddesses.

Later, however, it became a Christian holiday named after a Christian priest. An Internet report says that, "According to church tradition St. Valentine was a priest near Rome about the year 270 A.D. At that time the Roman Emperor was imprisoning Christians for not worshipping the Roman gods. During this persecution Valentine was arrested. Some say he was arrested because he was performing Christian marriages, but others say it was for helping Christians escape prison.

"During the trial they asked Valentine what he thought of the Roman gods Jupiter and Mercury. Of course Valentine said they were false gods and that the God that Jesus called Father was the only true God. So the Romans threw him in prison for insulting the gods.

"While in prison Valentine continued to minister. He witnessed to the guards. One of the guards was a good man who had adopted a blind girl. He asked Valentine if his God could help his daughter. Valentine prayed and the girl was given her sight. The guard and his whole family, 46 people, believed in Jesus and were baptized. When the emperor heard about this, he was furious that Valentine was still making converts even in prison, so he had Valentine clubbed and beheaded.

"Valentine knew that he might get caught in his Christian activities. He knew that if he told the court the truth about the Roman gods that he would be thrown in prison. And he knew that if he continued to witness to Christ in the prison he would make his captors angry. But he continued because he loved the Lord and his fellow humans. He was willing to risk his life to free the prisoners and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who needed to hear it." (Source unknown.)

According to Bob McIlhenny, high school teacher, Valentine and the prisoner's daughter that had been blind developed a special friendship, and, before he was executed, Valentine wrote her a note of encouragement and signed it "Your Valentine." From this sad situation we now celebrate Valentine's Day as a special day for expressing love and friendship.

As Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." This is what Valentine did. He loved and cared enough for his friends and loved ones (including his jailors) to introduce them to Jesus at the risk of his life, which he gave.

And this is what God did for us. While we were still sinners Jesus died for us. So on this Valentine's Day let us be quick to express our love, not only to our loved ones and friends, but also especially to the Lord Jesus Christ who gave his life so that we would be able to have our sins forgiven and live with God forever in heaven.

"Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that you so loved the world that you gave your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. And Lord Jesus, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for loving me enough to die on the cross in my place to pay the just penalty for my sins. Because you died for me so I could live forever, help me to live always for you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name. Amen."

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