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| Gruesome but far from senseless By Rev. DANIEL OVERDORF It’s been a month since I sat dumbstruck in a theater watching the final hours of Jesus’ life depicted with stark, gruesome authenticity. I’ve attended countless movies, but never another that left the entire audience utterly silent when it ended. Now a month later, in quite moments I still find myself reflecting on the images that burned themselves in my conscience while viewing “The Passion of the Christ.” For whatever it’s worth, I thought I’d share my thoughts. I have to begin by saying I’ve never felt more pained. The images made me want to turn my head away. Time and again I cringed, pulling away from the screen. “Inhumane” doesn’t begin to describe the cruelty Jesus endured. However, it was not the physical aspect of Jesus’ suffering that most pained me; it was the knowledge that my sins sent Jesus to the cross. Jesus endured the scourging and the mockery and the crown of thorns and the nails because I’m a sinner. Isaiah 53:5 explains, “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities ... ” I’ve never felt more pained. But in a strange mix of feelings, I also have to say I’ve never felt more loved. Jesus accepted the punishment for my sin not because of some bizarre twist of fate, not because of a judicial mistake or some cosmic, sick practical joke. Jesus endured what He endured willingly, because He loves me. The theology behind the cross is the key to understanding “The Passion of the Christ.” In fact, I can understand why someone who is not a Christian, someone who doesn’t understand this theology, walks away from the movie thinking it gruesome and senseless. When you do understand this theology, however, you know that though it was indeed gruesome, Jesus’ suffering was far from senseless. The basic theology is this: Jesus accepted our punishment so that we’d have eternal hope. The Bible teaches that our sin leaves us eternally separate from God (Hell). By accepting our punishment, Jesus takes our sin out of the picture, thus giving us the hope of eternity with God (Heaven). Jesus died so that I could live. Jesus endured what He endured because He wants to spend eternity with me, instead of separate from me. As some have said, “Jesus would rather die than live without you, which is exactly what He did.” I’ve never felt more loved. And love, well, love becomes a motivating factor. After feeling pained, then loved, I felt motivated. I’ve never felt a stronger desire to live right, to pattern my life in accordance with God’s teaching and desires. In this context, obedience to God is not a matter of legalism, but gratitude. Because He gave His life for me, I want to give my life for Him. I want to avoid those things that break His heart, and center my life around those things that make Him smile. The end of another movie, “Saving Private Ryan,” contains a gut-wrenching scene in which one of the main characters, played by Tom Hanks, has been critically injured and is close to death. Set in World War II, Hanks’ character led a group of men deep into enemy territory to find Private James Ryan. Some of the group lose their lives along the way. When they finally find Private Ryan, the search party is compelled to stay and help Ryan and his fellow soldiers fight one final battle. The battle proves deadly, leading to the scene where Hanks’ character, having been shot, lay dying. Private Ryan leans over him, and Hanks whispers to the young Ryan, “Earn this.” Implied: These men and I have given our lives for you; earn this. We could never earn what Jesus did for us. It’s grace, a gift beyond what we’re capable of earning. Yet there is a sense in which we want our lives to honor Jesus’ sacrifice. Grateful for what Jesus did for me, I want to live for Him. (Daniel Overdorf is the senior minister of Fayetteville Christian Church, at New Hope and Hickory Roads in Fayetteville. He may be heard each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as a part of the church’s weekly worship. He may be contacted at 770-461-8763 or fayettevillechristian@juno.com.)
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