Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ, tells in cold brutal detail the suffering through which Jesus went in his trial and crucifixion. Shocked we wonder, Can human beings treat another human being like that? The tragic truth is that they did - and still do!
But if Jesus was truly Son of God, why did he let them do it to him? Why didn’t he just stop them? Because of God’s amazing love for sinners!
In the midst of unspeakable agony, he gasped out, "Forgive them, Father, they don’t know what they are doing!" He includes us in that - he was dying for sinners. And he’s alive! They couldn’t keep the Son of God dead! Don’t leave him out of your life!
© Peter J. Blackburn, Easter message, Burdekin Newspapers, April 2004