Father forgive them for they know not what they do
The above painting by Odilon Redon( 1840-1916) caused me contemplate the meaning of the Cross today.
This song comes to mind as I gaze into the scene:
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
2. Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow,
Tho’ none go with me I still will follow,
Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
3. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry till I see Jesus,
My cross I’ll carry till I see Jesus;
No turning back, No turning back.
4. The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
Today the Cross is before all of us. The scene from the Crucifixion is a somber riveting moment. The Crucifixion is a dirty business. Everyone is looking and standing by the Savior and helpless. Guilt floods over the scene. My sins put Him there.
What could we have done to to stop this?
Part of our sorrow is that we can’t do anything now nor could we have if we had been there. We feel helpless to assist the grief of the Mother. We are part of the problem. We have our own guilt. Nothing seems the same. We had hope when Jesus was still alive. Now nothing. The earth shook when He died. The sky turned black and the Temple Curtain was torn in two. Now all that hope is gone.
It was our fault. It was my fault.
Take him away,take him away! Crucify Him!
The light of the world has gone out. We are lost and in the dark.
Looking back at the painting by Odilon Redon, I am struck by the sadness and emotion of what has occurred. However, this was Jesus’s destiny but what is most important is what Jesus didn’t do and that is to condemn us for what we did.
He forgave. The picture does not show the horror but does show forgiveness. It is peaceful. It reflects Jesus last words, It is finished! Sin and Death will be conquered. The power of death and sin over us is dead as well. They are finished as well. Jesus who humbled himself to become a human, born in a stable, died a humiliating death is now the victor.
What a loving God we have? John 3:16-17 For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.
Today and everyday we have the world behind us and the Cross before us. Everyday is Good Friday and every morning is Easter morning. It is not easy to keep the Cross before us. However, I will carry my cross as well and I will follow Jesus. The world has many cares. My job today and always is to keep the Cross before me. We will not turn back.
God Love you Always
Bob Burford
Credit for picture. “Odilon Redon (1840–1916), Calvary, c. 1895” by Tulip Hysteria / Go to albums is marked with CC PDM 1.0
