Читать книгу Admiring and Applauding God - R. Bruce Stevens - Страница 59

Carrying his own cross, he went out to the Place of the Skull [which in Aramaic is called Golgotha].

—John 19:17

• Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of the Christ, is powerful and disturbing. The depiction of the violence of crucifixion in ancient Rome was sobering, sickening, and realistic. Death on a cross was intended to shock and sicken those who watched as a deterrent to law-breaking.

• Praise the Lord Jesus, who carried his cross to Golgotha—not because he had no choice, but rather because he did have a choice. He was not out of options. This was the option he chose. Rome’s military was not strong enough to compel him to be crucified against his will. He chose to carry the cross. He chose to suffer. He chose death—this particular kind of death. He volunteered for this suicide mission. Why would anyone do that? We know the answer. Because of his love for us and for his desire to display the gracious nature of the God who made us. This is a shake-your-head kind of amazing.