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Well, it happened a few thousand years ago, but Someone I love was the one on trial. My husband and I were driving by a church this week and we read a sign that said, “The victim of Good Friday was the victor of Sunday” and being a semantics nut I went off on a theological dissertation that lasted about 15 min. My quiet man listened (or actually probably just kept the wheels between the ditches and avoided my wild woman preaching gestures) as I ranted on and on about how my Jesus was NEVER merely victim. I’ve read the definitions of the word, and yes, he was a murdered; yes, he was exposed to injustice; yes, he was the sacrifice in a religious rite. I hear all that, but there is an implication in the word that sets for my heart a tone of chaos and pity. I just can’t pity the King of Kings; and my Father doesn’t do chaos, so whatever happened was under His control the entire time. It was a choice. A victim has no choice. The machine of injustice plows them under and they are never prepared or ready for what is about to happen. Jesus was ready. The garden settled that. Jesus was prepared. He spent time with the Father and those closest to Him. He set his heart, measured the cost, and chose the betrayal of close personal friends (Judas got the bad press, but the rest tucked tail and ran as well- some of them with a Cajun-like temper flare [I’m Louisianian by birth]and some choice words). My Jesus chose to lay aside his rights (He is Truth. He was right.He is Lord. He is worthy of better treatment. He could have silence the galaxies song to proclaim and give visible, tangible evidence that He was who He claimed to be.) and power and remain quiet like a sheep dumb before his shearers so opened he not his mouth, chose the cross, chose to wrestle death, chose to go to hell for me and others, and chose to wrestle back to life. My Jesus was no victim! He was a willing perfect substitutiary sacrifice on behalf on my behalf and anyone else who chooses to receive it.
Again, with other writers far more capable than I, I am reminded that the death itself while indescribably awful, had to be easier by comparison than living for 33 years in utter restraint, misunderstood, reserving the right to be right and the desire to fix what He could see that was broken when it wasn’t chosen by others must have been so challenging. I can’t imagine his personal honest prayer times before the Father for all those 33 years of learning to lean! I have read and would have to agree that a sentence of 33 years of waiting and watching like Jesus lived through on behalf of the mission would be torturous. Any parent who has ever watched a child in awful rebellion when you know the answer and could fix the problem if they would work with you can relate. Any child who wrestles with a parent who just can’t seem to stop behaviors that are out of control can relate. I’ve been there. Love is vulnerability. Jesus willingly chose and embraced love here, life here, death here before the resurrection.
My hero and champion is a victor 24/7. To be able to keep clear thought, to be able to manage extreme pain and still be tender, compassionate, forgiving, and loving, to be able to give your life away at the appropriate time is mind blowing to me…but so is the ability to see so many wounds for 33 years and know that you did not create this world like it is and restrain from horrific bitterness or insanity or to fix it all if the fix isn’t chosen. He was power restrained and love unleashed from birth. That is no mere victim. That is my Savior and Lord. That is the Lover of my soul. I am as always awed at Maudy Thursday and Good Friday.
You knew your love was something
I could not understand
So you wrapped the flesh round mystery
And took on the form of man
At times I cannot comprehend it
But I know that it is true
And if I could be a hero
if I could be a hero
if I could be a hero
I’d wanna be a hero just like you
Cause they say that when you died
You were barely 33
And to touch the world, you know
It will be through your life in me
I know you died to make men holy
But you lived to set them free
And if I could be a hero
if I could be a hero
if I could be a hero
I’d wanna be a hero just like you
You, you never once looked back
You hung on a cross and you gave your life for me!
You, you never took up a rod to rule
You took up a towel and you washed my feet
And you…You are beautiful
You’re beautiful to me…
To me….
And if I could be a hero
if I could be a hero
if I could be a hero
I’d wanna be a hero just like you
- David Mullen, album David Mullen, Release date: 01.01.94, Label: Warner Alliance
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Currently listening :
The Jesus Record
By Rich Mullins & the Ragamuffin Band
Release date: 21 July, 1998  |
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