Patriot Paradox
Posted on 02/21/2004 6:15:29 PM PST by sonsofliberty2000
Jewish leaders are still trying to rally up their troops for the horror that is The Passion of the Christ. Why? They feel that they are being portrayed as the ones who killed Jesus, and they are the only ones that did so. They are gravely mistaken. I killed Jesus. So did you. Perhaps I held one of the nails, and you slung the hammer, and hit it with the fury and vileness of your sins. I know I had a swing at the hammer too, and there was a long line behind me, the hate and disgust dripping from the brows of each. Who took the whip to his back? I'm sure I had a swing or two in that department as well, and when the crowd chanted crucify him, I chimed in unison with people I walk down the streets with each day.
Did the Jews crucify him? Yes, as did the Romans, and the Greeks. His twelve disciples, and his mother and Joseph also played a part. The Egyptians were there, and the Gauls too. People all over the world then, and those since. The Pope was in the company, as was Hitler and Stalin. We all crucified Him, and we all owe Him the dignity to allow Him not only to die for our sins, but to accept His salvation. The blood on your hand paid for your sins. Don't wash it off, that blood is clean and refreshing, and the only thing clean on your vile body.
It's not that I am a bad person. He volunteered, but if it wasn't for Adam's original sin, He would have never been needed to make the sacrifice. Alas, what-ifs are meaningless beside the cross. The fact is that though we each have sinned, He has paid the price. Instead we should strive to live up to the sacrifice made. He paid the price, why waste the ticket?
Do you feel that you are without sin? All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. I am no better then the next person, and I may be more evil then you. Remember that when the Passion does come out, and that when you buy your ticket the people in line around you drove the nails into his left hand. The ticket lady, she held the nail. The concession people, they drove the nail in His right hand, and you may have had a hand in nailing it to the cross. and when you go in to take your seat, and see the crowd ahead of you taking theirs, imagine them jumping up and yelling, "Crucify Him!" Those on the screen, even the guy playing Jesus, they held the last nail, and drove it into His feet. And we each pierced His side, while He died for each of those that crucified Him...
I'm sorry there are some Jewish leaders who have a problem with this movie, yet I won't allow them to cause me to question what happened to my Lord. And I won't apologize and neither should Mr. Gibson, no matter how unpleasent the truth may be. It wasn't just chance that is was the Jews calling for Jesus' life, to the point that Pilate simply washed his hands of the situation, it was God's plan! In my 43 years of church membership I have never heard blame placed or felt blame placed on the Jewish race, for they were doing God's will!!
I applaude Mel Gibson for bringing this to the screen. If it truly follows the Gospel, I don't care if he makes a billion dollars. His success in the Road Warrior movies, the Lethal Weapon movies etc, brought the monies that allowed him to make this epic (and from what I understand he has quite a few mouths to feed). Thru the process of having to defend the movie, I think he's become clearer in what he believes and what he knows of our Savior... and he's had a national audience all along! He may not be as fluid as Billy Graham with his words, but he's muddled thru and professed the truth as best he could. IMHO of course.
Remember the story of Abraham and Isaac.
Genesis 22:8; "God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son."
Look at Isaiah 53. Every word is stark, painful and true. Then comes verse 10: Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise him; he has put him to grief (or, made him sick); when he makes himself (or, thou makest his soul) an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days...
Or as simply stated in John 3:16; For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.</>
Jesus was not a reluctant martyr. From the time of his transfiguration, he marched with his face "set as a flint" to the cross knowing full well what would await. His entire purpose in coming into the world was to die a sacrificial death, and to be a living Word of God.
That was the only way the sinfulness of all mankind could be atoned. All the slaughter of animals for centuries before by the Jews did nothing to absolve sins. It was all meant as an object lesson for the one real sacrifice that would be acceptible to God.
So is God cruel? No. He is holy. He can't stand sin. And without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. He shed his own blood, as it were.
Yes, lament our own sinfulness, and repent. But above all, marvel at God's love for us in what he has done. And rejoice! Our sins are forgiven. How do we know the sacrifice was accepted? Jesus arose from the dead.
Never mind...LOL! I feel like an idiot now. Nothing out of the ordinary for me, though. Great post!
I can only tell you one thing: it's not people like you (nor apparently any of your friends --- you probably hang out with decent people) that some Jews worry about.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.