31 Mar A Personal Reflection of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection
Mark 15:34 …at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
For the Lord Jesus, it was a cry of deep pain. But for us, it was a cry of God’s love for us – for a humanity separated from God, but not forsaken by Him. I could not but feel deeply emotional as I reflected on this over the course of the Holy Week.
It was an incredibly quick turn of events. Only days earlier, the crowds feted his entry into Jerusalem. His disciples argued among themselves about who is greatest, oblivious to the events, pain, and confusion that will unfold. He had his last meal with them, followed by that agonizing time of prayer in Gethsemane; his disciples still not knowing any better.
The next morning – the crowd turned against him, choosing a criminal over him. At 9.00 am, they nailed and hung him on the cross. At 12 pm, the skies turned dark. At 3.00 pm, he uttered that cry. Shortly after, he breathed his last with the final words, “it is finished!”
If this is a script for a movie, it is likely that many will ask, “Are you serious? Is this actually believable?” But incredible as it appears to the vast majority in our world, it is real. I remain in awe; understanding, but also knowing that I will never fully grasp all of that it means, nor all that it took for the Lord Jesus, the Heavenly Father, and the Holy Spirit.
Yet, the events that unfolded are the source and bedrock of our faith as Christians. Everything we do and live for; they rest on the death and resurrection of Christ. There are so many implications, touching every sphere of our lives.
Particularly for all of us involved in God’s mission to the world, two things come to my mind.
Gratitude. We can never repay the Lord Jesus Christ for what He has done. Where would I be if it were not for Christ coming, suffering, and dying for me? Coming from a non-Christian background, I always had a deep consciousness of life before knowing Him, and life after knowing Him. There is nothing more precious than the gift of salvation. It involves the gift of the Holy Spirit coming into one’s heart, convicting of sin, and making one alive unto God.
I am also deeply grateful to the Christians and missionaries who gave and brought the gospel to our shores. They sacrificed and left the comforts of home so that we may hear the gospel of Christ. Many of us also received a good education through their legacies of education, hospitals, and other social endeavours. Obviously, there are debates over specific aspects of past missionary endeavours and history will reveal some dubious motives and even abuses on the part of missionaries.
But viewed as a whole, we still owe a debt of gratitude. I give myself to God’s mission that others may experience His love and know Him. First and foremost, it is because I am grateful to God for His gift to me. Second, I am grateful to Christians who have gone before me. They gave of themselves so that we may experience God in different ways.
Compassion and Mercy. Why did He do what He did? Why the humiliating of self to take on human form, a life of servanthood, and agonizing death? Compassion and mercy – that’s God’s love demonstrated. He does not owe it to us nor are we in any position to repay it.
Many of us are not paragons of compassion and mercy in our natural selves. But, if we have tasted His compassion and mercies, how can we not but do the same to others. For all of us involved in God’s mission and seek to be His salt and light, we are merely following in the footsteps of a long line of Christians who ‘freely they received, freely they gave.’
As you reflect and worship through this holy week and season, may your life with God be enriched.
Rev. Chan Nam Chen (Ph.D.)
Executive Director