Yesterday, I read the Time magazine article about whether it was necessary for Jesus the Christ to die on the cross for our sins. An interesting question, which they never really answered. The answer, I think, is yes and no. It was not required for Jesus to die in such a manner in order to atone for our sins. After all, he was the Son of God. He could have lived to be 100 years old and died peacefully in his sleep, and he would have still offered the same redemption to all who believed in him. God doesn't need our permission, or our advice, or our understanding to do his will. Jesus died on the cross, because that was what his Father wanted. The real message from God is how his son Jesus lived his life; not how he died. His violent, painful death was just to get our attention and to give mankind a symbol of faith. It is very easy to stand on a hillside and preach about loving thy enemies. It is a much higher degree of difficulty to be scourged to the edge of death, forced to carry a heavy cross up a hillside while being whipped, and nailed to the cross while one slowly drowns as the lungs fill with blood. Then, to say about his enemies, "Forgive them, Father, they know not what they do" is truly amazing. No one can say that he didn't feel our pain in life. No one can say that he didn't have faith in his own teachings. If Jesus had uttered even one word renouncing his beliefs while on the cross, it would have spread like wildfire from the witnesses throughout the countryside. The disciples would not have gone on to be faithful martyrs, if they had seen or heard any weakness in Jesus on that fateful day. Christianity would have been snuffed out like a candle in a whirlwind before it had a chance to even begin. Instead, He is Risen and the light is brilliantly beautiful to those who can see. Jesus was born to show us the way to live and he was crucified to show us the way to die. In essence, Jesus is the way. The only way.
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Whatever your beliefs, know this: Jesus loves you and always will. Happy Easter!