| Something to think about. . . |
| Written by Pastor Tim Krupski |
| Sunday, March 1, 2009 |
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When Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ was released in Italy, the review board gave it a "G" rating. Some parents objected, saying the movie was too violent for children to watch. But the reaction of Italian author Riccardo Zucconi, quoted in USA Today, said more about theology than parenting. He refused to allow his children to see the film, in his words, "because I want them to have this idea of the spirituality of Christ, not this idea of debauchery. The soul of Jesus is important, not his body." (source: USA Today 4-6-04)
This reaction says much about the contemporary response (said to say the response of many Christians) to the Crucifixion: People want the spirit of Jesus, without the Incarnation; the death without the pain; the sacrifice without the blood. But without the body, the pain, and the blood, the Crucifixion is meaningless. Sacrifice cannot be sanitized. Sacrifice has always been bloody. The writer of the book of Hebrews says, “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” (9:22) If it did not require the shedding of blood = death, then what the Father made Jesus, His Son, go through was cruel and unnecessary. But when you and I see that every sin – lying to our child and perjury before a judge, stealing a pen at work and extortion of millions by Enron officials, hatred in our hearts and mass murder on the order of Saddam Hussein — every sin required a death penalty, then we understand the gravity of our situation and why Jesus had to shed blood for each one of us. As you begin another Lenten walk, will you allow the Spirit to expose a desire for a bloodless religion and in its place put a fervor and faith for One who shed His blood for you? . . . That’s something to think about! -Pastor Tim |