As I sat on the couch the other night, in a cozy room with dim lights, I was joined by my wise young brother, who told me a story like no other. He’s always been a great storyteller, each meaning deeper, each story better. So I settled back in that room with low lights and oh what a story did I hear that night.
The story starts off with a man on a tree. This story is reverse of what you hear typically. This man was on the tree with thorns on his head. A spear cut his side and they left him for dead. But shortly before he gave up the ghost he uttered some words that haunt me the most. As his tears poured down he raised his gaze up. And with sorrow unmeasured these words he spoke, “Lay not this sin - this crime - to their charge for they know not what they do.” Words spoken with love unparalleled. Never before was there love so true. What say you? This tale you know? Listen closely and I’ll prove it’s not so. For the story I heard, none like it has been written. I’ll prove it to you, have patience and listen.
If you close your eyes and follow the screenplay, I’ll take you back to earlier that day. Imagine a scene with the man on the tree but at this point the tree was on he. A square full of people and more down the path. People who gathered to mock and to laugh. And as the man who was carrying a tree walked through the crowd what did he see. His eyes fell on one girl with a smile. To introduce her we must go back for a while.
Even earlier that day, walking down the street, was a girl who eyes you couldn’t meet. So much shame for the sin she was in. It seemed to crush her killing from within. She was walking, no, trudging. With burden she was struggling. Unclean she was and destined to die. So as she passed, no one looked her in the eye. But a kind man stopped her and said, “Child, look up”. And he offered her water, a drink from his cup. After she drank, she spoke words of thanks. He said “Go my child. You have been made free. The burden you bear is now a burden for me.” Bending down he picked up her load and slightly bent over, down the road he strode.
So now as he walks past with his tree, I look at his eyes and am frightened by what I see. I see there a reflection of that girl - just one in the crowd. With a huge smile she mocks, her voice loud. It’s that same girl who from the burden he freed. As I look closer I see that girl is me! It’s me standing there yelling “Crucify!” He freed me from death and now I sentence him to die. But with compassion he looks over the crowd including me and slowly he continues walking by with his tree. Then he stumbles and falls and now I can see, on his back is not only a tree. But on that tree hangs the load taken from me. I’m the reason he stumbled and fell. For along with his tree he carried my burden as well. My burden and many others are there too. Because freeing people from burdens is what he came to do.
Still looking for a reason that this story is different? Did I not mention... ? No, hmm I guess I didn’t. There is another moment of which you should be aware. Something else I saw while I was there.
When he fell and again rises to move on; I, being filled regret, trying hard to ignore my sin, I look to my left. And, oh my word, was I surprised, when my gaze met another pair of eyes. It couldn't be? Was this true? When I looked to my left, I was looking at you! “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”, was your cry, and though you try hard not to admit it, this you can’t deny. Remember I saw you with my own two eyes. So between the two of us, we committed an unforgivable crime. A wrong of such gratitude I can’t soften it with rhyme.
We ordered the death of a king! We killed God’s only son! What have we done? What have we done?!
Now a full circle we’ve come and we’re back on the hill. There’s the man on the tree with the thorns on his head. But now you know that should be me and you instead. He gave nothing but love, healing, and care. And I gave him my burden, now does that seem fair? He’d carried my burden and now felt the sting of my rejection. Now up there he hangs dead on a tree meant for me.
How do I deal with this? Hmm, well you see. Every day of my life, I replay the scene. I think of all the burdens he carried for me. And still when he offers and I see his hands full, I asked him to carry yet another. Yes, I am that cruel. As if he had not suffered enough the first time, I continue to whip his back 39 times. But evil that I am, burdens and whips are not enough. When the question is asked: Christ or Barabbas? I continually pick Barrabas. With my choice I again sentence him to die, as I, with my sin, chant “Crucify Him! Crucify!”
So now I’ve told you what my brother told me. And the plea I have was one he gave me. I told you this story to give you advice. Take heed to my words I won’t say it twice.
Please don’t follow my example! Don’t nail him to the tree! When decision time comes, please let Jesus go free.
9/4/15
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