Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Passage: Matthew 27:27-44
Focus: “Then they led him away to crucify him.” Matthew 27:31.
I still have not seen the movie produced by Mel Gibson, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. It’s not that I don’t want to see it. It’s just that I haven’t gone out of my way to see it—partly because I judge that I don’t need to see it. I understand that it is a good accurate production, but is, at best, an artificial re-enactment of the original. I have already seen the original drama countless times as portrayed on the screen of my mind, imbedded in my spirit, presented by the Sovereign Producer and Director of the Universe, and written and recorded by Divine unction in the studios of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Of all the atrocities played out in human history, and they are many, this is about as ugly and horrific as it gets—right here in today’s reading. But please do not process the account as many do and overlook the WHO and WHY components of the story. A typical casual viewer will be tempted to conclude that Jesus was just another innocent victim of another terrible injustice…and miss the central point of Biblical revelation.
WHO? To be sure, Jesus was innocent…but definitely not a victim in the normal sense. This drama was being played out precisely on schedule according to Divine script. Jesus Himself had earlier stated when Peter tried to go into attack mode with his sword, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures (the script) be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matthew 26:53-54). That sure doesn’t sound like the status of a victim! In fact, Jesus was now fulfilling His special role and function as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Read again the description of Jesus in Colossians 1:15-20. I don’t know how others respond, but I can’t read those lines without a heart-felt “WOW!”
WHY? Perhaps the best and most comprehensive answer is in Jesus’ own words in John 3:16-21. Please bear with me as I quote that familiar (and not so familiar) passage: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
Little wonder that the theme song accompanying this spectacular drama is AMAZING GRACE.