In quick succession he was
brought before the Sanhedrin, before Herod, before Pilate, and then before the
People - and he was sentenced to death.
Innocent
of any wrongdoing he was judged as a malefactor.
But, in
a way, he was guilty! He was guilty as hell!
He was
guilty of the sins of all the world, of Adam and Eve and of all their children.
He was the guiltiest man ever born. Guilty of all 'our' sins - every last one
of them.
And
because he was 'totally guilty' he deserved to die. He took upon himself the guilt of
our sins so that he might take upon himself the punishment for our sins.
Such was
his love for us. As the torturer and the executioner approached us, to give us
our just deserts, he stepped into their path and said 'Take Me instead.'
That is
why he 'collaborated' with his executioners. He could have called upon his
Father to send twelve legions of Angels, but he didn't; he did not struggle, he
did not resist, he did not plead his innocence. He knew he was guilty. He
wanted this.
So he
offered his back to those who struck him and did not turn away from those who
tugged at his beard and spat in his face. As a lamb he was led to the
slaughter, not opening his mouth.
He
picked up his cross and carried it as far as he could. He embraced it as one
who embraces a friend who has pledged to assist in the achievement of his
purpose ... and his purpose was to die.
Why was
that his purpose? To make us feel guilty? To make us feel bad? To show us how
badly he suffered? No. It was to show us his love. To show us how much he loved
us. That’s all.
Then he
waited. He waited for our response. What will it be? What will be our response
to the love Jesus showed for us? For me?
