Emotional Contrasts

At the foot of Calvary stood a woman who had birthed the Son of God. Her emotions were in a quandary, her son was on the Cross suffering for mankind and he was innocent. She had pondered all the things that she had see and heard and at that moment nothing could be more difficult as she watched Him suffer. The impatience of each breathe could be heard form all around her and yet in her heart she understood why He was born but he emotions could not be controlled. They were in contrast with one another, sorrow and peace.  Only a mother could be in this state of mind considering what the outcome would be in just a few hours. What could she do at this point but pray and hope that it would end soon. From the glimpse of thinly opened eyes, almost sealed from dried blood and the bashes of soldiers fists. Jesus looks across the crowd recognizing those that have followed Him and also those that had ridiculed and mocked Him. The ones that had scourged Him were present deeply staring up into the face of Christ, the forgiver of sin, the Lamb of God! His eyes stopped, looking at John, the one that He loved so dearly and then the glance to His mother. At that instant He pushes aside the pain and deep aguish of the soul and proclaims to her His care and concern from the Cross to her heart! When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother,“Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple,“Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:26-27) He taking upon Himself the weightiness of the sins of the world, nailed to a cross, beaten and smitten, confirms to her, the mother of His birth, His deep care for her and her future. His emotions also were at contrast with one another! The deep pain and agony which pain brings to the mind and also the compassion the Savior could only have at a moment like that. Caring from the place of surrender and sacrifice, nailed between earth and heaven, emotionally drawn to His Father and also to His mother. Yet, he speaks to the heart even when all was about to be over. He could have drawn His last breathe and given up His spirit but not now, not yet, one more compassionate embrace to the one who softly touched Him, his first human touch. He lifts up the heart compassion in the depths of death!

This One, this Christ, looks across the vastness of time at our brokenness and pain caused by a sinful nature and calls to us from the deep heart of His compassion and offers us a place to dwell. That place called heaven and while here on earth under the Shadow of the Almighty, God the Father (Psalm 91) Through His eyes now bright with fire and His voice like the rushing of mighty waters He declares a peace and safety to all that will hear and listen. To all who come to Calvary to find peace and rest. (Matthew 11:28) He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5) He offers His peace which the world cannot offer. (John 14:27)

The contrast of emotions is the warfare that many fight when facing the decision between heaven and hell. The Word of the Lord speaks to the hearts of people – Choose life! (Deuteronomy 30:19)

Dennis

Remember prayer moves the Hand of God