Skip to main content

The Compassion of Christ


Often the Crucifixion scene depicts Jesus in a very somber and suffering state. This is accurate and I do believe that our Lord and Savior was overwhelmed physically, emotionally, and spiritually during the process of being crucified. Most Corpus (corpse) scenes of Jesus have the Lord either with a placid or peaceful expression on His face. The peace tends to denote that at last, his suffering if complete for the sins of mankind.

Recently I found this painting of Jesus being crucified. What is quite unique about the depiction is that Jesus is smiling! He has just died and yet is joyful! This alludes to that Jesus knows in his last breath, when he said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit," (Luke 23:46) that Jesus knew that he just had died for the sins of all humankind and reconciled all people with God who believe in Him! (2 Corinthians 5:18). The painting shows a side of Christ's sacrifice that does not get emphasized enough!: Jesus was glad, He was joyful to pay for the necessary justice of our wicked deeds and make it possible for all peoples to now be reconciled and reconnected to the Most High!

Too frequently we see in art a solemn, somber, and serious Jesus. Most crucifixes and paintings would have us think: 'You did this to Him, your sin and so feel the sorrow and suffering he felt!' While it is worthwhile to recognize what it cost Christ to set us free, we should also be aware that He wanted to do it! Jesus was moved by compassion and deep love for us! (Mark 6:34, Mark 8:2-3, Luke 7:13, Matthew 9:36, Matthew 15:32). He wanted to be wed to us and was willing to suffer all the torment to ensure we could be with Him forever! I believe the painting depicts accurately the heart of how Jesus felt and perhaps even his last facial expression! To know that "It is finished!" (John 19:30) and now humankind can come into the Holy of Holies and be unhindered in relating to the Righteous One! Jesus knew that He upon the cross had just opened the door to salvation and reconciliation for all who believe in Him! (John 3:16).

May we remember not just the pain and persecution that the Prince of Peace went through; let us in addition see this face! A face that conveys such compassion, joy, and glee that we are set free! That we can meet with Jesus daily and communicate with the Risen Christ at any moment! Jesus loves you and the Bible tells this so! Do not let the images of an angry God or solemn and distant Lord convince you that Christ wants to be distant or that He is holding a grudge against humanity for the grueling pain He endured! I know Jesus would gladly do it again if it meant saving one more soul! We serve a loving and compassionate God! (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:4-5, 1 John 4:8, Romans 8: 37-39, Psalm 31:32, Psalm 37:28). My prayer is that you know that God loves you and smiles when He sees you!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Israel’s Conquest of Canaan: The Nephilim and Giants

  Christianity Today asserts that the conquest of Canaan can be a “stumbling block” for believers. This probably is because of a foolish idea of comparing it to a modern conquest happening in our world. The truth is that God had Israel conquer Canaan because it was ruled by evil giants, “We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” (Numbers 13:33). These are Anakim or Nephilim, the children of angels and human women, “When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God (angels) saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These w
Post a Comment
Read more

Dispensationalism

John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) was a man who did two things, he took 70th week of the Book of Daniel and stretched out to the End Times, and he was the father of  Dispensationalism , a belief system that God dispenses different peoples with separate blessings and covenants. According to Darb'ys doctrine of Dispensationalism, God dispenses different covenants. There are total of seven dispensations that divide the history of man: I. Dispensation of Innocence (prior to the Fall, "Do not east of the Fruit of Good and Eve, Eden), II. Dispensation of Conscience ( You must assuage guilt and sin with blood sacrifices.) III. Dispensation of Human Government (Multiply and Subdue the world, example the Tower of Babel Gen 11:1-9, and Genesis 1:28). IV. Dispensation of the Promise (Dwell in Canaan, Jerusalem) V. Dispensation of the Law ("Obey the Law of Moses and the Prophets"). VI. Dispensation of Grace (The Church, Jesus Christ has come and died for our sins an
Post a Comment
Read more

Jesus’ Name in Aramaic

There has been a trend to render Jesus’ name Hebrew, יֵשׁוּעַ , Yeshua. The problem is neither Christ nor his apostles, nor the Jews in 30-33 A.D. spoke Hebrew, they spoke Aramaic. A ramaic is the oldest language on earth and was the language Jesus spoke. In fact, the oldest Old Testament is the Septuagint a Greco translation around 132 B.C.E. (165 Years Before Christ)that was translated from Aramaic. The Masoretic Text, The Hebrew Old Testament most Bibles use, dates from 7th to 10th Century A.D. (Medieval Times).  This translation does not cross reference with the words of Christ in the New Testament which are Aramaic and Koine Greek.  If the Aramaic was what Jesus spoke, then by what name would have been called? Jesus’ name in Aramaic is Isho or Eesho, spelled ܝܫܘܥ . That is the name of our Lord in Aramaic! He would have heard his name in this dialect, “Hail Isho or Eesho!” as well as the Greek, Ἰ ησο ῦ ς , Iesous.  Aramaic is disappearing, only a few people are endeavo
Post a Comment
Read more