(Today’s reading on audio: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0LpJirmRQHGjuQ9RHTIh69)
Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. (Philippians 2:4-5)
Jesus didn’t embrace the cross out of strict obligation, doing so with some kind of sarcastic self-resignation: “I guess I’d better do this or those mutton heads are all going to go to hell. Don’t really want to, but…” True, he showed his portion of humanity with his prayer (and my interpretation of his communication intent), “Father, humanly speaking, I would love to get out of this, but I’m not asking for what I want, but for what you want…” He must have uttered this “take this cup from me” plea due to the impending pain and almost unfathomable torture about which he was fully aware and he knew lay ahead of him. He was girding himself, and I believe trying to wrap his heart and mind around what was ahead. (I just saw scenes again from the movie Passion of the Christ. That gave me a powerful rendition of the bother of the pain he was facing.)
No, Jesus embraced the cross out of a motivation of love, God’s love, for us, for me.
A decision to
put us first,
to seek our best,
to rescue and deliver us
to give life by doing what must be done.
And he did it in a selfless way. Despite the pain, and the horror of the impending crucifixion, he went through with it—even though he could have responded positively to the baiting of the thief, “If you are the Messiah, get us down from here!” But he obviously didn’t do that. Instead, he showed that he valued us above his self-preservation, self-comfort, self-motivation, self-validation. (I’m struggling for the word here; they all seem to fall at least just a bit short.) It was self-less in the sense that he put us above his-self; we were the concern. Our well-being, and entry to life was his focus.
Can you imagine: in the darkest hour ever experienced by any human being in the history of the world, he was putting the good of others above himself? And that good was eternal good for them? The stakes were at their highest and he delivered. He couldn’t have done so if the focus were on himself and his well-being. The focus was on us and our well-being. What a man, what a God!
“Father, following the example of Jesus, teach us how to show self-less love to others.”
From Freddy Boswell’s book, Torn Curtain: And Other Two Word Lenten Meditations. Published by Amazon Kindle Direct.
Freddy Boswell 