What if Jesus died today?

So, what if Jesus died today?

I think it would be easy to imagine the kind of documentation that would exist. From mobile phones to print to social media, His miracles, acts, and teachings about loving God and loving others would be recorded, for sure. I think the news channels would pitch in with their coverage as well. Likewise, they’d have their own spins about what was happening.

I also think it would be easy to be imagine the naysayers. Everybody’s a critic with a means to criticize. There would be people explaining their reasons for believing as they do in different ways.

I think it’s easy to imagine both sides of it, don’t you?

I’m really curious, however, what it would be like to watch or learn about those last few days.

We’ve seen horrible, unimaginable things via the internet or media coverage shared, openly, for the world to see. Brutal things. We have seen horrendous racial acts. We see the United States divided again and again. People take their stances to FaceBook or whatever avenue.

Imagine when Jesus faced Pilate. Think about the crowd and their frenzied response. I think it would be worse today. Even though Pilate did not want anything to do with Jesus’ death, he went along with the crowd, who wanted Jesus crucified.

Can you imagine the response to watching Jesus’ torture or being crucified?

Jesus was stripped of His clothes. A crown of thorns was put onto His head, not gently. He was beaten. People mocked and spat on Him. How do you think that would play out today? What do you think the reaction would be?

Typically, individuals who were to be crucified were also whipped severely, flesh being ripped and torn from the body with each lash. While this beating lasted a long time, it did not kill the person. It prepared them.

Would this even be newsworthy? Can you imagine the split coverage?

The heat of the day kicked in, causing sweat on top of blood loss and exhaustion. The custom of the time indicated the person carried a rough, wooden beam to the location of the crucifixion. Splinters added to the misery. Would people even care; would they try to stop it? Would there be outrage? Jesus reached Golgotha with the cross. He was offered very bitter wine but refused to drink it (Matthew 27:34). Sometimes, both femurs were broken as well, which prevented the person from straightening up to breathe. Further, it created more agony, suffering, and suffocation.

Jesus continued to be taunted and ridiculed. His clothes were spoils for wagers. Legs bent probably at a 45-degree angle, Jesus hung on the cross with His shoulders likely dislocated and likely suffering from hypovolemic shock, cardiac stress, nausea, muscle cramps and spasms, and immense pain, do you know what Jesus said when these things were happening? He prayed for forgiveness for these people. What would the tweets be like? Would there be marches or protests? Would people care at all?

Yet, for six hours, Jesus hung on the cross, gasping for air, thirsty, exhausted, weak. Keep in mind, He did not want what was coming; He asked for this not to happen. But obediently, He wanted God’s will, not His own. Two robbers were on either side. One mocked Him; one asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus assured him He would see him that day.

Darkness happened for about three hours; Luke 23:45 says “while the sun’s light failed”  whereas Matthew 27:45 states “there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.” At that time, the curtain temple was torn in two as in Luke 23:45. Jesus cried out, asking God why he forsook Him. He was offered a sponge with bitter wine while nonbelievers waited to see what would happen, if God would save Him. Despite all He was enduring physically at that time and despite feeling separated from God, Jesus cried out again, in a loud voice and died.

Soldiers immediately began believing Jesus was the Son of God according to both Matthew and Luke. Luke 23:48 said some of the crowd “returned home beating their breasts.”

Knowing what was going to happen, Jesus died on the cross. Whether you call Him Lord or not, He died for you just as He did for me and everyone else. He took our places. He wiped away our sins. All we have to do is follow Him, obey Him, love Him, and love others. Yet, He was tortured and crucified publicly for doing just that. While His efforts started small, there are now more than two billion Christ followers in the world.

I started with a question: What if Jesus died today?

Obviously, He didn’t, but Easter got me pondering how the world would respond. Although there would be more coverage, there likely would be just as much apathy. I suspect there would be just as many excuses as well. Yet, nobody found no body.

How would you respond seeing a person go through what Jesus did? How would you feel knowing that person did that for you, that s/he took your place? Certainly, your answers and feelings are yours. Just know that is exactly what happened. He endured torture, ridicule, pain, and death for you.

Why?

Because He loves you.

#Easter #Risen #Jesus #Compassion #Media #Care #Love