The Choice

Today I saw a quote that said “the choices we make determine the consequence we face” and the question was asked, what choices are we making?  I was immediately reminded of the fact that if we say yes to Jesus, then saying no to bad choices will be a natural progression.

As I reflect this week on the last week in Jesus’ life, leading up to Good Friday when he was crucified and then Easter Sunday when He rose; another thing that struck me was the choice that Jesus made.  Zoom out some more and we see the choice God made when Adam and Eve chose disobedience – He made the choice to pursue us and demonstrate His love, that meant sacrificing His Son for us.

I heard a depiction last weekend about the process of the crucifixion.  The Romans used this form of execution for criminals and enemies of the state.  Their methods were diabolical in that they tried to delay death and extend pain and suffering by the way they nailed the condemned person to the crucifix.  By nailing just the wrists/hands the person would die in minutes because of blood loss and asphyxiation from the weight of the body hanging.  The Romans added the nailing of the feet, bending the knees, so that the could “prop” themselves up to breath thus delaying their death.  Imagine being nailed like that to a coarse wooden beam while trying to prop oneself up hence rubbing one’s back against the grain of the wood after been whipped and tortured prior to being nailed.  The punishment was meant to shame and disgrace the person.

When Jesus was crucified, it was with two others beside Him; two thieves, possibly deserving of such a punishment but certainly not Jesus.  He made the choice.  He chose to enter Jerusalem and walk into this eventual scene.  Wrongly accused, beaten beyond recognition, spit on, mocked and then nailed to a wooden cross for display.  I remember a line from an old song - “and as He hung there dying, He was mending lives…”  It was for you and me that He made that choice.  The criminals didn’t choose their punishment, Jesus made that choice to suffer through it; because of love for you and I.  His choice has an amazing consequence and I am so thankful for that!

As we move through the rest of the week and celebrate what Jesus accomplished on the cross, think about your choices and then reflect on what Jesus chose.  May you and I be overwhelmed with His unconditional love and grace given.

Peace…