Road to the Cross: Out of the Shadows

 

Dear Reader, thank you for joining me on the road to the cross. My heart leaps to share the old, old story that remains new. Please accept my humble accounting of the treacherous path Jesus and His followers took to the cross, and gloriously beyond. 
(Road to the Cross will continue during our visits this Lenten season.)
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It’s over. I could not bear to look, and now it’s over. He tried to tell me the very first time I came to Him. He tried, but I was too stubborn, too afraid to listen.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
John 3: 14-15 RSV

He tried to tell me how much He loved me. For crying out loud, I came to Him in the night, sneaking and scared. But it didn’t seem to matter to Him, He still said He loved me. He had already forgiven me before I even came.

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:16-17 RSV

And now, look at them. Mary never wavered in her faithfulness. How could she bear to watch her son die such a horrible death? How did the Master draw Himself from the delirium of pain to commission John with taking care of her?

And here am I, still hiding in the shadows? What is left for me to do?

39 Nicode′mus also, who had at first come to him by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds’ weight. 40 They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where no one had ever been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
John19:39-42 RSV

What a feeble task for the Master. How clumsy I am in my ignorance of the process. His poor body! Ripped and humiliated, and He said He was going to do it for me. How do I bare this shame? 

21 But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.
John 3:21 RSV

Gently, gently … gently to the tomb. I hate to leave Him, but Joe reminds me of rituals and regulations. Dusk screams at us to go. How can I leave the Master? How can my spirit come out of the shadows? Where is the light He promised?

5 thoughts on “Road to the Cross: Out of the Shadows”

  1. Alice, I have never thought about Nicodemus being a part of the journey to the cross. This is beautiful. And wow, how convicting, considering how often I’ve hidden in fear because of what others might think if they knew my belief in Jesus. I don’t fall into this nearly as often as I once did, but that fear is still there. I appreciate this reminder as we near Easter.

    I would like to invite you to share this with the Tell His Story linkup over at my site. I think the readers over there would appreciate your words and insights.

    1. Dear Jeanne, I am so sorry I am just now reading your kind comment, and wonderful invitation! Even though I was unable to link-up this week, I have placed your badge on my new website, bookmarked your page, and put linking up on next week’s to do list. What a wonderful honor to take over such a long-running link-up. I’m trying a lot of new things these days, but that sounds way beyond me. Thank you so much for visiting, and I look forward to returning the favor.

  2. What a wonderful telling of the story of Jesus’ death from a new perspective! It is a good reminder that many of us are “too stubborn and too afraid to listen” at one point or another in our lives. We sometimes feel as though God’s grace and love are too good to be true, but Jesus was sent to fulfill God’s promise to us.

    1. I love writing from different points of view! I think sometimes we can’t see ourselves in the players’ shoes during those eventful days and nights. And you’re right, Laurie, God’s grace and love are too good to be true. Makes me wonder why we limit Him to what we can imagine, instead of trying to stretch to what He imagines for us. Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts.

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