Still He Walked
He could hear the crowds screaming, "crucify, crucify"... He could hear the hatred in their voices, these were His chosen people. He loved them and they were going to crucify Him. He was beaten, bleeding and weakened ... His heart was broken. But still He walked!
He could see the crowd as He came from the palace. He knew each of the faces so well. He had created them. He knew every smile, laugh and shed tear. But now they were contorted with rage and anger ... His heart broke. But still He walked!
Was He scared? You and I would have been! So His humanness would have mandated that He was. He felt alone. His disciples had left Him, denied Him and even betrayed Him. He searched the crowd for a loving face and He saw very few. He looked back at the crowd, at the people who were spitting on Him, throwing rocks at Him and mocking Him and He knew that because of Him, they would never be alone. So for them ... He walked!
The sounds of the hammer striking the spikes echoed through the crowd. The sounds of His cries echoed even louder, "My God, my God. Why hast thou forsaken me?" The cheers of the crowd, as His hands and feet were nailed to the Cross, intensified with each blow ... And God's heart broke ... He had let His Son walk!
Jesus could have asked God to end His suffering but instead He asked God to forgive. Not to forgive Him. But to forgive the ones who were persecuting Him. As He hung on that Cross, dying an unimaginable death. He looked out and saw, not only the faces in the crowd, but also, the face of every person yet to be and His heart filled with love. As His body was dying, His heart was alive. Alive with limitless, unconditional love He feels for each of us! That is why ... He walked!
When I begin to feel hurt because I think about the people who judge, criticize and persecute me, I remember ... His walk!
When I feel hurt because I think of the people whom I've helped and put before my own needs and now they are attacking my character, slandering me and plotting evil against me, I remember ... His walk!
When I begin to feel scared and all alone because people have used, abused, and betrayed me. When all the people who claimed to love me, no longer want anything to do with me because I'm not satisfying their needs anymore, I remember ... His walk!
When I want to harden my heart so the world will never be able to hurt me again, I remember ... His walk!
When I want to get revenge for all the wrongs and all the injustices people have inflicted upon me or on those I love, I remember ... His walk!
When I don't want to forgive someone because I don't think they deserve forgiveness or that they are not remorseful, I remember ... His walk!
When I begin to consider anything being about me and my feelings, I have to remind myself of ... His walk! Because everything I face here on earth is exactly what Jesus endured first. And worse! And because I love Him so very much, when I wake each morning, I turn my eyes to Him ... and I walk!