Perception & Interpretation – The Crucifixion

I always wondered why the sun shone every Good Friday at 3.30 for as long as I can remember. That was always the day that I thought the world would end – if it were ever to end. After all that was when the Son of God was betrayed, falsely accused, subjected to a farcical trial, beaten, tortured, publicly humiliated and finally killed. And He KNEW He was the Son of God. Why didn’t He retaliate and wipe out the whole lot of them? Because Jesus Christ came to teach us, to save us and to set us free.

Jesus Christ gave us the extreme example of his death and crucifixion to teach us that attack or retaliation for perceived persecution is never justified. He gave us the extreme example of His resurrection to free us from our greatest fear – the fear of death. He overcame death and promised that we would do the same. Jesus Christ came to teach us how to live and, more importantly, how to think. Our thoughts govern our actions as did His. Somewhere in the middle of our thoughts and actions is our perception and how we see the world. Maybe the greatest lesson Jesus gives us is His lesson on perception. He did not perceive Himself as persecuted because He knew that was an impossibility. Not seeing Himself as being attacked or persecuted gave Him no reason to attack in return.

Everything that Jesus did as the Son of God applies to you and me. We are all Sons of God and brothers of Jesus Christ. Attack on our bodies is possible – of course, as it was for Jesus Christ, but also like Jesus Christ further assault on us is impossible – unless we choose to feel that way. I am not advocating that we be downtrodden or doormats for anyone – I am suggesting that it is possible for each of us to reclaim the power of Jesus Christ for ourselves. If having the power of Jesus Christ appeals to you – it is time to have another look at His life story and look at the world and how we live through His Eyes.