Why was He sacrificed?
By RANDY SMITH
Pastor, First Mennonite Church
"The Passion of the Christ" was the third top-grossing film in 2004. That year Ann and I were serving in Raleigh, N.C., as leaders of a Service Adventure household, a mission program of Mennonite Mission Network for high school graduates. Our group decided to see this movie together. Afterward we left the theater with mixed emotions. We appreciated the serious portrayal on the big screen of Christ and His sacrifice. We were troubled that the movie failed to provide the context and explanation for this sacrifice.
How was the viewer to understand why this torture was being inflicted on this man? What did He do? What did it mean? In fairness, the movie is about the Passion and not His life, yet without being provided a context for understanding, the audience was subjected to a concentration of simple, senseless, graphic, bloody barbarism.
This past Christmas our family went to see "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," C.S. Lewis' classic allegory of the Christ event. In this story, the lion, Aslan, voluntarily lays down his life in the cause of love and faithfulness. His presence and power for goodness are far too threatening to the White Witch and her subjects, and he is undoing the power of evil that dominated Narnia. The White Witch demands Aslan's life in exchange for the liberation of Peter, who has given himself over to her corrupting power. Aslan agrees to this requirement and offers himself for execution, winning Peter's release. But the witch's victory is short lived, as Aslan rises again. This is a symbolic portrayal of Gustaf Aulen's classic ransom understanding of the atonement. In this film we are given a context and explanation for Christ's death and resurrection and its meaning for us.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son." In Christ, God came to us in complete goodness, to love us, teach us, heal us, and show us how to live a life for God. In our guilt and devotion to evil and sin, we simply could not tolerate His presence. It was too close and too convicting, so we rejected Him and killed Him. In His death, our sin and His love are inescapably revealed. Yet that is not the end of the story. In spite of our evil deed, God raised Christ. In His living again we are able to receive the Lord's forgiveness, new life, and eternal hope.
The 40 days before Easter is the season of Lent. Lent is an opportune time for self-honesty. Honesty leads to confession, repentance, and spiritual health. Lent is followed by Easter. In the risen Christ we are given the opportunity of forgiveness and to live a new life. That's good news. Rejoice and live anew!
HUMC to present Easter Cantata
Hillsboro United Methodist Church choir will present "The Cross" Sunday, directed by Allen Ediger.
The arrangement of this cantata features songs and narration about the cross, as relevant today as in the time of Jesus.
The Easter worship service will begin at 10:30 a.m. and the public is invited to attend.
EMB schedules
Easter service
A Christian endeavor program will be presented at 7 p.m. Sunday at Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church, 1498 Kanza Road.
The Lynn Jost family will present a pictorial Easter message focusing on the Mennonite Brethren Church of India.
Musical numbers will be presented by the Light House Quartet, as well as the children. Everyone is invited to attend.
