In Other Words

"They gave our Master a crown of thorns. Why do we hope for a crown of roses?"
~ Martin Luther ~  

Matthew 27 tells the story of Jesus appearance before Pontius Pilate. After Jesus fate has been decided he is handed over to the Roman soldiers who make a crown of thorns, place it on his head, and begin to mock him. As he stands there, the weakest yet strongest of men, I often have wondered if it was difficult to not call down the hosts of heaven to slaughter those soldiers and save him from their lashes. I am quite sure that is what I would have done! We know that Jesus did indeed endure this mocking & beating, understanding that it was truly going to get worse before it got better.

Heb 12:2-3 exhorts us to "... fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." I have gone through many seasons in my life when I have wrapped these verses around me like a blanket. As a young Christian I was often confused when people would become angry when I tried to tell them about this wonderful gift of Jesus that I had just found. Later on in my journey, I learned to hit my knees and ask for grace to endure when a particular co-worker was endlessly cruel & hated me so much (by her own admission)that she only communicated to me through notes left on my desk. (Our desks were right next to each other, by the way.) I tried many times to break through her walls, finally coming to the understanding that it was not to be. The day I left that job she walked me to my car & broke down in tears, saying she wasn't sure why she had acted that way. I was able to forgive her because I knew Christ had forgiven me for all the horrible things I had done to him in my past.

Even though I have had these experiences, and many more like them, it seems that too often I am taken by surprise when the thorns of life prick at me and even entangle me. It's as if I have forgotten that we are to be like Christ, to share in His sufferings as well as His glory. Just a few months ago, as my son lay horribly ill in the hospital, I came to the abrupt realization that I was ticked off at God. I thought God would let Evan off the hook, that he wouldn't have to share those sufferings because he has Down Syndrome. Yet no Christian is exempt. And why should we be? Christ is our example, we are to follow him in all things, even this.

Human nature being what it is, soft, lazy, frail, we want, hope, plead and beg for the crown of roses. A life full of just blessings, as if we already lived in heaven and not on earth. I remind myself that roses, sweet and fragrant, come with the thorns attached, just as the Christian life, full of blessing, beauty and wonder, comes with its own painful cost. There is a wonderful song my husband wrote called "To Carry The Glory". Here are some of the lyrics, which I think perfectly sum up what our lives are all about:

It is no longer I who live, but Christ who is living in me

For the life that I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God

Who loved me and gave Himself for me

It's the God Who made light to shine from darkness

Who is shining in our hearts

To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God

In the face of Jesus Christ

What earthly cost could be too great a price

How could there be too great a sacrifice

To carry the glory of God in the earth, To carry the glory of God in the earth

To carry the glory of God in the earth, as He's shining through our lives

              1997, Harold Forbis, Used by permission.

                              All rights reserved

 

 

Comments

[Serenity]

Sigh. But I hate the thorns. I really really hate them. Sometimes I feel so much more like I'm hanging on for dear life than actually carrying much glory. I love what you wrote about Anne Lamotte in a previous post. I've only read bits and pieces of her book so far. I think her honesty and struggle may get through to people in a way that some of us never could get through to them. And the Stephen King book - I know! I've seen it recommended so often and never yet picked it up. And I'm so touched to be a link on your page!

[Denise]

You are so right, be blessed dear one.

[ellen b]

Thank you for this perspective on the quote. It is so key "to fix our eyes on Jesus" so we don't forget and don't get in the way. I hope I let His glory shine through...

[faithfulmom]

So true and beautifully done. Blessings...