JoCo Foto » Mississippi Wedding Photographer

As Easter approaches, I wanted to reflect not on Christ’s suffering, but his patience in his suffering.  This concept is so important that God chose to prophesy through Isaiah about his patience.  Isaiah 53:7  He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. In Matthew 26:63, after Jesus is betrayed and brought before the high priest for questioning, ”Jesus kept silent” despite being falsely accused.  Jesus only admits that the high priest is correct in how he addresses Him.  How many of us would keep silent if we were being falsely accused?  We would all defend ourselves if someone was lying about us.

Following this false accusation, Jesus remains silent and patiently awaits his upcoming Crucifixion.  They slapped Him, yet he remains silent.  They ridicule Him, telling  Him to prophesy who slapped him, yet he remains silent.  They beat Him, yet he remains silent.  The crowds shouted crucify Him, yet he remains silent.  They released a notorious prisoner instead of Him, yet he remains silent.  They scourged Him, yet he remains silent.  They crowned Him with Thorns, yet he remains silent.  As Pilate washed his hands of the trial, the people vehemently screamed, “His blood shall be on us and on our children;” yet he remains silent.  They crucified Him, yet all he says is ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI(My God, My God why have you forsaken me)!   The innocent One bore the Sins of the nations in the greatest act of patience and love the world has ever known!  Just like the people asked out of ignorance earlier, His blood payed the price for their’s and their children’s sin.

It is so easy for us to be angry at the people who crucified Christ, yet our sins every day are as detestable to God as the sins of the people who crucified Jesus; and these sins are the reason the price had to be paid for us to be righteous in God’s sight!  Yet God remains patiently waiting for us like a father who eagerly anticipates his wayward son’s return home.  His love is abundant and His forgiveness is great!  This Easter Sunday as we celebrate the resurrection, I pray we would remember the sacrifice that was paid so that we can have an unencumbered relationship with our Lord and Savior.