Death OR Resurrection?

The cross of Jesus. Is it more death or more Resurrection? The Passion of Christ, the essence of why God took on flesh is bound up in this and it seems only right to try to understand it a little better for in the understanding is a more transformed, more holy life. And since a holy life reflects the life of Christ and what we know of His life and ministry take place on the way, more or less, to the cross it is only right for us to survey that timeless event.

Paul says in Philippians 2:8; “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

The condescension of the creator to take on the trappings of His creation is an act of humility. The life of Jesus as one man in the flesh is an act of humility for a God Who is everywhere. Having no place to lay His head for a God who owns the universe is an act of humility. Stipping off his robes and becoming the basest of all servants to wash the feet of His lowly students is an act of humility. Submission of a Just God to unjust authorities is an act of humility. Death and that at the brutal hand men, the very crown of His own creation is humility. Burial in a borrowed tomb is an act of humility. It seems that the biography of Jesus Christ can be summarized in one word: Humble.

Survey the Cross

And why? For love of the unyielding, proud?’ The ‘I’ that makes no room, gives no grace for the other, for ‘you?’ It makes no sense. If God, the only One who truly is justified, who truly is righteous, who truly is glorious and worthy to be King humbled Himself how much more should we sinners sit in wonder at the foot of the cross and dare to be offended and miserable and the circumstances that surround us? We must take our daily struggles as from His hand as opportunities to walk the way of humility. Humility is God’s highway to holiness, to love and true greatness. And when that highway reaches its end we will be, as St. John of the Cross said, “judged by Love.” This is the resurrection.