Inspiration

Sorry so many posts about movies lately but... saw "The Dark Knight" tonight. I won't talk so much about the movie except there is a type relating to Jesus at one point and it reminded me of something about the cross and that is what I will share.

To start out, if you've ever heard or if you like the worship song "Above All"...I'm sorry. I think it sells Jesus and what was done at the cross short. The line "like a rose trampled on the ground" steals the glorious act of bravery, hope, and all out righteousness that was accomplished by it. Jesus with all power, knowledge and will took his cross to his hill where he gave his life. To his death he took his power to save himself, his face, his possible fame and chose to be despised as a criminal is and said nothing to defend himself. To his death he took his knowledge of all hope and all evil, his knowledge of every mans heart and he chose his cross regardless of what evils those hearts contained. I don't believe he was trampled, he did exactly what he set out to do, and there he conquered. Any church I've ever been in has focused when addressing the cross mostly on the personal side of Jesus' motivation there, and I feel loved. So important. But when I remember just what options Jesus had and see the path he chose in the midst of a evil world... O Lord! I am inspired!

The actions of Jesus awaken the hope in me that I too could stand for goodness despite opportunities for mere justice. In other words, the world has no qualms about permitting justice but the cross suggests a love that is greater than justice.

John 10:11-20
11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

19At these words the Jews were again divided. 20Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"