Hebrews 12: 2 ; Philippians 2:8 ; John 3:16
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”.
When I survey the cross on which my Savior died, and ponder on the sacrifice of Calvary, I can scarcely take it in – all that my Lord endured for me, on that cruel hill of Golgotha. When I ponder on this sacrifice, my cognitive abilities fail to comprehend this love, so deep and wide. In my human mind, I find myself kneeling at the foot of this cross, in thankfulness for the greatest sacrifice of all. And as I meditate on what Calvary means to me, a profound paradox begins to unfold very slowly, yet quite vividly.
Calvary, oh Calvary – the emblem of suffering and shame. A place that holds the highest injustice ever known to man. A hill that witnessed the greatest suffering and pain, yet the same hill that affords the deepest comfort to mankind! It is such a paradox that Calvary – a place of shame and disgrace has now become a place of honor to the redeemed, bringing relief to all humanity.
Calvary, oh Calvary, how can a place so cruel and wicked, become the fountain of pure/undiluted love, in its deepest expression! One of the amazing mysteries of all is that hatred and love exist as one, on the cold hills of Calvary where my savior poured out his life!
Calvary, oh Calvary, this place bears the mark of poverty and penury – there’s no beauty to behold; nothing that anyone would desire. Yet this place holds the richest of God’s blessings; spilling wealth and abundance to those who believe. What a paradox that poverty and wealth intertwine with zeal on this lonely hill of Golgotha.
The ordeals of Calvary seem like a tale of woe and defeat, as our loving Savior willingly surrenders His life without a fight. But in this tale another story emerges – that of triumph and victory; because death has been swallowed up, and sin is conquered forever. It is a mystery that defeat and triumph (two opposing concepts) have mingled together on the cold hills of Calvary!
Calvary literally is an emblem of death – a hill that ends the life of criminals; though Jesus was guiltless and holy, He accepted such a gory death so that we can have eternal life. It is such a paradox that the place meant for death, has become a place where life begins – a new birth in Christ! We who were once sinners (criminals) have been set free, for our ransom has been paid by the precious blood of the lamb!
What more can I say of Calvary? No other place combines the two opposing ends of good and bad all together in one piece! No other event transforms the ugliness of ashes into a thing of rare beauty. A place of weakness, yet of tremendous power; a hill of sorrow, but also of joy. A place of hopelessness, and yet, eternal hope!
On this day, I cannot help but ponder the paradox of Calvary; the mystery of the redemption story so wrapped around pain, humiliation, shame, hatred, suffering, and finally death. But within these wrappings are great treasures, honor, riches, wealth, the deepest expression of love, and a gateway to eternal life in heaven!