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I've been following, with some interest, the stories regarding a certain sculpture in chocolate. You've probably heard about it - the image of Christ, hanging on an invisible cross, made out of pure milk chocolate. You've also probably heard about all the hoop-la it's caused, and the subsequent cancellation of the exhibit.
The Christian leaders who protested (and, surprisingly enough, were heard), weren't so concerned about the fact that it was an image of Jesus Christ made in chocolate; it was the fact that he was shown stark naked. (and anatomically correct)
Yeah, I wouldn't want to see my Lord and Saviour portrayed that way, either.
But, it reminded me of something I read long ago, something that put a whole different perspective on Good Friday for me. I once read a book called "The Hiding Place", by Corrie TenBoom. For those of you who have never heard of her, Corrie was a Christian lady, who hid Jews in her home during the nazi occupation of Holland. She was eventually found out, and sent to a concentration camp for being a conspirator. Corrie survived the ordeal, and later wrote about it.
I remember one scene she described, as she and her sister (both of whom were in their 50's by this time) were waiting in line at intake at the concentration camp, stark naked in a room full of other women prisoners and prison guards. In the middle of all that humiliation, Corrie leaned ahead to her sister, and whispered, "Betsie, they took His clothes, too!"
You see, crucifixion (as horrible as it was) wasn't just about physical torture and death. It was also all about public humiliation. It says in the Bible, "When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. 'Let's not tear it,' they said to one another. 'Let's decide by lot who will get it.'" (John 19:23-24) Did you see it? They took everything, including his undergarment. He was hanging there, naked, for all the world to see.
When you see crucifixes and artistic depictions of the crucifixion, they always portray Jesus with at least a loincloth. Which I think is correct, in that one day of that kind of humiliation is more than enough for any man, let alone God. We don't need to see it. But just remember, that's not actually how it happened. There was no loincloth, no hiding, no covering Himself.
He endured that kind of pain and humiliation for us. For you. For me.
Think about it....
The Christian leaders who protested (and, surprisingly enough, were heard), weren't so concerned about the fact that it was an image of Jesus Christ made in chocolate; it was the fact that he was shown stark naked. (and anatomically correct)
Yeah, I wouldn't want to see my Lord and Saviour portrayed that way, either.
But, it reminded me of something I read long ago, something that put a whole different perspective on Good Friday for me. I once read a book called "The Hiding Place", by Corrie TenBoom. For those of you who have never heard of her, Corrie was a Christian lady, who hid Jews in her home during the nazi occupation of Holland. She was eventually found out, and sent to a concentration camp for being a conspirator. Corrie survived the ordeal, and later wrote about it.
I remember one scene she described, as she and her sister (both of whom were in their 50's by this time) were waiting in line at intake at the concentration camp, stark naked in a room full of other women prisoners and prison guards. In the middle of all that humiliation, Corrie leaned ahead to her sister, and whispered, "Betsie, they took His clothes, too!"
You see, crucifixion (as horrible as it was) wasn't just about physical torture and death. It was also all about public humiliation. It says in the Bible, "When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. 'Let's not tear it,' they said to one another. 'Let's decide by lot who will get it.'" (John 19:23-24) Did you see it? They took everything, including his undergarment. He was hanging there, naked, for all the world to see.
When you see crucifixes and artistic depictions of the crucifixion, they always portray Jesus with at least a loincloth. Which I think is correct, in that one day of that kind of humiliation is more than enough for any man, let alone God. We don't need to see it. But just remember, that's not actually how it happened. There was no loincloth, no hiding, no covering Himself.
He endured that kind of pain and humiliation for us. For you. For me.
Think about it....
thought-provoking post, Janine. . the chocolate, anatomically-correct Jesus. . i don't know if that would offend me? I guess i'd have to see it to decide. Thinking of everything that Jesus bore for us, well that's a heavy thing to think about, but good for us.
I remember that scene in the book quite clearly, too.