Crucifixion

Happy Easter! I have been thinking a lot lately, especially while getting ready to leave on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in less than two weeks, about my Savior and about our world that is so conflicted over the subject of religion. The one topic that should bring us peace and rest is the main one of conflict in our world today. Our country has witnessed major events taking place, such as World War II, because of anti-semitic notions. And still today, celebrities are getting into trouble with the public for making the same such comments towards Jews, claiming them to running the media and having a hand in everything. And mostly just blaming them for the crucifixion of Christ.
Now, I'm not writing this to point fingers at anyone, but I am writing this to maybe inform the world that we, even as a Christian today, are unable to wash our hands of everything that has happened as Pilate tried to.
Christ lived a life that was full of betrayal. Whether momentary doubt from some of His followers like when He didn't rush to heal Lazarus and he was let die, whether it was being denied three times by one of his closest friends and Apostles, Peter, or whether being completely betrayed by someone who walked with Him, Judas Iscariat. Christ, from the beginning, has been left alone in many different situations and by many different people.
And, yes, the Jews, of whom which Jesus was a part, did eventually crucify Him. And, despicably, as a Christian world, we still to this today seem to enjoy pointing our fingers at the Jews and blaming them for this event and for many of the major events and problems of the world today. And I admit that I do not fully understand everyone's opinions or reasonings and am not the most politically informed when it comes to this topic. But with my small two cents worth of intelligence, a thought came to me the other day as I was praying about how I could get the most out of this Easter season.
I was thinking about how the world was so full of problems; full of blame and harassment towards others, like the Jews for the crucifixion of Christ. Hitler's extermination efforts of the Jews were able to be cloaked in a deceitful veil of "christianity" because of this, as he convinced people that they must be destroyed because they had been the people who had crucified Christ.
And yet, how many times have we personally crucified Christ? We all seem to be so good at pointing our fingers at other people and washing our hands. But how many times have we personally crucified Christ?
Every time that we feel inclined by the spirit to help someone or to fix a problem, and we deny it and don't do it, I think, in a way, we are once again crucifying Christ. Every time that we are able to stand up for our faith, but pass up the opportunity, we are crucifying Christ. Every moment where we know that there is something greater we can do for others, but we get too distracted with what we personally want or something that isn't as important, we are crucifying Christ. Every time we don't honor His name as we should, we are crucifying Christ.
We all, myself most definitely included, are very good at washing our hands of situations and problems that we don't want to acknowledge. As people, that is one of our defense and survival mechinisms. But I for one am all for moving the mindset of the world from blaming those for a death to the mindset of making every second of that suffering and death worth it.
I am so thankful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ that was made in the Garden of Gethsemene those 2,000 years ago. I am so thankful for a Savior who loved me so much, and who thought of me as someone worth something, even when I may not think myself as worth anything. I am thankful that He loved me so much that He was willing to suffer, and eventually die for me. I am thankful for His perfect life and the way He lived. But as we so often notice and emphasize about our Savior in how he showed us how to live, let us, at the Easter season, remember too that He showed us how to die. He forgave those that mocked and killed Him. He submitted to the will of His Father. He did it all in patience and love.
So, yes, every time I think of the crucifixion of my Savior, it makes my stomache sick, thinking of Him being tortured and beaten and hung on the cross. And, yes, most times, I would like to take the easy route and wash my hands and be proud that I was not involved in the crucifixion of my Savior. And yet, I can recount endless instances where I know that I was not doing the best I could or being the best I could be. And, in my own way, I was crucifying my Savior.
But I want you to know that I, personally, through my own relationship with Jesus Christ and faith in all that He has done for me, am very thankful for the Atonement that He suffered for me, and for His willingness to suffer and die on the cross. How much joy is there in the phrase, "He is not here. For He is Risen!" My favorite symbal of Christianity is not the cross, though I am very humbled by its significance. The symbal that brings me the most peace, remembrance, and love for my Savior is the empty tomb. The glory of life after this, and the victory of Christ over death!
Where, O death, is now thy sting?
May we take this Easter Season into our hearts and not only remember the great and atoning sacrfice that the Savior Jesus Christ made for us in our behalf and His death on the cross, but may we also use this gift, as it has been infinitely offered to us.
May we remember the love that He has for us, and do our best to live, and die, as He has set the example. And though I wish I could wash my hands of it and say that I have not been a part of the crucifixion of Christ, yet I know that I, in my own ways, have been. And because I know that I am imperfect and am bound for many more mistakes, it makes me even more grateful for the infinite and atoning sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
May we remember the true meanings and blessings of this Easter Season.