5th April, 2007

NICK HODGSON

PICTURE: Jon Ng (www.sxc.hu)

Have you ever had a friend who would be willing to give up their own life to save yours?

In our day and age it’s hard to imagine a scenario where a friend could be placed in such a position.

For earlier generations who lived in less secure and comfortable circumstances, this may have been a real and genuine occurrence.

Just today, during a time of worship and meditation, I had a very clear vision of a dark, bloodied battle scene. It was on a muddy and roughened terrain, loud and fierce explosive noises ripping through the sky, bright flashes of severe light as spotlights frantically scanned the field, and then as an explosion of artillery tore up the soil even more, punching holes in the earth. Shrapnel flying through the air. Bullets ripping randomly in every direction. Bodies lying on the ground, torn, bleeding, dismembered, some gasping for their last breath, others still and cold.

Then, straining across the battle-zone; a solid and strong figure, carrying a heavy load, attempting to rush to safe cover on the horizon. Steely-gaze, fixed on making it to protected trenches, where urgent medical attention could be administered.

The limp torso he carries is his close friend, struck by cross fire when he strayed from cover and became disoriented. Arms hanging, feet dragging along the ground, head heavily rocking from side to side as his companion takes each step towards safety. Blood trickling down his forehead, breathing shallow and weak. Wounded, broken, unable to support his own body weight.

He didn’t have to ask or plead to be picked up. Wouldn’t have dared or presumed to ask his friend to risk his life and himself become an easy target in order to save his life: Firmly staring death in the face in order to guarantee the revival of another human. Didn’t even have to give permission or submit his own will for his friend to save his life - It was just done!

Have you ever had a friend who would be willing to give up their own life to save yours?

Each of us has a friend just like this one, who has taken these very steps to secure our life and freedom: His name is Jesus Christ. He walked boldly carrying the weight of his cross, the very thing that would kill him: knowing that He had to die so that we might live. Our sins are our cross, but He carried them with him when He went to his crucifixion, so that we wouldn’t have to die from their consequences.

Easter is the time when we should remember what Jesus did for us, and we should symbolically let Jesus take the weight of our hurts, wounds, pains and failings, and once again carry them to the cross to be lifted, healed and removed.

Thank you for your blood, my friend.