Critics of Christianity have often mocked – ‘Surely God could think of a better way to save us than sending His Son to die on a cross.’
FLYING FREE. PICTURE: Lois Carroll/www.freeimages.com
Don’t they realise the cross poignantly demonstrates God’s solidarity with all those who have ever suffered?
God could have sent a postcard. Instead God, in Jesus, chose to suffer the worst of it with us. Jesus chose to suffer and die in unjust circumstances – falsely accused, kangaroo court, excruciating physical and psychological torture, on a cross.
Jesus screams out with billions of others, ‘My God, my God why have you forsaken me?’
The cross isn’t a silly idea – it’s a tender demonstration of God’s solidarity with all those who suffer. What a beautiful thing.
I don’t know why God doesn’t stop suffering – but I know He knows what it is like. God has suffered, and continues to suffer, with us.
Paul Clark’s musings can be heard on radio across Australia and at atthetop.org.au.
