I always cry when I see that movie, The Passion of the Christ. To see the amount of suffering our God went through for lowly, undeserving, and ungracious us. It hurts to see someone we love hurt so much.
Sometimes I wonder why I’m still a part of this community – why I still serve to this capacity. It’s tiring work. Many times it’s thankless work. Juggling meetings with people from four different times zones. Mixing all these meetings and assemblies and duties with studying, going to classes, working, spending time with family, friends, significant others. It just seems like too much. You get exasperated.
But then you see that kid who hated YFC before camp become a chapter head. Or that quiet guy you brought to a campus camp becomes a cluster head. Or a girl you met while building houses for the poor goes to the Philippines to become a full time worker for CFC-Youth.
We suffer through our service because of the outcome. We can be the ones who bring others closer to Christ. We can be part of their path that leads them to heaven. We can save souls. But before us, before our suffering, was the One who suffered the most. The One who saved all our souls.
Look at the photo. Our Christ, our Saviour, our Redeemer, our Love, our Strength, our Shepherd and Shield – He looks so pained. He looks so sad. But that isn’t the only thing He felt. His death saved every single person He loves and will ever love. Sheer, unadulterated, lasting, beautiful joy – that is what our Jesus felt when He was crucified on that cross.