So get a load of this: In "My Utmost For His Highest" today, the author discusses how, if you want to know the power of God, you must dwell on the "tragedy of God". Elsewhere, he points out that we have not dwelt enough on the "tragedy of Calvary".
Well, being the contrarian that I am, I felt that statement was incorrect, so I looked up the definition of tragedy. Here's what I found (from dictionary.com)
1.
a dramatic composition, often in verse, dealing with a serious or somber theme, typically that of a great person destined through a flaw of character or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate or society, to downfall or destruction.
(well, clearly, that one doesn't apply)
2.
the tragic element of drama, of literature generally, or of life.
(nah, not that one either)
3.
a lamentable, dreadful, or fatal event or affair; calamity; disaster: the tragedy of war.
(nope, don't like that one either)
4.
A disastrous event, especially one involving distressing loss or injury to life: an expedition that ended in tragedy, with all hands lost at sea. A tragic aspect or element.
(sorry, O for 4)
I'm not sure I understand the author's reference to "tragedy". Surely the story is tragic, the necessity of Christ's beatings and torturings is tragic, his final march to the cross while carrying my sins was tragic, but for me, something about the nature of that tragedy changes when I remember Christ's motivation.
In John 10:18, Jesus poignantly explains nobody takes his life, that he lays it down willingly. It isn't some tragic event that happened to Him. It is the very reason He came - to DIE. For me! For you! The gory scene was necessary to portray the ugliness of the sin which he took upon himself. That's not tragic to me, it's heroic !
Don't mourn the tragedy! Praise the Hero! The price of sin is a long, grueling, gory death. And Jesus paid it so we don't have to.
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1 comment:
agree.
the story of Jesus is only a tragedy when viewed through the eyes of an unbeliever, and only to the point of His death on the cross. THe point behind a "tragedy" is that a great person falls due to a fatal flaw in them...from a literary aspect Jesus's fatal flaw might be his "love for the world" or his choice to not fight back. However if one would take the time to read beyond his earthly death it becomes quickly evident that Jesus was not himself defeated, but rather He defeated the world...He beat death - He lives forever!
Hallelujah - no tragedy there!
Nice to see you have a blog now!
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