Meditations from Zion

Mark 15:23-24
Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.

Jesus allowed it all to happen. He allowed the mocking, the whipping, the accusations, the abuse, and the horrible, horrible pain. He understood his journey included pain. So many times in our own culture, we do anything and everything we can to mask or hide the pain. I am not saying that’s always bad. In fact, my mantra used to be “avoid pain at all costs.” And I did. I avoided physical pain and I avoided emotional pain. But, when there is no pain, there is a numbness that can cut us off from the reality of our experiences. I am trying to stop running from all the things that hurt.

Some years ago, Philip Yancey and Paul Brand wrote a book called Pain, the Gift that Nobody Wants. Although it is actually the story of Paul Brand’s work with lepers and leprosy (which, by the way, is really a bacteria that causes loss of sensation or feeling… first in the extremities and then other parts). But the book takes us to another other level as well… to remind us of the importance of pain, particularly in our bodies. Pain gives us information about things going wrong. If we always ignore or mask pain, we may miss something important.

Jesus had to feel it all. I don’t really know why, but it was definitely part of the package. It takes courage to face pain and to accept it. I marvel at those who have travailed in truly serious illnesses. They know about that pain. I am humbled in the face of it.