Discussion Topic #31: Crucifixion and Resurrection Stories--What is yours?

I think of the sun. It rises from the southern hemisphere, having been dead to me, to the northern hemisphere, heralding Spring and being reborn. Daily the Sun Dies in the West and is reborn in the East. The theme of Easter is always at the fore for me. Each passing moment is gone forever to be reborn in memory and new moments. The cycle of life and death to me is small and grand. Timely and great topic!

Jesus survived the Crucifixion was healed, as the others saw that he had risen, Thomas even touched him and said that he felt as any man should feel. Jesus then said that you can't go where I am going and went off to the West side of India where he taught some more.

My story was personal, it happened about 14 years ago and was beyond mere words, never-the-less I attempted to tell it in my book (icon).

I don't think I would quite characterize any of my life experiences as crucifixion and resurrection stories, but it's certainly something to play with if you have both a persecution complex and delusions of grandeur.

I never considered my trials to be crucifixions. I have had some painful ones, but to me they were more Refiner's fire than crucifixion. Frequently I must admit that I wonder if there might be a day when so much dross is burned off that we find nothing left!

My crucifixion came at the hands of a church congregation that I had ministered to for five years. There was a person who was elected to serve on the board of trustees who did not like me. He made it his project to get me fired and over the course of two years made life difficult for me and my family. Eventually, I left that church of my own accord and after a great deal of healing, found another church to serve. That church embraced me as the first church had never done. I blossomed there and stayed for 12 years.

I have found that as painful as our crucifixions may be, the resurrections always lead to new life which is even better than what we had before. And we are better able to have compassion for others who are going through crucifixions.

A great topic, Carla! Thanks for helping me to realize again the blessings that came from my own crucifixion.

Brian, I can certainly relate to your crucifixion experience, for I have had a similar one. I do not have the time to write about my own at this moment, but suffice it to say it strengthened my faith and deepened my compassion for others. My resurrection did not come as soon as I would have liked (they never do), but when it did it was glorious. My prayer is that anyone who is going through a crucifixion now will know that they are not alone, that God is with them.

And yes, Carla, another wonderful topic. Easter blessings to you!

Nothing to say except to thank those giving inspiration and encouragement in their comments.

My crucifixion happened when I was sixteen. I became paralyzed on my left side and no one knew why. God and I had long talks while I was in the hospital. I turned everything over to God and my resurrection came two weeks after brain surgery. I made up my mind that this was the job God had given to me and I wasn't about to sit around and feel sorry for myself. The DR. told my husband I wouldn't live past 35. We have been married for 38 years and I am 56. God is not done with me yet. Great topic. Have a blessed Easter.

None of us has suffered the horror and the pain that Christ suffered for us. Our trivial discomforts are nothing.

The beating given to him by the Romans before the cross, the chanting by the religiously correct to crucify him and most of all, the willingness of his father to allow his suffering, cannot be comprehended by us.

After three heart attacks I would not be arrogant enough to compare my trivial discomfort with the crucifixion.

I hope everyone has a happy Festival of Eastre!

It has been a proven fact that pain can be blocked out in many cases ... though it may not be well understood just how ... there have been some that have been able to do it by will power and training even, for most it just happens that way ... to say that Christ suffered, as is commonly claimed, is only a conjectured opinion ... none else can ever really know ... and I personally believe that one so truly connected with God would not be made to suffer ... no matter how it may "appear" to the one watching.

So much of "His" supposed religion has been based upon suffering and the fear of ... a great part of the problems derived therefrom in the minds of so many that claim the "exceptions" they do, because of their claims that "He" did it for them ... He tried to tell them something else entirely, but it was too esoteric for their comprehension IMnsHO.

Jimmy, we are not comparing our pain and discomfort to that of Christ. And please do not demean and belittle the suffering of others (and yours for that matter). We all have our challenges and some are painful physically and some are painful emotionally. But to imply that people are "arrogant" who choose to share their own metaphorical crucifixions is wrong. Everyone here can well imagine that the actual crucifixion itself must be excrutiatingly painful. But you do not have to try to provoke a sense of guilt in our desire to share our own painful experiences and the good that eventually came later which we saw as a resurrection.

Some people focus on the crucifixion and the suffering of Christ. I believe that he wanted us to focus more on the resurrection, which is what Easter is all about. It is the triumphant overcoming of death. In my opinion, Christ did not want to be a martyr, but rather an inspiration and a way-shower, helping us to meet our challenges with courage and faith.

Hi Carla,

First off, thank you for your article. Happy Easter to you and your loved ones.

You said, "In my opinion, Christ did not want to be a martyr, but rather an inspiration and a way-shower, helping us to meet our challenges with courage and faith."

Christ was not a martyr. His life was not taken from Him - He gave it up willingly.

Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life–only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
John 10:17

He did not put on flesh, live a sinless life, die a horrible death on a Roman cross, and then rise from the tomb to be an inspiration and way-shower. Why then did He give His life?

This is a true saying, and by all means worthy to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief: ...
1 Timothy 1:15

Jesus came to glorify His Father by saving His people from their sins. He paid our sin-debt with His atonement. Further, He has promised to indwell us through the person of the Holy Spirit. He is not a way-shower - He is the Way! The Way is a person. The Way is Jesus Himself, reconciling us to the Father and living His life through us.

If you belong to Christ, you were crucified with Him on the cross that dark Friday afternoon and you were resurrected with Him that first glorious Easter morning. Here is something to sing praises for!

I concur with Jimmy in that we can not even fathom the suffering involved with taking upon Himself the sin of the world. Everything else pales in significance.

-Mark

Carla, I have been away on a long retreat and have just written a brief meditation on it. I was delighted to find that you are asking about what I have just been searching for: the meaning of resurrection. In my faith, Isis is the agent of resurrection. She brings life back from death. In my own experience, we have all "died" many times. I know I have. I have been hurt, abandoned, betrayed. But long ago a very kind and wise woman brought me to the Temple. Like Isis, she saved me from death and gave me the healing of the soul that is the only true resurrection. Now I continue that search for others. I wander the great river banks looking for the lost children like me. I have nothing to give them. I am no goddess. But sometimes it is enough to know that we are not alone. Even that is the beginning of resurrection.

Mark, thank you for stopping by and sharing your beliefs.

Isis, thank you for sharing your personal experience and for also helping others to know that they are not alone. All of us have different paths to the divine and to finding the truth within ourselves. I love how you share your path and do not judge the path or the beliefs of others.

1 Corinthians 15:31 "I die daily," wrote the apostle Paul. During seminary I also died daily.

I can relate, Paul. Thanks for making me smile.

Adam, I have warned you in the past that I will not tolerate your vindictive attacks on me or others who comment. We have gone through this before on other strings. You are vicious and mean-spirited with your comments. As long as you are doing that on my articles I will continue to delete your comments.

And by the way, the word sin means to "miss the mark". All of us do that, even you, Adam.