Easter E-mail

This was sent to me yesterday via e-mail. I generally don't forward or post chain e-mails, but this one felt important enough to merit an exception.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Subject: The Death of Jesus

For the next 90 seconds, set aside whatever you're doing and take this opportunity!

At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to the death. At the time crucifixion was the "worst" death; only the worst criminals were condemned to be crucified. Crucifixion is a long, slow painful death, where one is VERY slowly dies through suffocation, blood-loss, infection and/or dehydration,  several hours to several days. The position of the body on a cross does not allow the crucified to breathe easily, due to hyper-extension of the chest muscles and lungs. In Jesus' case, crucifixion also meant being nailed to the cross by His hands and feet. In doing so, He had to alternate between pushing up with his feet/legs against one nail and pulling Himself up by His arms against the other two for each inhale and each exhale.

Each nail was a tapered iron spike 5 to 7 inches (13 to 18 cm) long with a square shaft 3/8 inches (10 mm) across. Whether driven into base of His palms or directly into His wrists, the nails would bite through muscles, tendons and median nerve. This nerve runs through the carpel tunnel of the wrist and extends to the shoulder. The Romans knew that when the nails were hammered into this, it would cause excruciating pain, both in the initial insertion as well as each time Jesus used his arms to pull  His body up to breathe.

Beyond His arms, He was forced to support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Similar to His arms, pain would radiate from His feet up both His legs and spine, causing not only pain but tremors in the legs. These tremors would quickly exhaust His already tired leg muscles and He would collapse time after time. Each time His body dropped, it tugged on His arms, causing additional pain to run up both His arms from the nails there. 

Between the two, each shift of His body would further the agony in His already lacerated back as it grated against the course wood without even a scrap of cloth for protection. Blood not only trickled from his back but also from His pierced scalp. Before any of the cold iron spikes touched His flesh, he was tortured. His body was beaten. His beard was plucked. His back endured the cruel lashings of the whip where His flesh was literally flayed, some hanging in strips from His body. After which, a thorny crown was placed upon His head and additional strikes were blown.

On the road, his broken, bleeding body was also forced to carry the implement of his death. The crosspiece alone weighed 75-125 pounds (35-60 kg). The whole cross would weigh over 300 pounds (135 kg). On the twisting 1-2 mile journey, the wood dug heavily into His already-lacerated shoulder. Exhaustion and pain were already starting to overwhelm Him on the journey; He fell three times.

Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering,... the courage. Jesus endured the reality of the cross for three (3) hours. This was only His physical suffering.

Before the cross, He was betrayed by one of His closest friends. He was handed over to those who mocked Him. He was humiliated, spit upon, falsely accused and carted around like a base criminal. Through this, another of His closest friends denied even knowing Him. The rest fled and hid in terror. He was alone as He endured the lashings, then the humiliation at the hands of Roman soldiers. They dressed him in a purple robe and mocked Him as "King of the Jews."

Then along the walk to Golgotha, He was taunted, cursed, spit upon and humiliated by the crowds. It was not long before this when crowds would gather to listen to His teachings or receive His healing. It was only DAYS before this when the crowds waved palm branches to welcome Him into Jerusalem. Now the crowds turned against Him. His closest followers, save a handful including His mother, were no where to be found. He felt abandoned and alone.

Seeing His mother must have been a thorn to His heart. He loves her dearly, and seeing her tears for His suffering must have added yet an additional ache in His broken heart. When someone sees a loved one crying, they want to do something to stop the tears. He knew there was nothing He could do. All He was going to do was bring even more tears upon the hill of Golgotha. He could not even take her into His arms to comfort her at that moment... There was a journey to finish.

At Golgotha, He was stripped of His clothes - all of them. This was intended by the Romans to bring further shame and humiliation. The soldiers at the foot of the cross gambled over the acquisition of the garment, indicating He was worth less than the bloody, torn cloth to them, as well as leaving Him with nothing in this world other than the torn skin of His body. There is further shame many accounts leave out for the sake of decorum. Nature still had to take place; His body was still fully human. Public bodily releases was also a way the Romans shamed the crucified. 

Can you imagine this kind of suffering? Physical, mental, emotional...

Why?

Because He LOVES us - including you. He went through the worst suffering people could think about at that time, and OVERCAME it all because He did not want eternity in Heaven without us. He opened a way for us that gave us access to God and a return to Paradise.

In Jesus' culture, the only way they understood sin could be cleansed was through a sacrifice. Jesus loved us so much, He said, "Then I will be that sacrifice." He gave up everything He ever had in this world - from a future, to friends at His side, to flesh that surrounded His heart and soul. Even His heart was pierced by a spear in the end.

He trusted God - completely. And thought that complete Trust, Jesus rose from that death. Not a ghost or spirit, but one whom others could touch and examine His wounds. One that shared a journey with them and ate with them. He showed us how far we could go when we trust God completely too ~ through the worst we can possibly imagine and well beyond!

Some would argue that because this happened years - heck millennia! - before our birth, it could not be for our sake. But who on Earth can say with certainty that what God does is limited to time? Even Einstein questioned our concept of time. The door that was opened 2,000 years ago remains open to this day. The Love and gift of Jesus is for all time and beyond!

Please don't ignore this situation; please don't forgo this opportunity.

It is easy to pass jokes or photos by e-mail, but when it comes to God, sometimes we feel ashamed to forward the words to others because we are worried of what they may think about you.

God has plans for you, and is reaching out to you - right now. Show all your friends the gift of Jesus' Love: the open door to God. For the next 60 seconds, set aside what you're doing and take this opportunity! Let's see if Satan can stop this.

All you are asked to do is:

1. Simply pray for the person who sent this message to you.
2. Then, send this message to other people; the more the better. You will give others the opportunity to pray to God too.
3. Take a moment to appreciate the power of God in your life, knowing that while you still breathe, the door is always open.

If you are not ashamed to do this, please, follow this request. Remember Jesus said in Matthew 10:32: "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before My Father in heaven."

Yes, I love God, Who is my source of life. I love Jesus, who is my Redeemer. If you love God and you are a believer and trust in salvation through Jesus the Christ, send this to all those you love.

 ___________________________________________________________________________________

- ESA