I appreciate how this video by Crossroads Kids' Club tells the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Though it’s designed for kids, I recommend it for all ages, and it works as audio-only, which I found handy. But after listening to it and being touched by the audio, I took the time to stop and watch the animation,
and it brought me to tears.
(I’m not kidding when I say I recommend it for ALL AGES!)
What struck me most the first time through (audio only) was how it says that Jesus “wanted to do whatever God wanted, even if that meant dying.”
Now THAT is true love.
May we all be, as Jesus was, “obedient unto death” (Philippians 2:8).
What hit me strongest when watching the video is how sweet Jesus looked, standing there beaten and bruised in front of Pontius Pilate. And He doesn’t only look sweet — He is sweet — through and through.
It made me cry for the times I’ve shrunk back from things God was calling me to do because I feared that He was pushing me into something that wouldn’t be good for me. (That is such a lie from the enemy!)
Watching the video, I thought, clearly if You would go through all that for me, then You’re never trying to put me in harm’s way. You went into harm’s way for me! You took on all the pain for me! You don’t want me to ever have to feel that way.
But if I do because I’m following You — or because I’m repenting and making my way back to You — then I get to align with You and feel just a bit of what You felt.
And we’ll be in it together.
It reminds me of Romans 8:32 — “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
Jesus’ death on the cross proves that God is never trying to withhold good from us, and that He’s never trying to thrust us out there just to get crucified — unless there’s a greater purpose (that will bless us too!) and a grand resurrection.
As the video says at the end, Jesus “didn’t stay dead!” (How amazing is that?) “And now anyone can be in God’s family.” (Praise the Lord.)