I may be wrong (I probably am) but lately I've come to understand the Biblical concept of "justice" holds a different definition than the one we normally use in our Western world. In our culture, we define "justice" as visiting retribution or punishment meted out to those who have wronged or harmed others. While that may be part of the Biblical understanding, it's only a very small part. When we acknowledge that God's ultimate aim for all of us is restoration to perfect relationships with Him and all others, the meaning of His "justice" becomes the restoration of all things to their proper place. It's true that sometimes this requires the application of right hand justice but, as you so well noted, His kingdom is much more oriented to the use and application of the left-hand methods. But both are part of the same process and not opposed to one another. The important thing is to keep the end in mind when informing our decisions as to how to interact with the world as a whole. Not a simple "how to" answer I know. And, as I said, I'm probably way off base here. But that's my current thinking for what it's worth.
Under the weeping sky, beneath the weight of shame,
My spirit trembles, echoes through the frame,
"Father, forgive them," in tears I silently cry,
For they know not, why in shadows, I must lie.
In thirst unquenched, my heart's fierce fever burns,
"Today with me in paradise," thus my soul yearns.
A whisper of grace, through agony's loud roar,
A promise of solace on an eternal shore.
"Behold your son," amidst the depth of strife,
"Behold your mother," the gentle thread of life.
In sorrow, bound by blood and sacred ties,
A fleeting embrace beneath the leaden skies.
"My God, my God," a cry to pierce the night,
Abandoned echoes, faith's tenuous flight.
Why have you forsaken this shattered form so frail?
In weightless silence, my spirit wails.
"I thirst," a rasp through the parched, cracking air,
A human plea, a burden none can bear.
The vessel of sorrow brims to overflow,
Beneath this crown of thorns, I surely know.
"Finished," a whisper on the ripened breeze,
The end of pain, a messenger who frees.
Final breath amid the painful hush,
With heaven’s light, in sorrow’s lonesome flush.
"Into your hands," the soul, relinquished, yields,
From earthly bonds, the spirit gently peels.
In twilight’s sigh, a heart entwined with grace,
And Jesus weeps, as night’s velvet face.
Together we, in mournful shadows, stand,
United with the nails, a solemn band.
Our tears are rivers, mingled with His plea,
A shared lament for every Calvary.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Explain the poem:
These phrases are traditionally known as the "Seven Last Words" of Jesus Christ spoken during his crucifixion, according to the Christian Gospels. Here is an explanation of each stanza:
### Stanza 1:
**Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.**
- **Meaning:** Jesus is asking God to forgive those who are crucifying him, suggesting they do not fully understand the gravity or consequences of their actions. It is an expression of divine compassion and forgiveness.
### Stanza 2:
**Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.**
- **Meaning:** Jesus is speaking to one of the criminals crucified alongside him, offering him the promise that they will be together in paradise after death. This illustrates the promise of salvation and eternal life for believers.
### Stanza 3:
**Woman, behold thy son! Behold thy mother!**
- **Meaning:** Jesus addresses his mother, Mary, and the disciple John. He entrusts Mary to John's care, effectively creating a new familial bond between them. This emphasizes Jesus' concern for the well-being of his loved ones even in his final moments.
### Stanza 4:
**My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?**
- **Meaning:** This expression of deep anguish is a direct quotation from Psalm 22:1. It conveys a sense of abandonment and intense suffering. Theologically, it can be interpreted as Jesus bearing the weight of humanity’s sins and experiencing separation from God.
### Stanza 5:
**I thirst.**
- **Meaning:** A declaration of physical suffering and human vulnerability. Jesus is expressing his physical thirst, which also symbolically represents his profound spiritual thirst and suffering.
### Stanza 6:
**It is finished.**
- **Meaning:** Jesus is declaring the completion of his mission on earth to offer redemption to humanity. This signifies that his sacrificial work is accomplished, fulfilling the prophecies and divine purpose.
### Stanza 7:
**Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.**
- **Meaning:** Jesus is expressing his trust in God, surrendering his life into God’s care as he dies. This reflects a deep sense of faith and the completion of his earthly journey.
These statements are significant in Christian theology for their demonstration of Jesus' compassion, fulfillment of prophecy, and the depiction of his human suffering.
I may be wrong (I probably am) but lately I've come to understand the Biblical concept of "justice" holds a different definition than the one we normally use in our Western world. In our culture, we define "justice" as visiting retribution or punishment meted out to those who have wronged or harmed others. While that may be part of the Biblical understanding, it's only a very small part. When we acknowledge that God's ultimate aim for all of us is restoration to perfect relationships with Him and all others, the meaning of His "justice" becomes the restoration of all things to their proper place. It's true that sometimes this requires the application of right hand justice but, as you so well noted, His kingdom is much more oriented to the use and application of the left-hand methods. But both are part of the same process and not opposed to one another. The important thing is to keep the end in mind when informing our decisions as to how to interact with the world as a whole. Not a simple "how to" answer I know. And, as I said, I'm probably way off base here. But that's my current thinking for what it's worth.
I think ultimately you are right about justice. Our justice in this life only gets us part of the way there. Good thoughts.
Everything in this life only gets us part of the way there.
Title: The 7 last words of Jesus Christ
Yvon Roustan (©)
Under the weeping sky, beneath the weight of shame,
My spirit trembles, echoes through the frame,
"Father, forgive them," in tears I silently cry,
For they know not, why in shadows, I must lie.
In thirst unquenched, my heart's fierce fever burns,
"Today with me in paradise," thus my soul yearns.
A whisper of grace, through agony's loud roar,
A promise of solace on an eternal shore.
"Behold your son," amidst the depth of strife,
"Behold your mother," the gentle thread of life.
In sorrow, bound by blood and sacred ties,
A fleeting embrace beneath the leaden skies.
"My God, my God," a cry to pierce the night,
Abandoned echoes, faith's tenuous flight.
Why have you forsaken this shattered form so frail?
In weightless silence, my spirit wails.
"I thirst," a rasp through the parched, cracking air,
A human plea, a burden none can bear.
The vessel of sorrow brims to overflow,
Beneath this crown of thorns, I surely know.
"Finished," a whisper on the ripened breeze,
The end of pain, a messenger who frees.
Final breath amid the painful hush,
With heaven’s light, in sorrow’s lonesome flush.
"Into your hands," the soul, relinquished, yields,
From earthly bonds, the spirit gently peels.
In twilight’s sigh, a heart entwined with grace,
And Jesus weeps, as night’s velvet face.
Together we, in mournful shadows, stand,
United with the nails, a solemn band.
Our tears are rivers, mingled with His plea,
A shared lament for every Calvary.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Explain the poem:
These phrases are traditionally known as the "Seven Last Words" of Jesus Christ spoken during his crucifixion, according to the Christian Gospels. Here is an explanation of each stanza:
### Stanza 1:
**Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.**
- **Meaning:** Jesus is asking God to forgive those who are crucifying him, suggesting they do not fully understand the gravity or consequences of their actions. It is an expression of divine compassion and forgiveness.
### Stanza 2:
**Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.**
- **Meaning:** Jesus is speaking to one of the criminals crucified alongside him, offering him the promise that they will be together in paradise after death. This illustrates the promise of salvation and eternal life for believers.
### Stanza 3:
**Woman, behold thy son! Behold thy mother!**
- **Meaning:** Jesus addresses his mother, Mary, and the disciple John. He entrusts Mary to John's care, effectively creating a new familial bond between them. This emphasizes Jesus' concern for the well-being of his loved ones even in his final moments.
### Stanza 4:
**My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?**
- **Meaning:** This expression of deep anguish is a direct quotation from Psalm 22:1. It conveys a sense of abandonment and intense suffering. Theologically, it can be interpreted as Jesus bearing the weight of humanity’s sins and experiencing separation from God.
### Stanza 5:
**I thirst.**
- **Meaning:** A declaration of physical suffering and human vulnerability. Jesus is expressing his physical thirst, which also symbolically represents his profound spiritual thirst and suffering.
### Stanza 6:
**It is finished.**
- **Meaning:** Jesus is declaring the completion of his mission on earth to offer redemption to humanity. This signifies that his sacrificial work is accomplished, fulfilling the prophecies and divine purpose.
### Stanza 7:
**Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.**
- **Meaning:** Jesus is expressing his trust in God, surrendering his life into God’s care as he dies. This reflects a deep sense of faith and the completion of his earthly journey.
These statements are significant in Christian theology for their demonstration of Jesus' compassion, fulfillment of prophecy, and the depiction of his human suffering.
Excellent discussion!