Give them roots and wings

I now have two teenagers. What’s most interesting about having teenagers (besides their changing voice….) is the sudden advancement of their intellectual prowess. We often discuss politics and history with Elkan, and about aircrafts with Elias, although for the more technical discussions, it is usually with daddy.

Once the boys were discussing something.
Then they came to me and asked “How much is a tonne?”
Before I could say anything, one of them said,
“For such things, ask dad”.
I was rather insulted.
Though I shall unabashedly say…
I did not know! And daddy did know!
My boys know their mum and dad! Lol!

Now being Good Friday season, our discussions have been about Jesus’ death. Although our boys were brought up in the same godly (I hope!) environment, their level of spiritual sensitivity and devotion towards God are very different.

Elias is full of faith, and Elkan has many doubts. I am inspired by Elias’ passion, and I am glad for Elkan’s intellectual honesty. Christianity cannot be inherited – the children have to experience God themselves. I would rather he be honest about his lack of faith in God than to pretend. Anyway Elkan is never rude about it – he goes to church, he prays with us, he reads the bible, but he has many questions, which we always enjoy answering because it forces us to find answers through research/reflection/prayer.

So this time, Elkan started this discussion about whether Jesus would die for only ONE person. To him, it makes economic sense for Jesus to die for millions and trillions of souls who have died in the past, present and future. It defies his logical and practical mind that Jesus would die only for one person (like it’s not worth it!). We explained to him, and so did Elias. Elias came up with analogies after analogies (Jesus is a board lah, an aircraft lah, etc).  To cut a long story short, Elkan accepted it. (Yes, Jesus would die for ONE. Individuals matter to Him. Parents would die for just one child, why not God?).

Then, Elkan made this point about how Jesus’ death on the cross is really no big deal cos He knew He was God, and He knew He was going to come alive again, so it’s just a temporary death and suffering.

Well, that was such a familiar argument for me! Not too long ago, I thought the same way too! I had the same belittling and dismissive attitude towards the crucifixion. My dear son – a reflection of myself. Thank God for His mercy!

My answer to Elkan for this question came quickly – Jesus did suffer permanently for His death on the cross.

A bit of information for non-Christian readers before I go on – although Christians die too, like everyone else, we would be resurrected and given a new body. It will be a physical body, but glorified. Similarly for Jesus, when He died and was resurrected, He was given a new glorified body. But the key point is here:-

John 24

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Jesus’ new physical body has nail-pierced scars in his hands and feet. He also has the spear-pierced scars at his side. He kept his scars! Elkan said – well he could just heal himself. Yes, that is true, dear Elkan, but God chose to keep the scarred body, and He would have that body for all eternity.

At that point, when I was explaining to Elkan, I started tearing, because suddenly I realised the implication of that. We now have weak and imperfect bodies for say 80 years, but we would have perfect bodies for eternity. Yet for all eternity, Jesus would have a broken body.

Where is the justice in that?

So here is an old favourite song of mine – We are the Reason, in honour of God’s sacrifice.

Why would I live and die for Jesus?

Because He did it first for me. While I was yet a sinner, while I was still His enemy- hating Him, despising Him, and caring nothing at all for Him, He died for me.