"In the course of my travels I have entered a number of Buddist temples in different Asian countries, I have stood respectfully before a statue of the Buddha, his legs crossed, arms folded, eyes closed, the silent, a remote look on his face, detached from the agonies of the world. But each time after a while I have had to turn away. And in my imagination I have turned instead to that lonely, twisted, tortured figure on the cross, nails through hands and feet, back lacerated, limbs wrenched, brow bleeding from thorn-pricks, mouth dry and intolerably thirsty, plunged in God-forsaken darkness. The crucified on is the God for me! He laid aside his immunity to pain. He entered our world of flesh and blood, tears and death. He suffered for us, dying in our place in order that we might be forgiven. Our suffering become more manageable in the light of his. There is still a question-mark against human suffering, but over it we boldly stamp another mark, the cross, which symbolizes divine suffering."
By John Stott from the the book" Why I am a Christian"
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
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