JESUS . . . GOD’S SON, OUR SAVIOR (HIS BREAST)

We often say that Jesus bore the weight of the world on His shoulders, which is true. For much of His way on the Via Dolorosa, He literally carried the cross on His shoulders. But when it mattered most to those who loved Him, Jesus, incarnate God, supported them on His breast, where His heart beat strong with perfect love that transforms sorrows into victory and redemption. Sometimes we get uncomfortable when we see depictions like the one above, of Christ’s suffering. Yet it is needful for us to recall just how steep a price He paid so that we could find His redemptive strength and joy in living. It is a good thing to be among His children and to be able to lean in on His powerful breast.

HIS BREAST

Now His head rests on His breast
our rulers satisfied with His death,
now He bears His head alone
where His heart absorbed our woe
strong in His sturdy chest—
now who will bring us rest?

He who hugged the children
welcoming them to Heaven,
holding them to His breast
offering them His best—
now His heart has burst,
victim of mankind’s worst.

His bruised and bloody chest
leaves me empty in His death,
I know He was Messiah,
but now I wonder why
our Master had to die—
earth heaves, the heavens cry.

M.S.
Easter 2006

Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom
one of His disciples {John},
whom Jesus loved.
Simon Peter therefore motioned to him
to ask who it was of whom He spoke.
Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast,
he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”

John 13: 23-25 (NKJ)