I'M SPARTACUS!

           Fifty-five years ago, in one of the epic movies of the 1960’s, actor Kirk Douglas (100 years old this year) played Spartacus, the slave who led a revolt of seventy thousand slaves against Rome to win their freedom. The movie was based upon a historical person of that name. In the signature scene, a military envoy announces to the remaining army of captured slaves that their lives are to be spared. They would not be crucified as long as someone would identify the body or the living man named Spartacus.

            Spartacus himself slowly arises so that his fellow slaves might live. But before he can identify himself, a slave next to him jumps up and says, “I’m Spartacus!” Another the slave says the same, “I’m Spartacus!” And so do they all, thus sacrificing their lives for their leader. Historians say the body of Spartacus was never found, but all the surviving slaves were crucified, lining the Appian Way with crosses all the way from Rome to Capua.

            Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus brings that movie to mind, but in reverse. Whereas all the slaves were willing to sacrifice their lives for their leader, our Lord Jesus was willing to sacrifice Himself for all His people enslaved to sin. He became like Lazarus - poor, despised and a beggar - the powerful Son of God who stoops down to earth to share our sorrows and bear the eternal punishment of our sins.

            Jesus' crucifixion for the sins of the world is the “great reversal.” God became despised and lowly. Deity became human, that we might be given our freedom.

            Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.” And 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, ”For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

            At the Judgment Day Jesus shall rise and say, “I take the place of those sinners.” The name "Lazarus" means, “The one God helps.” The Divine Helper is crucified for us as if on a string of crosses all the way from earth to the gates of hell. Because Jesus has defeated Satan and has arisen from the dead for us, we are all set free from slavery to live eternally.

By His great sacrifice we are the children of God.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com