Have you ever tracked an event or movement so closely that you felt you were there?

    There are many who have fixed on a certain event in history or a certain movement so intensely that they have read everything written on the subject, attended every possible function related to it and have become so intensely involved in it until they feel as though they were there themselves. Some have followed the events of September 11, 2001 when the World Trade Center was destroyed. They have read every article, seen every special report, absorbed all of the photo images and have developed an empathy with the victims. In a sense they say, I was there. Those who are able to say I was there are those who are able to not only sympathize but empathize with another. To sympathize is to share the troubles of another. To empathize is to not only share the troubles of another but to share an affinity with another based because of a mutual experience.

   A family that is dealing with the impact of drugs may get sympathy from a friend who listens but have never had the problem before. However, they would get empathy from a friend who has also experienced similar problems.

    A school counselor who counsels a child that has been moved from school to school frequently has sympathy for that child's situation, but the counselor who himself was a frequent transfer student has empathy because of his own experience. Those who empathize are those who can say, I was there. As believers track the events related to the crucifixion of Christ, we have focused so intensely on its details that we have gone beyond sympathy, we have developed an empathy with Christ. We have projected our own circumstances into that day in such a way that we are actually there at the scene of his death and conversely, also at the scene of his resurrection. We can empathize with Christ because we too have been falsely accused by witnesses who pointed fingers at us and accused us of things we have not done.

   When we watch Jesus stand silently and become the victim of lies, in our meditation, we say, I was there. We can empathize with Christ because we too have been abandoned by those around us. When his disciples began to distance themselves from him and say to others, I dont know him it must have been disheartening to him, just as it is to us when family or friends abandon us in our weakest moments. When we hear Peter deny Christ three times, then hear the cock crow, true believers say silently, I was there. We can empathize with Christ because we have borne the pain, ridicule and suffering of others until it has exhausted us. Although he had committed no crime, Christ was beaten by soldiers, a crown of thorns placed upon his head and humiliated. He suffered unjustly and wounded without regard for innocence or guilt. We too have suffered immensely as we bore the pain of a lost child, a troubled friend or co-worker.

   When we see Jesus stumble under the weight of the cross, we see ourselves stumble under the weight of the load we carry everyday and we say, I was there! We empathize because our lifestyle is inextricably tied to his. We share both his agony and the ecstasy of his experience. We know what its like to have the crowds call your name in praise on one day and in scorn another. We have experienced the rejection of everyone around us. Our lives as Christian warriors are so closely tied with Christs experience that it is easy for us to say, I was there!

   As Christians, we relieve the events of Holy Week and say, I was there! But just as we relive Jesus pain, rejection, crucifixion and death, we also relive his the power of his resurrection. Because Christ arose on Sunday morning, we are inspired, but we who were buried with him, also rise with him. Because he arose the entire saved world should say, I was there! Today, remember Christ is there for you so resolve to be there for him.