Shortly before Christmas I watched in fascination as my neighbor’s dog dug in the ground frantically. Some dogs love to dig holes, others don’t. This dog never digs. I couldn’t imagine what he was after.

In just a few seconds, it became clear what was happening. All of a sudden a small creature jumped into the air. The dog immediately pounced. I was mesmerized as the dog repeatedly trapped the creature with its paw or in his jaws. This went on for so long that I became bored. The dog never did. I had other things to do and had to leave.

Later, I learned the creature was a mole, the kind that digs tunnels in your yard. While the mole lives underground, the tunnels aren’t so much for the creature to live in as it is to trap earthworms for food.

The dog repeatedly toyed with the mole. Last week as I read the story of the crucifixion in Mark, I thought back to the dog and the mole.

The Roman soldiers toyed with Jesus. They beat Him repeatedly, mocking Him as a king. They spat upon Him and humiliated Him in every way. Mark 15:16-21 describes what happened in detail.

I suppose human cruelty is not surprising. What is surprising is how Jesus responded.

He responded with divine love. Jesus fulfilled His purpose. He became sin for us in order that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). He suffered in our place and gave Himself for us and our sin. Though He knew no sin, He knew divine love and died for our forgiveness.

“He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. . . He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. . .He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities. . .and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:3-5).

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