Three-year-old James was attending Sunday school for the first time. His teacher was telling the story of the events of Good Friday, and they made a powerful impression upon him. That evening during dinner he said, without any introductory remarks, “Jesus died on the cross.”
His parents, who were Christians, were pleased to hear this pronouncement and used the occasion to explore how much he understood. His mother asked, “Why did Jesus die on the cross, James?” The little guy thought for a moment and then said, “Because he couldn’t get off.” It was clear that the theological import of the crucifixion hadn’t quite broken through in James’s young mind.
Still, as his parents reflected on his answer, the more accurate it seemed to them in reality. Jesus was stuck to the cross, although not by the nails that pierced his wrists. His love for humanity held him there far more firmly than any physical restraints. Hatred may have sentenced him to death, but it was the love of Jesus that kept him on the cross. His was a self-imposed restraint, borne for the good of humanity and their eternal welfare.
In the same way, societal laws can force people to pay their taxes and refrain from physical violence, but the best means to produce a civil community is to have people love one another