Smitten has multiple meanings like many words in our language. Smitten can mean to afflict or attack with deadly effect; or on the completely opposite end of the spectrum it means to be affected by something overwhelming usually pertaining to love. Some people argue that Christ was smitten on the cross by God. Most see the crucifixion as an act of God where Christ was attacked with deadly effect, therefore claiming Christ was smitten BY God.
The crucifixion on the surface can easily appear to be God smiting Jesus. People tend to view the crucifixion as the father’s wrath being place on Christ. The crucifixion is the complete opposite though. Christ was placed on the cross as a testimony of God’s love and forgiveness. Christ loved us and gave his life for us. He paid the highest price possible to give us the greatest gift possible. Why, because he was smitten with God just as we should be.
Christ knew he was going to die for our sins and in spite of it all, he was still smitten WITH God. Can you imagine having a love so deep for God that if he were to tell you that you were going to die and suffer for other people that you would still be smitten with him? We get mad at God over such small stuff. Things don’t go our way and we cry out blaming him. A family member dies and we ask God how he could take somebody away from us. We look at these things as God punishing us for something and in return we punish Him.
God’s love for us in infinite, and Christ love for God is infinite. Everything God does is an act of love. Christ knew this when he went to the cross. He KNEW he was going to die, but he was still smitten WITH God. Christ was so smitten with God that he went to the cross without a fight as a beautiful act of submission and obedience to the will of our father. Christ was so smitten with God that he died so we could all be forgiven of our sins. He died so we could all be infinity loved by God with a passion to enthrall us as undeserving as we are.
We are the undeserving ones. We are ones who punish God when things don’t go as we have planned. We are the ones that fall out of love with God. As imperfect as we are God is smitten with us. As perfect as God is, very few of us are smitten with him. Christ died for us, and knew he was going to die for us. Do you think that is what he wanted for his life? I doubt it, but he didn’t fall out of love with God because of it, he was still smitten with God. So no matter how bad you think you have it don’t get mad at God about it. He isn’t punishing you, he is loving you, always. Keep being smitten WITH God.
