This will be the final installment on my reflections regarding Samson and Jesus. As I had re-read through chapter 16, I had realized that Delilah, whom Samson loved dearly, had asked Samson 3 different times to tell him the secret behind his great strength. Finally he gives in and tells her. Can you imagine how hurt he may have been? Someone who he so greatly loves is trying to give him over. I instantly think of when Peter denied Jesus 3 times during the Passion. Jesus and Samson both had experienced the betrayal of loved ones.
Finally, Samson does tell Delilah the secret to his strength. At this point, don't you think that he was on to her plan? Do you think he knew that she was going to give him over to the Philistines? In giving her the secret to his strength, I think that he was then actively taking a chance that he could wind up being taken over by the Philistines. This reminds me of Jesus, who allowed Judas to kiss him in the Garden, to be handed over to his captors. Jesus, being God himself, could've stopped all efforts to arrest him, but instead he surrendered to God the Father's plan. Recall Judges 14:4 "Now his (Samson's) father and mother did not know this had been brought about by the Lord, who was providing an opportunity against the Philistines; for at that time they had dominion over Israel". In this situation between Samson and Delilah, God is providing an opportunity for Samson to defeat the Philistines and save Israel from their dominion.
As the Philistines capture Samson, Delilah and the men "mistreat" Samson, they gauge out his eyes, then they continue to mock him and laugh at him. Sound familiar? The soldiers beat Jesus, they crowned him with thorns so as to mock him, they spit on him and laugh at him as he is prepared for the Crucifixion. Samson is stationed between two columns in the temple, just as Jesus is "stationed" on two wooden beams, forming a cross. Samson cries out to God, then gives his life in an act of sacrifice, as he pulls the columns of the temple down upon everyone there. Jesus cries out to God and gives himself over as a sacrifice for His People. Samson physically rips chains and destroys the temple of his captors, the Philistines. Christ destroys the chains of death as He allowed the temple of His body to be torn and given to all. Recall John 2:13-21. Jesus is speaking to the Jews in the temple and he prophesied that he would, "destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." John adds, "But he was speaking about the temple of his body". Jesus allowed the temple of his body to be destroyed as a sacrifice. Now this is where the story differs from that of Samson's: Jesus DOES rebuild the temple of his body in the Resurrection.
How does this have to do with Advent and Christmas? Well, just as Samson was born and was consecrated for the Lord, God had a purpose for his life - to free the Israelites from the Philistines through Samson's sacrifice of himself. Jesus was born and was consecrated to God in the Presentation of the Temple. Later, his whole life was given for us in the mysteries of His Death and Resurrection. Jesus' birth looks forward to His Death, when he would defeat death for our sake so that he could be with us not only here on earth, but in Heaven, in perfect communion with Him forever.
Come Lord Jesus - maranatha!
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