| February 24, 2004 Powered by Amazing Grace --I look into a fish tank and realize now why God had to come to Earth as one of us to get his point across. I look at those fish, seemingly content with their contained existence, which they have no idea about. And when I touch the side of the tank they swim away, cowering at my size and power. Yet I have no intention of hurting them, I just want to touch or play with them. I just want to hang out with my little fish buddies. But they don’t understand me when I say “Here fishy fishies....here fishy.” They can sort of see and feel me, but they have no idea what or who I am. And they certainly have no idea of my intentions. When I see Christ walk and crawl up Golgotha to Calvary. When I see him take 3 nails. When I see him take a crown of thorns. When I see him take flesh tearing whippings. When I see that....I realize I’m not just a random American watching a cinematic experience. I realize I’m that kid in the crowd watching the Christ go through this agony. Yeah, there he is. Behind that woman and the fat guy. He’s about 6’3”, maybe 189 pounds. He’s got brownish hair and a beauty mark to the left of his nose....gee, strangely similar to my own. And are those glasses he’s wearing. Gosh I didn’t know they had glasses in the 1st century. Gee, I could swear that kid in the crowd looked just like me... ...and then I realize it, that kid in the crowd....on the screen, the very same one I’m watching at the movie theater.....it is me. It’s me. And I’m watching these events unfold. And I’m thinking to myself, “Hey, isn’t that the redneck from Nazareth? Didn’t that guy do some miracles and stuff. I heard he healed one of my friends. He seems like a harmless guy, why are they treating him like a murder, like a thief, or like a sinner?” And even though I’ve got other things to do like my job, planning a dinner, getting some errands done, this guy...this guy is so interesting. What’s he about? Why isn’t he fighting back? This ain’t right. ...and I remember a couple things he said a few days before. Something about the kingdom of Heaven and sin this and Father that. And I’m walking along the path with him, as he carries that heavy cross. The dude is struggling, and it’s very awkward and humiliating. I want to turn my eyes away, to go away but I can’t. He commands my attention in a humble way... And at that point Jesus turns to me, his eyes blood red, his visage almost undistinguishable. But what’s this?! Is that a smile?? It couldn’t be, he can barely walk, let alone carry that piece of splintered wood. Did he just smile at me?? Like a loving smile? Like one that says, “Fear not Keith, I’ll make it. It’s you I’m worried about.” Me? Me?!?! Uh dude, you’re losing like 4 quarts of blood a minute, have a cross strapped to your back and you’re worried about me?!? “I don’t want to lose you Keith. I love you.” What? Love? You got more important things at hand dude, like getting to a doctor. And another thing, why aren’t you fighting back?! I know you got some skills, you could take out these guards no problem. Heck I’ll help you. “No Keith, this needs to be done.” What needs to be done? Come on bro, there could be no justification for this blood shed, you’ve done nothing wrong... Jesus looks at me, another loving glance I’ve never seen before. So much compassion in that glance. I have to look away. I know what he’s insinuating. He hasn’t done anything wrong, but I have. Are you telling me....wait, are you saying you’re dying for me? No answer as they drive the nails into his hands and feet. Yet his look towards me is unflinching; compassion. Hold on a second, I don’t want you to die! You don’t deserve to! Let me die, in your place. I try to fight through the Roman guards to no avail, the barrier between me and Christ is too great, I can’t break the separation. Jesus! Don’t do it! “Keith, I love you.” Jesus, this is no time to be thinking about love, we need to figure how to get you off that cross and to a hospital! “Keith....this is love.” He spread out his arms one last time....and he died... ...click....a light went on inside my heart...powered by amazing grace... |