Chapter 27- The Resurrection
It would be interesting to see Jesus' life portrayed as a silent movie. No red letter edition, no quotes attributed to Christ. Just his actions.
In John 21, an episode took place that should be an example to each of us. Jesus had just gone through an unimaginably hellish torture and death, spent an extended time in the grave and was in his resurrected body having overcome the worst that Satan could thrown at him. Christ has been through the storm and come out obedient, faithful and victorious. Of all the times in his life where he was due some adulation, praise and honor, this was it.
But in John 21, Jesus was standing on the beach watching his disciples struggle return to a mundane life of fishing. Things were not going so well for them. So what does Christ do? He makes sure their physical needs are met. First, he miraculously fills their empty nets with so many fish they couldn't haul the catch into the boat. Then he actually prepared a meal for them. (When they landed, they saw a bed of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. John 21:9) No attitude of "you owe me". No "I told you so's". They needed fish, he provided. They were hungry, he cooked.
As parents, spouses, employees sometimes we feel we have "earned" a certain level of entitlement or position. "Because I did this, you owe me this." Of all the people who ever walked the surface of the Earth who deserved to be treated with reverance, respect and deference, it was Christ. Yet even to the last days of his time on Earth, he was the humble, servant leader. There is no better role model as to how we should conduct ourselves.
No comments:
Post a Comment