There are times when being "the good guy" is above and beyond the call
of duty.
That's what the paralytic man could have said to himself
when he saw the struggling, drowning woman from the third floor window
of his room. He could have said that, but instead he grabbed his walking
sticks, hobbled down the stairs, got on his motorized bicycle, and rode
a quarter of a mile to where he could enter the water.
Slipping
and nearly falling on the muddy bottom, he waded out. He almost lost one
of his sticks. When the water reached his waist and he could go no
farther, he tried talking to the young woman ten yards farther out.
"I can't go on living!" She cried. "Leave me alone. I want to die."
He said, quietly, "Look at me, I'm a cripple. (His words, not mine.)
I walk with two sticks. I don't kill myself. Look at me."
For a
long minute she stared at him, then slowly waded back.
There are
times when being "the good guy" is above and beyond the call of duty.
That's what Jesus could have said when He felt rejection from those
He had come to save. His hometown wanted no part of Him. His disciples
misunderstood Him, and His own church plotted His murder. Anyone can
easily understand why Jesus might have washed His hands of the work the
Father had given Him.
Why should He endure hatred, persecution,
laughter, abuse?
But Jesus didn't wash His hands of us. He had
been born into this world to be the heaven-sent sacrifice for sinners,
and He was determined to do everything necessary to save you and me. He
had been born in a stable to show He had come for the lowly among us.
From that time until Resurrection Sunday He accepted every dirty
job, every thankless task He had been given. He drew no lines. There was
nothing too terrible for Him to endure, which leads me to ask, what are
the lines at your church beyond which believers won't go?
How
many jobs and opportunities are begging because someone, usually a whole
lot of someones, have convinced themselves they won't or can't do the
work God has placed before us. In late summer listen to the pastor's
pleas for Sunday school teachers; in the early summer he begs for VBS
instructors. Heaven help the nominations committee, which must find two
eligible and willing candidates for every office.
But maybe that
doesn't describe you or your church. Then let me ask, how do they sing?
Do they blow the roof off every Sunday with their praises to the Lord,
or do they whisper their songs lest someone look at them disapprovingly?
I don't have an answer to the question, and you need not answer me.
But Jesus still wonders. Do we take Him seriously when He says, "Are we
here as ones who serve or to be served?"
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus,
forgive me for thinking I am too good to emulate You. Forgive me for
trying to be master of my fate, rather than servant of Your will. Bless
me with Your Holy Spirit, so I may be a better servant to You and those
around me. This I ask in Your Holy Name. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved;
not to be duplicated without permission.
