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A Hero's Choice
Joe Killian • Nov 19, 2016
When it comes to the heroic, I like to dream. I am a big fan of action adventures where the hero overcomes insurmountable odds to save the day. I like to think I would have the courage to choose to be a hero. This week's Gospel focuses on a hero's choice.
The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:35-43
Jesus chose a difficult path. He did so again and again. In what appears to be the end of Jesus' journey He hung dying on the cross. Some of those present sneered, jeered and reviled Jesus. They looked upon Him as a failure, taunting His inability to save Himself. It appears that the hero has lost. But the hero knows what others don't. He knows that there is a greater purpose in His suffering and dying. The hero has made a choice to live and die for others. Is there anything more courageous and noble?
As we gaze back in time upon the crucifixion we have the ability to understand Jesus' noble purpose. We understand the true meaning of the crown of thorns that was meant to mock and torture Jesus.
Jesus accepted that crown. In so doing, our "hero" chose not to save Himself but to save you and me. Here is the hard part. When it comes to following this hero, The King of the Jews, our purpose must be bigger than ourselves. We must trust God to lead us. Our sense of purpose must be for His Kingdom. Will you choose to follow His path? It is easier said than done. In my devotional this morning was this line by Oswald Chambers, "By any road Lord, and at any cost." That is the meaning of being a hero for Christ.
The story continues...I'm still working on the pondless waterfall in our front yard. I shared this project with you two weeks ago in Playin' In the Dirt. Since then I've had to rework sections of the stream three different times because we were losing too much water. I am now an expert on evaporation rates and excessive splash, two causes of water loss. This morning I tore the whole thing apart and I'm starting over.
Have you ever watched DreamWorks Animation's Kung Fu Panda? I stumbled across it recently and thoroughly enjoyed Jack Black's performance as a bumbling, noodle selling, kung fu enthusiast, giant panda named P o. Set in ancient China, it is more than a humorous slapstick comedy. The core message of the story jumped out at me as I have been focusing recently on the concept of being. Po is shockingly identified as the Dragon Warrior and he reluctantly enters training. The goal of the training is to receive the Dragon Scroll, which is believed to hold the secret to limitless power. Now I don't want to spoil the big reveal but I will say that what Po realizes is the same as what I speak to in the concept of being and authentic identity. So, where do we find the secret to our "power?" I praise You, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works! My very self You know. Psalm 139:14 God knows it; and we must seek Him with all of our hearts in order to find it. As it was in the movie, the answer is stunningly simple. Our authentic identity is already within us. The challenge for Po in the movie was in seeing himself accurately and not the way others saw him. Even his teacher scoffed at the idea that Po was anything more than an underachieving dreamer who overate when he was anxious. Po's problems are rooted in the fact that he believes the lie of his false identity much more than he does his authentic one. Is it possible that you do the same? Who could have imagined that beneath all of Po's girth lived the Dragon Warrior? What's hidden from view in you? Seek God for understanding as to who He created you to be. Spoiler Alert: the secret of your limitless power is already in you. God placed it there and He wants you to be who He authentically created you to be.
Maria and I have been playing in the dirt a lot recently. First we replaced our French drain and then we embarked on a creative project intended to change the entire look of our front yard. My brother Jeffrey and I installed a new front step.
