Today I was reminded of the other side of Jesus.
He showed me how he likes to work best.. not as our rosy-cheek, softly spoken representation.. But as a man who isn't afraid of getting hurt.. who probably has more bruises on his feet and more callouses on his hand than anyone who lived. A man that loves with a fierce passion.. so passionate that he knocked over merchant tables in his father's temple to show how much He hates greed and disrespect. He was in your face at times... He was honest.. always having a wise and quick reply.. and when it was in question form it only left the high priests tongue tied trying to figure out his riddle.. Scientists are still trying to figure out his riddle of Creation.. good luck with that..
And he loved the "least of these"... he despised the rich and loved the poor..
As I reflect on serving at Washington Street Mission this morning.. my heart is a little fuller... my head a little wiser..
There was a guy there, 20 years old, named Theo.. as I was pouring him milk he asked me if I had time to talk.. so I sat down and he asked me what my major was.. and such.. and then he told me he just got out of bootcamp, and just came to springfield.. Naive' me figured he was talking about the Army, but he patiently laughed and said.. "nope, from prison.. I live in a halfway house here in Springfield now."
My normal instinct was to be a little scared, but the Lord guided me to sit tight and listen to him. So I did.. we talked for quite awhile, or so it seemed, about how he wants to go to college, where he came from, etc.. and when I told him I would like to use my art in ministry somehow..
he then asked with interest..
"Oh, you are a christian?"
"yep, sure am"
"Me too!", he replied, and a breath caught in my throat at his next words.
"I gave my life over to Christ in prison."
Jesus had only one agenda... to deliver the sick. The healthy don't need a doctor, He said.. and he went to the hurting, the weak, the children, the demon-posessed, the widows, the poor....
the imprisoned.
I imagine that God's grace is even more abounding in a prison where satan is ever present and lurking around each corner, shrieking into men and women's ears to lose hope that they will ever be good. Christ's fierce love is there.. giving faith to people behind bars. And he would rather be there, I believe, than a stuffy cocktail party with plastic people dreaming up plastic ideas.
As I told Theo goodbye, he told me he would be praying for me and my future..
With such little to give.. his openess and love of God meant the world to me..
And Jesus showed me the fierce love he has for the hurting..
the side of Jesus we barely think of, but is ever present.
3 comments:
I love your description of "the other side of Jesus" as you mention it.
He really is not at all what the Conservatives are preaching in their churches. He is a Man with a fierce passion, as you stated. He did love the "least of these" when He, Himself, came to this earth as one of them. He is ever-present, it seems, even now and in the midst of the evil that Satan has brought to this earth. But it is our job, and always will be, to love like Jesus did, to stand up when no one else will, to get rid of all our wordly possessions as we renounce our "living" in this world. We are not of this world, we are of a better Kingdom. And as a Follower, myself, I think it's time that the "Christians" really start living for Jesus instead of riches. Afterall, Jesus was homeless... and He calls us to follow His footsteps...
Just a few thoughts of mine, on Christianity.
God's got you, girl. Keep trusting.
-Camille
I think this is awesome. It is always so incredible to hear stories like these. Fierce passion is what we all need to have and what this man you met seems to have.
I have to slightly disagree with camille in the matter of the word "conservatives" I think that there are many conservative churches that are living in this passion for God.
But anyway God can do amazing things and He consistently has been showing me a lot the last few weeks.
Keep writing Emily. I always love to read what's new with your life.
God constantly reaffirms his presence on this earth and in our lives by using people like Theo to show you how He is actively working in this world.
I'm so glad you had this kind of experience. It's always encouraging when He places people in our lives that encourage us.
Sometimes it's difficult because we can get caught up in the image of what a Christian should look like, that when those images are broken,only then can we embrace real-christlike relationships with people...and really live his word.
Thanks for sharing your story!
liZ
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