HERO

I don’t know about you, but sometimes songs can be moving. I was listening to music this morning and just got overwhelmed with the work Jesus did, which we will never grasp fully until we get to meet him.

But as the song was playing, I realized that it is easy for us to read ourselves into the stories in the Bible. We all do it. Sometimes we’re Paul having to tell someone an uncomfortable truth, or Peter, or James…or John the beloved. We sing songs about him being our friend. But if we were honest, then we would read these stories with a different aspect.

I was broken inside this morning because I realize that not only was Jesus taking MY beating, and MY whipping, and suffering MY death in hell, but I was the one cheering him on.

You see, I know me. I know how I like to be a part of the popular crowd. I know if I had been in Jerusalem on that day, I wouldn’t have been Simon of Cyrene helping him carry the cross, not matter what my ego may tell me. No, I like to fit in. If the crowd was chanting one thing, then I know I’m not the guy who stood up against them. Deep inside, I know me. I know how cowardly I really am. I know I would have been the one throwing things, laughing at the poor shmuck who was getting the penalty for whatever. Who cares, the crowd is for it. That was me.

I was also the one who would have ran first from Jesus when I saw the swords, and sticks…at Gethsemane. I also know how I love my rules…I would have been the one challenging Jesus’ belief system. After all, I had been trained….just like the Pharisees.

I was driving and realized, I always read myself into the hero position. I read in denial, as if I am a better person than I really am. Who I am at a flesh level is not worth dying for. If I ever begin to believe that I was worthy of his death, I disqualify myself from that exact sacrifice.

When Jesus said ‘unless you become as a little child’ he was speaking to me. I don’t, and we don’t read the Bible as humble children trying to learn, grow, etc. No, we read as someone who has heard the stories, so we know what they are about. When I stop reading myself as the heroes of the story is the only time I grow.

The church would be amazing if we were David standing in the shadow of a giant…nothing but a sling. But we’re not. We are the Israelites….cowering behind rocks. Face it…we aren’t the hero Christian we think we are. If we even remotely begin to think humbly we quickly find someone ‘lesser’ to compare ourselves to. At least we aren’t them. Arrogance.

I challenge you today. Read yourself not as David, but as Goliath. Because that’s your ego, keeping you from growing.

You are not the hero. There is only ONE. Worthy is the lamb who was slain….for this lost, arrogant, broken, worthless soul. Just like you.