Watch the entire video and then continue reading. It’s worth the watch!
So why is this video so compelling? Why is it so moving?
Let me tell you another story. I’m stealing this story from someone else, as all great story-tellers do:
“When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’
“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
Jesus, the King, said this of himself and he wasn’t talking about sheep.
In this video, the little girl and her dad gave what they had to others. They cared for others; even those who steal. And watching this video illuminated Jesus’ words so much to me! The little boy that they helped ended up being the Doctor who could save life. The boy is like the King in the story, as told by Jesus’ own words.
This video would be good if it was illuminating Jesus’ words. But it is great because it illuminates Jesus’ work.
No metaphor of Jesus’ work is perfect – but this video is close! Like the video, we have a [financial/spiritual] debt that has to be paid. Like the video, we do not have enough funds to pay for this debt. Like the video, without the debt paid death is imminent. That’s why this video is so powerful; this video pulls on so many threads of the greatest story in the world.
Just like the video, it is heartbreaking facing the amount of debt that has to be paid. Like the video, we can try to do extravagant actions to gain enough funds, or enough moral righteousness. And like the video, we are shocked when we discover our debt can be paid.
And like the video, a conditional payment had to be met. But unlike the video, in the story of Jesus, no payment is required by us. Jesus said:
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus did not die on the cross for those who have lived perfect lives of giving to others in need. I honestly do not give much to the poor. Do you? Sure here and there I give some money, but I really don’t think I give enough. The good news is that Jesus doesn’t heal the perfect, he heals the sick.
I am so glad that Jesus did this for me. Watching this video illuminated what Jesus did for me. That’s why Jesus had to die. He died to cancel the debt and he rose to give us eternal life. This video is all about that. I love it! I love how Jesus is so generous with his grace and I’m so glad I can receive it as a free gift. Now out of this, of course, is my reaction that I ought to do that more. And I plan to. It’s funny how this video kind of shows this necessary relationship too. When you receive a gift so great, the necessary future moral decision to make is to give to others. This is such a good video. It pulls on so many threads of the fabric of the story of God.
What do you think?
No Bull... from Noble. 