He could have called 10,00 angels
To destroy the world and set him free
He could have called 10,000 angels
But he died alone for you and me
This is the chorus to a hymn, by Ray Overholt, that I sang often in my childhood church. I haven’t heard it in years, but it popped into my head out of nowhere the other day and really got me thinking.
When did Jesus fully know his purpose on earth? After all, by our doctrine he was fully man and fully God. Did he comprehend this at age 12 when he lingered for days at the temple while his parents frantically searched for him? Or was it later, in the desert when Jesus encountered Satan with all of his cunning temptations? Certainly by the time Jesus entered the ministry phase of his life, he fully understood who he was and what he was called to do. Upon his arrest, Jesus himself talks about having legions of angels at his disposal in Matthew 26. He understood his potential power!
What crawled into my head this week was the realization of the power Jesus had to “fix it all” during his earthly ministry. For Jesus, it must have been painful to restrain. Let’s call those 10,000 angels! Let’s put them to work righting the wrongs of oppression and slavery. Let’s keep those angels busy alleviating the suffering of so many. Why wait for death and heaven? Let’s get these issues fixed here and now on earth.
But, Jesus didn’t call to the aid of angels for himself or others. As the song says, he died alone for you and me. What he could have done, he didn’t do. Death and resurrection were always a part of the redemptive plan, but physically and economically saving the inhabitants of the earth during his time here were not.
Jesus did, however, give us a beautiful blueprint for living. In the news, I get so anguished seeing the bodies and faces of starving children, of worn-torn countries inflicting unimaginable grief on innocent lives, and of people being snatched off the streets of our own country. Some days I just can’t turn on the news any more. It’s just too much.
I do take comfort in the example of Jesus’ life. To me his singular actions pave a doable way for me to live my own life. He served those he encountered with words, healing, and love. Putting aside the miraculous healings – I can do that! I can serve others. He also rebuked injustice and called out hypocrisy. Very doable for me as well! I can call my government officials, vote, and find peaceful ways to speak out against the injustices in our country and greater world.
Thank you, Jesus, for your death and resurrection – for salvation! But thank you as well for your loving example of a life lived in service for others. May we follow your lead, and in some small way, help to alleviate the pain in our hurting world. In doing so, may our own anguish be a little extinguished as well!
Blessings to all,
Diana
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