One Strange Man

Have you heard about that guy, the weird one who said that he was God? Yeah, it’s a strange story. This guy wasn’t like anyone you’ve ever heard about before. He might sound like just another cult leader. Some people thought he was nuts, some people thought he was brilliant. He broke all of society’s rules, but didn’t break a single law. A lot of people liked him, and even more people hated him. He changed the way the way people live, and millions of people still talk about him today. He was just that weird.
He started out as a normal guy. The family business kept him busy, and he had a comfortable life. But he saw the way people treated each other, and he saw a better way. This guy really understood people, and he really wanted to help them. So one day he left home and set out to teach them about his ideas.
It isn’t hard to imagine how many people thought he was full of it. All of the sudden this guy gets up and starts telling people that they aren’t living right. He tells them that they’ve got to change, tells them that they’re wrong and he’s right. They were steamed, boiling-over mad. And the guy wouldn’t shut up.
So what’s new about that? Nothing. Thousands of people have shot their mouths off saying the wrong things around the wrong people.
What this guy said, though, that was new. It’s different than what anyone before him has said, and no one after has done the same thing, unless they were following him.
Love. That’s what he was all about. If you want to be happy, if you want to be free, if you want to do any good in this life, you have to love.
Now, don’t go thinking about that soppy, fluffy stuff you see in chick flicks--we’re not talking guy-girl romance. This love is strong stuff, bigger and better than romantic love. This love is an action, not just an emotion. Can’t love someone if you don’t help them, can’t love them if you don’t stand up for them. You especially can’t love if you don’t give up everything for them. That’s right; this guy said that to love, you’ve got to go all the way. You can’t just be friends when its convenient and it makes you feel good. You can’t ignore people, can’t blame them for their mistakes, can’t put yourself first.
It’s a powerful thing. And this guy led by example. He went out and loved people. He started helping them, and the word got out. People came from all over to get a piece of it. Healing, food, just a loving touch. So many people felt lonely, unwanted and un-loved. They knew they needed something, and the love this guy had filled them up and made them want to change their lives. They learned that once they felt loved, they could give love. They went out and started changing the world, passing the message on.
Give, serve, love. Don’t worry about yourself, because that guy, yeah the weird one, he loves you. So you’re not alone, and you can do anything. It made them feel powerful, and the powerful people hated that. Their power was based on fear, on oppression, on the fact that people felt powerless. After all, you can’t make yourself out to be more important than everyone else if everyone else suddenly realizes that they’re important, too.
There were a bunch of leaders who were sticklers for the rules. They thought rules made you good, and if you did everything right you’d be perfect. They made a rule for absolutely everything, and they wanted everyone to follow them. It was a control issue. If you follow the rules, you always know where you stand.
But here’s the thing; rules can’t love. This guy, he was all about love, so he put the rules in the back seat. Rules help us, sure, they tell us what’s good and what’s bad. Love, though, it’s better than the rules. If you love, you don’t have to worry about the rules, because you’re following them already.
Yep, those leaders got pretty mad. Red-faced with rage, especially after this guy insulted them to their faces. He didn’t pull any punches; he told them that they were wrong. Rules aren’t any good without love.
He turned society upside-down. He challenged the powerful. He spat in the face of the status quo, ‘the way things are’ weren’t good enough for him. So they killed him, of course. He was just that annoying, and he was just that good. Good people are the most annoying, you know.
Did you know that this guy knew he would die? Yep. He loved people so much, he didn’t fight it. He knew that by dying, he could help people even more. He took the punishment for everyone. He marched into the afterlife, and re-arranged it. It’s called forgiveness, and he made it final. If you love, and you trust, you’re free.
No rules.
No restrictions.
Just love.
Love is life, and this guy, well, he actually was God. Is God, to be precise, God‘s son, and his name is Jesus. He came back from hell to show everyone that he wasn’t dead. Then he went up to heaven to get things ready. He’s there now, watching and waiting. One day he’ll come back, and live with his followers.
Until then we watch and wait. And love.
Because one strange man loves us. It’s all about love.