When God entered time and became a man, he who was boundless
became bound. Imprisoned in flesh. Restricted by weary-prone muscles
and eyelids. For more than three decades, his once limitless reach
would be limited to the stretch of an arm, his speed checked to the
pace of human feet.
I wonder, was he ever tempted to reclaim his boundlessness? In
the middle of a long trip, did he ever consider transporting himself
to the next city? When the rain chilled his bones, was he tempted to
change the weather? When the heat parched his lips, did he give
thought to popping over to the Caribbean for some refreshment?
If ever he entertained such thoughts, he never gave in to them.
Not once. Stop and think about this. Not once did Christ use his
supernatural powers for personal comfort. With one word he could've
transformed the hard earth into a soft bed, but he didn't. With a
wave of his hand, he could've boomeranged the spit of his accusers
back into their faces, but he didn't. With an arch of his brow, he
could've paralyzed the hand of the soldier as he braided the crown
of thorns. But he didn't.
Want to know the coolest thing about the coming?
Not that he, in an instant, went from needing nothing to needing
air, food, a tub of hot water and salts for his tired feet, and,
more than anything, needing somebody--anybody--who was more
concerned about where he would spend eternity than where he would
spend Friday's paycheck.
Not that he kept his cool while the dozen best friends he ever
had felt the heat and got out of the kitchen. Or that he gave no
command to the angels who begged, "Just give the nod, Lord. One word
and these demons will be deviled eggs."
Not that he refused to defend himself when blamed for every sin
since Adam. Or that he stood silent as a million guilty verdicts
echoed in the tribunal of heaven and the giver of light was left in
the chill of a sinner's night.
Not even that after three days in a dark hole he stepped into the
Easter sunrise with a smile and a swagger and a question for lowly
Lucifer--"Is that your best punch?"
That was cool, incredibly cool.
But want to know the coolest thing about the One who gave up the
crown of heaven for a crown of thorns?
He did it for you. Just for you.
