Sunday: Life

While at one of my least-favorite places recently (the mall), I witnessed a painful experience of a young man around the age of 12.

A group of boys about the same age approached this boy and a companion at one of the crosswalks.  At first, it looked like they were all part of the same gang - no matter - the larger group began teasing the other two who looked a bit heavy for their age.  "Loser!" the gang called out, holding their hands up at their foreheads making an "L" with their thumb and first finger. 

The two boys yelled, "Stop!" and started to run, clumsily, to be frank.  The others didn't pursue them, but continued to yell "loser!" at the boys while laughing.

It all happened so quickly and at such a distance where nothing could be done.  The only thing left was to think how sad; sad for the boys who would quite possibly carry the label with them for the rest of their lives, and sad for the others who would, no doubt, be emboldened to repeat their verbal assaults on others.

Labels can be a hard thing to carry.  Labels like "Loser" can establish or reinforce one's sense of self-worth.  Labels can also be easy to carry, when status is sought. 

Another label is a symbol of life.

What if someone stepped in and said, "Yes, 'loser' starts with an 'L,' and so does 'loved.'"
What about "lost?"  How about "lead?"

The cross turns the label of "Loser" around to "Loved."  Loved by God who cares about us so much that there is victory over death.  Victory over abuse.  Victory over addiction, loss, and betrayal.  He, Jesus, bore all these things for us.

Isaiah 53:5 says, "But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed."

Through Jesus's resurrection, our identity is with him.  He is our Savior, King, and brother.

And we also identify with Jesus's suffering.  When we trust him in the midst of our trouble, we can have peace - a peace that surpasses all of our trials.

I love reading the "Faith Hall of Fame" found in Hebrews 11 and 12.  Toward the tail-end of these verses where Paul says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross."  How wonderful!