I was talking with a new acquaintance recently about tattoos. Actually, we were sharing stories about tattoos because that is the interesting thing about a tattoo- there is always a story to go with it. She was telling me that her oldest son has 2 tattoos. One is on his upper arm below the shoulder. It is a cross whose lower vertical end becomes a blade. It symbolizes his love for Jesus and the teaching of Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. His other tattoo is just below his ribs on the left side of his abdomen and is the Hebrew word for brothers. 2 other young men who are like brothers to him also have the same tattoo in the same place.
Her son told her that the brothers tattoo on his side was much more painful to get than the cross tattoo on his arm and then went on to expound on the awesome moral of the story: Isn’t that just how it is with life? It is easy to say you are a follower of Jesus. The hard, and even sometimes painful part, comes when you try to live it out by being a brother.
His observations remind me of the story of a young woman who receives a note from Jesus telling her that tomorrow he will be coming to visit her. That night she frantically cleans her house and makes preparations for a delicious meal. Then she goes to bed, hardly able to sleep because she is so excited that Jesus will be at her house tomorrow- sitting on her furniture and eating her good cooking. She even fantasizes a little about her value and just how much she must be loved if Jesus is actually going to come to her house.
The next day she gets everything ready and dresses in her finest and waits.
In the middle of the morning she hears a knock on her door. She flings open the door, ready to shout “Welcome,” but instead of Jesus, there is a young man on her step whose car has just quit right in front of her house and he needs to call a tow truck. May he use her phone? He looks dirty and sweaty and a little suspicious to her. Absolutely not she tells him- I am expecting an important guest. Then she closes the door in his face.
A little shaken by such a strange happening, she returns to the sitting room to wait for her visitor. After lunch there is another knock on her door. She opens it with great enthusiasm and a huge smile. Standing there is a woman who says she lives two doors down the street. She has locked herself out of her house and has called her son to come over with the spare key but she really needs to go to the bathroom. May I use yours while I wait for my son? She is a very large woman and she is carrying several bags. Who knows what she will do in the bathroom, out of sight? No, that is not possible. I am expecting an important guest at any moment. You’ll have to use the bathroom at the gas station. It’s just on the street behind us and up one block. Then she closes the door.
Late in the day, just before supper time, she hears another knock at the door. She runs to open it thinking this must be Jesus. Standing in front of her is a young man with brown skin who has big kind eyes and is wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Disappointed again she begins to speak, intending to tell him to go away when he interrupts her and asks if he can come in. No you may not come in, she says in a loud voice. I am expecting an important guest and I don’t have time for whatever it is you want. Instead of walking away he looks at her and asks who she is expecting. Well, even though it is none of your business, I am expecting Jesus, she says in her loud angry voice. What do you think about that? The young man looks at her and just smiles. As she stands there looking at him, his appearance changes and standing before her is a man who looks just like what she expected Jesus to look like. Do you recognize me now? he says. When she looks at him again he is now the young brown skinned man in jeans and a t-shirt.
But I don’t understand, she tells Jesus. What does this mean?
The young brown skinned man looks at her with compassionate eyes and says: I have been here to visit you two times today already but you turned me away. I asked to use your phone and I asked to use your bathroom. Both times you were too busy to help. The woman looks at him with a sad face, tears beginning to form in her eyes. But I was waiting for you and they were a nuisance, she tells Jesus.
I have no feet or hands but yours now, Jesus tells her. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to bring love into the world. In seeing each person as me, I will always be with you. And always remember-serving me is sometimes a nuisance….but in the end, always a joy.
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