Jesus and Delta Force

It really is pretty incredible to realize how far this ministry has come - in just a little while. People really do just want to talk. They want Hot Chocolate and they want to talk. Yes, some a drunk. But a whole lot of others just want to tell you how, for example, they've been having trouble at work, or their 13 year old son is joining the Krips, or they're losing their home, or any numer of things.

Eight of us got the chance to talk and pray with people on Sunday night - continue to pray for the people on our prayer list to the right.

There is a story told by an old Eastern Orthodox Theologian (from the 4th Century), basically explaining why the incarnation of God in Christ was so important. Basically, it says that a "King" had a bunch of cities and in one city, the people started taking advantage of the Kings freedom, doing evil and even declaring their independence from the King.

The king couldn't take the city by force - too many subjects would die. He could intimidate them - they'd hate Him even more. If he left them alone - they'd destroy each other.

So instead, he took off the robes and the crowns and the jewels and went incognito into the city, becoming a laborer and inhabiting his own vacant part of the city. When people met Him, his kindness, and fairness, and goodness, and respect were so amazing that people just wanted to linger in his presence. They would tell him their problems and ask his advice. He told them that the rebels were misguided and that the King had a better way to live. One by one people began to have confidence in Him and live like Him. The wanted to rejoin the kingdom, but their rebellion was embarassing and shameful to them.

The good news, of course, is that the homeless wandering laborer was indeed the king who held nothing against them. They could feel free to approach the king because they had been hanging out with them all this time

He accomplished through a subtle, gentle presence what could never be accomplished via brute force. Jesus knew ALL about Delta Force.

Grace.