Me For You

Me for You…

Earlier this week, I watched the trailer for the next season of The Chosen. This season tells the story of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.

My granddaughter explained my reaction better than I could. She told me how she handles the scary parts of movies. "I don't like them, Pop. I see them, and I can't stop remembering them."

I know, sweetheart. Me too.

When The Passion of the Christ hit theaters, many Christians went to see it. It was graphic and unflinching in telling the story of Jesus' last days. I did not go. I knew it would be hard for me to watch. Years later, I rented it one night when Kristin was out of town. I watched it slowly, stopping when a scene got too intense. It took me two nights to finish a story I had known since I was a boy. But now I had a picture of what it could have been. I could see it.

When The Chosen trailer began, I was drawn in by the lead actor, Jonathan Roumie. I love his portrayal of Jesus. He is human, funny, serious, fierce, compassionate, and empathetic. He is not weak, but he isn't a superhero either.

I have never met him, but I watched an interview that stuck with me. Sangita Patel asked him, "If you could get a cup of coffee with Jesus, what is the one question you would ask?" Jonathan answered, "How did I do? Did I get it close?"

I love that humility. He wants to capture who Jesus really is: his presence, his ministry, and his heart for people.

Me for you.

That phrase found me this week in my Bible reading in Hebrews 2. The early chapters of Hebrews are all about Jesus: who he is, where he came from, his mission, and every roadblock that stood between him and a world desperate to be free from sin.

Here is what I wrote in my devotional:

Jesus became a man so he could be like the people he came to free. Through his death, he broke the devil's power of death and set free everyone held captive by the fear of it. He didn't come for angels. He came for Abraham's descendants, everyone who shares Abraham's faith.

Me for you. Each one of you. All of you.

That's what Jesus said without saying a word. He came to earth as a man, and he went to the cross. That is humbling. That is love.

But it wasn't only love. It was power.

The devil had one weapon he thought no one could beat: death. He used it to rule by fear and keep people enslaved for a lifetime. So what did God do? He walked straight into the enemy's stronghold and took it from him. Jesus didn't avoid death. He went through it and came out the other side. The weapon is still there, but it's been disarmed.

Death has lost its grip. Fear has lost its power. The imposter lost his throne.

Jesus won. And because he won, we all win.

It was never a fair exchange. God would not set aside his own justice. He was bound by his own word: "Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (Hebrews 9:22, ESV).

The only blood pure enough to cover the sins of mankind was God's own. So he sent Jesus. Once and for all, Jesus paid the price for my sins, your sins, and the sins of everyone we could ever think of or name. All of us go free when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

So why does a story I learned as a boy still move me this deeply? Why does it still hit me emotionally, physically, and in my gut when I see it played out? When does it become just another story?

It doesn't.

Me for you is the greatest form of love. I will make my life a sacrifice so you can go on living yours.

I saw it all week long, in very practical ways.

I saw a mother sacrifice so her family could have another set of hands and a loving heart while bringing a baby home from the hospital.

I saw a leader give up the spotlight so someone on their team could be praised and honored.

I saw a pastor move his service into a park because the movie theater said, "Not this week." And God moved powerfully.

I saw a group of young men link arms and pray healing over one of their own.

I saw a businessman get teary-eyed describing the mentoring he is doing with his coworkers.

I saw a pastor finally open his new building after months of work and preparation. He wasn't looking for praise. He wanted to reach more people for Christ.

I sat with a tired man carrying the weight of a transition with his team. He looked at me and said, "We want them to know Jesus."

And even as I write this, I am hours away from walking with my family as we lay a loved one to rest. My prayer is simple:

Thank you, Lord. Show me how to help each of us take one step closer to you.

Here is what I've come to see. The heart of "me for you" isn't the outcome. It's the exchange. I give, you receive. You receive, and you give to the next person. And on it goes.

Jesus is our model. His example has outlasted every generation, and he gives us his heart to love people the same way.

So here's my challenge for you this week: who is your "you"? Who needs you to lay something down so they can go on living, loving, and growing?

Go be that for them.

Me for you.