Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. [Hebrews 4:14-16]
What’s the best way to convince someone to listen to you?
One great strategy is to arouse enough curiosity to elicit a question. By answering a question, you’re helping, offering desired information. Skilled communicators know how to create a sense of shared problem-solving that puts everyone on the same side of the issue.
Yesterday I wrote about this great t-shirt. (The Perfect Slogan)
Bob, who told me about ME TOO, said it’s a great conversation starter. People look confused and ask, “ME TOO … what?” He answers with a ten-second statement about his faith in Jesus.
I’ve been thinking about Jesus and ME TOO. It’s almost like He understood the power of such a simple notion.
I have a hard time imagining that God truly identifies with me, because I surely can’t identify with Him. There’s quite a gap between little old me and the Creator of the universe. I know He loves me, but the relationship is impossibly one sided. He brings everything to the table—I Got Nothing. The gap could never be bridged, at least by any human act.
So God reached across the gap. Jesus, fully God, left the glory of heaven and crossed an un-crossable divide. And because of His sacrifice, it’s like He put on this silly t-shirt.
“Jesus, sometimes I wonder why I feel so far from God.”
“ME TOO.”
“And sometimes I’m afraid of what’s in front of me.”
“ME TOO.”
“I get tempted to take shortcuts.”
“ME TOO.”
“And I feel lonely when my friends don’t show up.”
“ME TOO.”
“And when things get really bad, I just want God to make it all better.”
“ME TOO.”
God found the most improbable way of letting me know He understands. He sacrificed His Son, sent Him to walk in my shoes, so I could know we’re on the same side.
Whenever I imagine a distant, infinite God who cannot possibly know what it’s like to be me, I think about what one of my friends calls “Jesus in a t-shirt and tennis shoes.”
Now I have an even better picture. His t-shirt says ME TOO.
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