My friend Jon is reviewing the week before Jesus’ death.
As I read the story through Jon’s eyes, I realize how much Jesus accomplished in those few days. How there was purpose and intent in his actions.
Aside from entering Jerusalem before cheering crowds, much of what he did was ordinary. He didn’t do the sort of things one might expect from a king leading up to an important event. He demonstrated through his actions that his kingdom was upside-down.
As Jon pointed out, he prioritized people and relationships.
Meals and walks with friends. Conversations with individuals and small groups. Instead of doing expected “king” stuff, he spent those precious last hours hanging out with people.
Demonstrating that people and relationships matter, that his command to “Love one another” mattered.
On Friday he proclaimed, “It is finished!”
But the relationship part, the love one another part – that part wasn’t finished at all.
As usual, I think about this in the context of the kids at the Home of Hope. I think about how they came from environments in which they were literally commodities, to be bought and sold and tossed out like yesterday’s trash.
I can’t imagine what it’s like to be so dehumanized. And I can’t imagine what it’s like, with that background, to experience freedom and relationship with people who love you.
Jesus can imagine it, because he’s literally experienced it. Dehumanization. Broken relationships. Rebirth. Restoration. He knows exactly what it’s like.
I’ve said it a million times… we can’t fix human trafficking. But we can do something about it.
We can love one group of kids and do our best to provide them the hope and freedom they deserve.
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