LightGrams
July 18, 2024
Volume 28, Number 19
The lady captured on video has not been identified. Emily Swift of New York City took the video at the July 4 celebration in Providence, Rhode Island. “WaterFire” was the theme of the celebration, so naturally crowds were gathered on the banks of the Providence River.
As Emily filmed the festivities, she noticed a woman jumping into the river. A rabbit had been spotted in the water, and it was struggling to stay afloat. The unnamed woman swam to the rabbit to save it from drowning. A boat that was part of the celebration quickly came to take the hero aboard, and both rabbit and rescuer were safe.
Many might shake their heads upon hearing of this rescue effort. “It’s a rabbit!”, they sneeringly remark. “Why bother? Aren’t there plenty more rabbits to fill that empty spot?!” But this woman looks at rabbits differently, and that nearly gone rabbit lived to see another day.
I can somewhat identify with that woman. Many years ago, we spotted a bluejay (not my favorite wild bird) caught in a line about 20 feet above the ground. For a couple of days, we saw it struggling to be freed as it hung upside down. I suppose I could have searched for a long ladder, but it was a neighbor’s property, and I don’t do well with heights. That bluejay died; I was not a hero.
As Jesus prepared to depart Heaven for His mission to earth, Satan may have sneered, “But they’re just people! And they’re sinners who obviously don’t love God. Why bother?” But Jesus, “… being in the form of God, … made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men, … humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).
When Jesus came to earth, He knew He would be “jumping in the river”, and that “river” would mean His death. But He especially knew that was the only way you, I, and all others, could be rescued. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
The value of a rabbit doesn’t come close to the value of a human; that’s what made this woman’s rescue so noteworthy. She must really love rabbits! But compare mortal people to God and you’ll see a far larger gap. That’s what makes the rescue mission of Jesus to save sinners so remarkable. Why would He do such a thing?
“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14,15).
This is why we partake of the Lord’s Supper every Sunday. In taking it, we “proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). It’s not that we enjoy thinking about His horrible and unjust execution, but we see in His death our salvation. He did it all for us!
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2024, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
Permission to reproduce and/or use the messages for noncommercial purposes is freely granted provided the messages are not altered.