The long way down

Its pictures like this that make me glad I had daughters and not sons. Whatever can be going through his mind right about now? And who is taking this picture, anyway? Try and put yourself in the role of this boy's parent and pretend that you just told him to go! Could you do it? I couldn't. God wanted Jesus to go to the cross for our sakes and he did, but it couldn't have been easy, knowing what was going to happen. Here's a passage that gives a little insight as to what Jesus was thinking about.

John 17:14-26
14 I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.15 I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.17 Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.18 As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.19 For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.20 Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who believe in me through their word,21 that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me.22 The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one;23 I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me.24 Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.25 Righteous Father, the world hasn't known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me.26 I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them."WEB

Jesus thought of others; of course this is no real surprise, but it does tell us something of the man. He had a great love for those who were to be his followers, great enough to worry about them and not himself. Why? Because he trusted in his father and knew what the outcome would be. Life may seem dangerous and to a certain extent it is, but put things in perspective, what are a few years on Earth compared with an eternity in heaven. When you think about it in those terms, the long way down pales in comparison to the longer stay in heaven. The first sermon I heard in Chapel was by Ed Healy: JOY, Jesus first, Others second and yourself last. Nice prioritization; God's will first, then that of others and finally your own. By the way, if I was this boy's parent; the second thing I would do after taking the picture would be to stop this little immanent joy ride before it went any further. Have you seen the cost of hospitalization lately?