Jesus And Charlie Kirk

Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s  colt. [Zechariah 9.9]

As the One Year Chronological Bible goes, today's reading has historically been one I struggle to connect with. Consequently, I find myself focusing on the passage above when it comes to this my written response because it is one of the only passages in today's reading that I feel much understanding of - I know it's about Jesus.

If I could just build a moment upon what the previous paragraph says, it seems right that, in times of uncertainty, to focus on Jesus.

Times get hard, don't they? And, when they do, much of what we think we know becomes clouded. Uncertainty is a very uncomfortable blanket to find ourselves under. 

Such is the sentiment among many today in light of the vicious assassination of Charlie Kirk, an exceptional young man whose knowledge of the Bible, light for Christ and love for his country shone with an indisputable passion. His life was cut short in what seemed to be his prime. And, that brings us right back to Zechariah 9.9... to Jesus.

At what seemed the prime of Jesus' ministry on earth, His life ended. Oh, to be sure, He "stirred the pot" among haters, but it was always because He was doing the right thing... healing the sick, raising the dead... Haters hated Him for it. And yet, in His most intimate moments with those closest to Him, He related to them in profound love and unmatched humility.

At one point in Jesus' ministry, He said something that was more than most people could "swallow." In fact, it was the following:

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh. [John 6.51]

What followed were argumentative discussions that eventually led to all but a select few people deserting Jesus. Jesus then asked those who remained the following question:

Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” [John 6.67]

In their time of uncertainty, the Twelve, represented by Peter, made the following declaration: 

Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” [John 6.68-69] 

They were reeling from the the teaching that Jesus had just given, but, in their uncertainty, they relied on the one thing they did  know -  you [Jesus] are the Holy One of God.

And so, many of us today may find ourselves reeling from the assassination of Charlie Kirk... But, this we know: Jesus is the Holy One of God - He has the words that give eternal life. And, while it may seem a "retreat" to "fall back" on this, we should understand that this same Jesus did something that no one else in the history of the world has accomplished: He rose from the dead. And then, in His resurrected state, Jesus promised this same resurrection to all who follow Him. Charlie Kirk's internment will, like every Christ follower's internment, be temporary.

That's enough for me today. That's enough for me for eternity! Jesus came as "king" yet came "humbly" as a servant to all.

Father, thank You for Jesus. Thank You also for the impact He has had on lives through the ages - lives like Charlie Kirk's - lives like ...mine. May all who are reeling from events beyond their control today find the same hope and peace Jesus gave His disciples and all who have ever followed Him. So be it.