Many in our modern world say God is untouchable. A distant God who can’t relate to you or me in the 21st century. Many in America today think that God is old-fashioned and not in touch anymore. Have you had conversations with anyone or maybe have heard someone wonder, “If God is love why did this terrible thing happen?” or “If God is who you say he is , why is there so much suffering in the world?”
You may have heard this story. It’s a good one.
There was a fierce thunderstorm going on outside a little girl’s bedroom. The curtains on the window were not thick enough to hide the pounding rain, lightning flashes and the thunderous booms of the storm. The small child was frightened by the storm and ran into her mama’s room. “Mama, mama, I’m scared! It’s lightning and thundering so loud. Its right beside my window.”
Her mama soothing her, said, “It’s okay, Honey. Here’s what I want you to do. I want you to go back to your room. I want you to kneel down by your bed. I want you to pray to Jesus and he’ll protect you. Then you will be able to go back to sleep.”
“I will Mom,” answered the little one. So she bravely went back to her room, knelt down by her bed, prayed to Jesus, got back in bed and tried to go back to sleep. You mamas all should know how this went. The storm kept on for hours, so back and forth the little girl and the mama went between the child’s bedroom – six times. The last time, however, it went like this, “Mama! Mama! I’m so scared of the storm!”. “I know, Honey. Now, please go on back to your bed.” “Okay, Mama. I’m going back to my room. I’m going to kneel down by my bed. I’m going to pray to Jesus and he’ll fix it. But before I do that, can I just lay in bed with you and have you hold me?”
“Well, sure Honey, but why?” “Because sometimes, Mama, I need Jesus with skin on.”
We have all had moments or even days like this.
Jesus with skin on is what we need in those times. This is who the Body of Christ is. The Church. His Bride. We are connected by blood. His blood.
We may not be born of the same mothers. But we are born again with the same Savior. Jesus makes this point in John 13 just before he was to leave his friends and disciples. Of course they were bewildered. Sad. Jesus said this to them. “ Little children, I will be with you only a little while. You will look for Me….‘Where I am going, you cannot come!’ I give you a new Law. You are to love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you. If you love each other, all men will know you are My followers.” (vs. 33-35).
Who needs you to be Jesus with skin on?
By recognizing the people who were with him that day, his followers, his “family”, his disciples, Jesus says to all of us, we have to look at those around us in a different way. We are all linked together. We are family. The people you share your faith with may not be the ones you were birthed to be brother and sister with, but we have all experienced a NEW birth through Jesus. So, Jesus makes the point: no one lives this Christian life alone. No one.
Jesus expects us to treat each other as family. If this is true, it will change the way we live. We are related by blood. His blood.
