Our Hero

2Cor 6:2 for he says, "At an acceptable time I listened to you, In a day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.


The reference is from Isaiah 49:8.


Isa 49:8 Thus says Yhwh, In an acceptable time have I answered you, and in a day of salvation have I helped you; and I will preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people, to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritage:


Since the time of Isaiah, and before, people are looking for a hero to appear and rescue them from powers that they are unable to defeat all alone. I'd say, that what people were and are looking for is a saviour. It is a desire rooted deeply in the hearts of men. There is no question in my mind that when we look around and recognize the awesome forces of the nature that surround us, we are left with a sense of feebleness. That nagging internal awareness of our own helplessness in the face of circumstances beyond our control, prompting in us a desire for a hero.

Rom 1:20 For from the first making of the world, those things of G-d which the eye is unable to see, that is, his eternal power and existence, are fully made clear, he having given the knowledge of them through the things which he has made, so that men have no reason for wrong doing:


Where can we find our hero?


Notice in the verses below that there was no concensus on why Jesus was to be crucified. First, they say 'because he said he was the Son of G-d.' But the legal statement from verse 19 seems to imply that the official government verdict was that Jesus was an insurrectionist, because he refered to another kingdom ruled by G-d, and not by Ceasar. Good thing I'm no lawyer. The legal stuff --It's all so confusing. Whatever.


Here's a quote taken from another blog that I frequent:


"Anonymous said... (These) represent good old-fashioned heart warming American corruption. Thekind the(se) used to build and rule all the major cities from New York to Chicago.
This is the kind of road-building, brother-in-law construction contract corruption which built America during its period of greatness and gave us great documentary movies like The Godfather.


(The Others) represent a whole new kind of corruption that has never been seen in this country before. A corruption that loots the entire nation so the super-rich can move their assets out, a corruption hidden behind the flag-waving and no-bid contracts in far away and hidden places, and a corruption which will destroy the economy and the middle-class. This is the corruption which will define the collapse of the American empire abroad and the American dreams at home..."


Looking for a hero, ya' think?
When is John Wayne gonna' ride over the horizon to save the day?


My personal journey on the Jesus Bus has not been a straight line of progression. There have been fits and starts along the way. More like something out of a Monty Python movie, than a passage from Homer. Sorry, seems I'm not made of the heroic stuff. Like Dirty Harry once said, A man's gotta' know his limitations.


Modern America seems to be lacking in heroic figures. What sort of artistic spin can be applied here to ease the pain of recognition? The history books are going to need some serious revision to color over the dawn of the 21st century. They have my full confidence.


Inclusion of the quote above is not an effort on my part to swerve the Jesus Bus into the path of current politics. This is simply an illustration of one perception of current events. Nothing more. Myself? I never have a clear understanding of things political. It always strikes me as smoke and mirrors.


There's a healthy dose of cynicism is the comments above, not to mention the alleged criminal intent. It's a matter for law enforcement. There's no way that I can verify credibility of the statements above. The issue that concerns me is the perception of events unfolding. There is the implication that blame goes to the powers that be. Yet, I am of the opinion that at the individual level there is plenty of blame to go around. There is recognition that modern leadership is lacking, and there is no sense of personal heroism in the face of uncertain odds.


My heros are not found in Homer. Not that I can't enjoy Homer. I must admit that I'm a sucker for Clancey novels. You know, all that high tech is really sexy. There is in scripture the record of the travels and travails of my hero, the Apostle Paul. He's second only to King David. Of course, this excludes Jesus, who is in a class all his own. After all, he is THE saviour of the world.


The Apostle Paul weighs in:


Phil 3:12 Not as if I had even now got the reward or been made complete: but I go on in the hope that I may come to the knowledge of that for which I was made the servant of Christ Jesus.


3:13 Brothers, it is clear to me that I have not come to that knowledge; but one thing I do, letting go those things which are past, and stretching out to the things which are before,


3:14 I go forward to the mark, even the reward of the high purpose of G-d in Christ Jesus.


The Apostle Paul saw Christ as his only hope of salvation. Only Christ can ride in to save the day. Only Christ can provide completion. He is the ultimate hero. And he is with us!

Get on the Jesus Bus.