Years ago there was a show on television called, “Kid’s say the funniest things”. The whole premise of the show was…well…get kid’s talking and they will say funny things. Everyone knows this to be true. Just ask a young kid a question like, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” and be amazed as their answers of often not only amusing but seem to offer no regard for physical properties or various other constraints that would make it impossible for that child to ever become what they desire. For example, a kid who is asked that question might reply, “I want to be a tiger” or “I want to be the ocean”. Of course you just smile and go along with it because it is clear from that child’s face that they are quite sure they could become a tiger (for me, I wanted to be a shark…I even drew a picture of me as a shark…I was a good looking shark…I digress.) You know, for as many times as I heard a child answer that question, I can’t recall any child ever saying, “I want to be a donkey.” Somehow donkeys don’t seem to inspire us. Additionally, humanity seems to have noted that they are stubborn and perhaps not the brightest of animals and that other than being a beast of burden, they offer few redeeming qualities. For a human to be equated with a donkey often means that an insult has been rendered. I believe that the Romans understood this. I learned this morning that in the time of the Roman empire, those who were crucified would sometimes be depicted with a donkey’s head. In one particular piece of graffiti found from that time the caption below the drawing reads, “Alexamenos worships God” and indeed this man is depicted with the head of a donkey. It is also true that for anyone who identified and followed a crucified one, it was a mark of shame and ridicule.
So, here we are, Christ’s church, thousands of years later identifying with a crucified one and the subject of ridicule for many. Paul speaks about this identification in the following verses:
“We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed. We are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed- always carrying around the death of The Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” – 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
For those of you familiar with these verses, you know the context. In the beginning of chapter four we read about various forms of difficulty and opposition that faced Paul and other believers and then he exhorts us to remember that the power to persevere and endure these circumstances and even to glorify God and proclaim the gospel in the midst of them does not rest with us, but comes from God. For believers in Christ, if we are vocal about our faith, ridicule will come and we may be equated with donkeys or worse. I guess the questions that surface are ones like whether or not we will count it a blessing to suffer for the name of our Lord. Perhaps we have to wrestle with if we have enough faith to speak up about our Savior, knowing that God’s word promises persecution for expressing our allegiance to the crucified one. I suppose though that If we are going to stay true to Paul’s teaching in chapter four, we must heed his call to acknowledge God as our source of strength in all circumstances and trust in Him that He will bring glory to himself through our weakness and will hold us together, although we be fragile jars of clay.
Beloved, I do not know what you are facing right now, but if your circumstances are causing uncertainty know this; that you can be certain that God can sustain you and give a strength and peace that surpasses understanding. And so, now I ask you, what do you want to be now that you have grown up? Are you okay being a donkey for the name of Christ? If so, praise God when the persecution comes for you have been counted worthy to suffer for His name.
For Him,
Rob
May 28, 2016