The
Connected Savior
There is probably more to the thoughts of Hebrews 4:15,
“He was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin” than we traditionally
think. We usually go to Jesus’
interaction with Satan in the desert to demonstrate His various temptations and
comeback. What I see in this Hebrews passage is an attempt to describe our High
Priest as one who is connected. The preceding statement, “For we do not have a
high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,” communicates
connection. That glorious first chapter
vision given to John in the Apocalypse places our connected Savior right in the
middle of His churches.
This ought to resonate with a postmodern world. A
world where it seems one cannot be connected enough. Our Savior didn’t have,
and for that matter didn’t need, digitized connections. He connected with an
adulterous woman, a tax collector, a synagogue ruler, a house full of friends,
blind people, deaf people, possessed people, a nighttime Pharisee, and many
others, so I feel secure in saying He wants to be connected to you and me.
It seems that the connection was lost for the most
part with the religious elite of His day. It seems that the connection with
most of His closest followers was tenuous at best at times. That connection
eventually was secured. Resurrection will take care of that.
He is the example of being connected while disconnect seems
to be what we are good at. I wonder in all of our religiosity and ritual
if we think we are connected to Him. I wonder in all of our business and
cliquishness if we think we are even connected to each other. Do we connect only along age, racial, belief or economic criteria? Do we hang with those in our
demographic and then call ourselves connected?
There are a lot of “C” words that come to mind;
community, culture, closeness, camaraderie, compassion, completeness, common, come,
etc.
A connected Savior surely calls His church to be
connected. Some Bible speaks to this; “come to me all you who labor and are
heavy burdened,” “I became all things to all people that by all means I might
save some,” “let the little children come to me,” “love your neighbor as you
love yourself,” “that whoever believes might not perish but have eternal
life,” “how often have I longed to gather your children together, as a hen
gathers her chicks under her wings,” “I long to see you, so that I may be
filled with joy,” “do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together,” and
many more.
Connection is a two-way street. No wonder those who
come in after worship begins and leave as the last AMEN is still hanging in the
air don’t feel connected. I know we have a connected Savior who wants secure a
connection to you and me. Is the disconnect on your end?
