The following story is from “Blue Like Jazz”, a book written by Donald Miller, pages 33-34.
The story was about his friend who is a Navy SEAL. He [the folksinger] told it like it was true, so I guess it was true, although it could have been a lie.
The folksinger said his friend was performing a covert operation, freeing hostages from a building in some dark part of the world. His friend’s team flew in by helicopter, made their way to the compound and stormed into the room where the hostages had been imprisoned for months. The room, the folksinger said, was filthy and dark. The hostages were curled up in a corner, terrified. When the SEALs entered the room, they heard the gasps of the hostages. They stood at the door and called to the prisoners, telling them they were Americans. The SEALs asked the hostages to follow them, but the hostages wouldn’t. They sat there on the floor and hid their eyes in fear. They were not of healthy mind and didn’t believe their rescuers were really Americans.
The SEALs stood there, not knowing what to do. They couldn’t possibly carry everybody out. One of the SEALs, the folksinger’s friend, got an idea. He put down his weapon, took off his helmet, and curled up tightly next to the other hostages, getting so close his body was touching some of theirs. He softened the look on his face and put his arms around them. He was trying to show them he was one of them. None of the prison guards would have done this. He stayed there for a little while until some of the hostages started to look at him, finally meeting his eyes. The Navy SEAL whispered that they were Americans and were there to rescue them. Will you follow us? he said. The hero stood to his feet and one of the hostages did the same, then another, until all of them were willing to go. The story ends with all the hostages safe on an American aircraft carrier.
This story is a great illustration of Jesus. We are the hostages, held captive by our own sin. God came to rescue us from our captivity. But we did not recognize Him or trust Him. So He became like us, took the form of a man in the body of Jesus, to show us that He was like us, He was here to help us, not to hurt us. Jesus touched those around Him, suffered the same things we suffered, showed us He loved us. Jesus helps us to see who God really is, to see through the confusion of our own captivity, to know the truth. If we put our trust in Jesus and follow Him, He will bring us safely home.
Tags: Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller
