Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Tyler Was Listening

I'm spending quite a bit of time in reflection of both Jerusalem proper and our Jerusalem Marketplace this week. Here is a story I can't help but share:

At the end of the day as Libby was trying to corral the tribe of Joseph into their tent, she overheard Tyler talking. Now this is not unusual in itself - Tyler is a pretty social little fellow. But it indicated to Libby that she'd lost one of her sheep so, being a good Tribal Family Mom, Libby went to retrieve Tyler and bring him back into the tent. As she poked her head out of their tent she saw Tyler in deep conversation with someone who'd just exited the Sanctuary Service.

Tyler stopped the man (who was to him a stranger) and asked, "Do you know what happened in Jerusalem today? Do you know Jesus? Do you know what happened to him?" Thankfully, the stranger was in good humor and, seeing Tyler's enthusiasm replied, "No, I don't know what has happened!"

Tyler went on to tell the man that his tribe had encountered the someone in the market who had reported that Jesus had been arrested. Then he went on to tell him everything they learned in Synagogue School about the Tabernacle and The Mercy Seat. After that, Tyler told him he had met Malchus and that he had blood all over him. Tyler then recounted the story of how Malchus' ear was cut off when the disciples reacted with violence at Jesus arrest. He told him how Jesus reacted to this violence with peace and healing. (I included a picture of Tyler that I took during the drama. I knew he was absorbing some of what was going on but I had no idea just how much!)

It appears that Tyler was listening. And after listening, he had to talk about it:) My favorite part of the whole thing is that in his exuberance to share the story, Tyler approached a total stranger without a thought and asked this question: "Do you know Jesus? Do you know what happened to him?" With the innocence and excitement only a child can capture, Tyler encountered the first person he met with the gospel message. Tyler is my hero.

As I reflect on Jerusalem this week, I pray that I can live a life that says: Do you know Jesus? Do you know what happened to him? Jerusalem is not over...it had actually just begun. Now is the time when we should feel challenged to take this message so seriously that it inhabits us. Resurrection Sunday is not a one day event, but a pivotal moment in our history that should forever change every minute of our every day.

Tyler was listening. Tyler gets it.

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