“Without missing a beat the young woman stepped into the gutter to pass the blind man.”
The first thing you have to understand is that there really isn't a sidewalk in Oxford wider than a body. Everyone walks in duckling formation, never in tandem! So when I looked across to the other side of the road and saw a blind man walking slowly and waving his white stick the width of the sidewalk going in one direction and a young woman hurrying towards him from the other direction, I naturally wondered what would happen when they met up. Without missing a beat the young woman stepped into the gutter to pass the blind man. The blind man never missed a beat, either - he kept the same pace, neither wavering left or right. Perhaps, you might be thinking, what's special about this picture? Everything unfolded quite logically. Well, that's true. But for me, in that moment, I saw a living picture of what was done for me 2000 years ago at Golgotha.
Recently, I have been reading a Jewish theologian's biography of Jesus. This eminent theologian (Flusser) greatly admires Jesus and believes His life and the things He said and did, if adhered to, could do much to heal the world. He also greatly admires His humanity and tries to incorporate much of Jesus' teachings into his own life. However, he does not see Jesus as divine - only filled with great 'self-awareness' of what He believed. There are many moments of enlightenment throughout this great theologian's book. However, there is a sad ending to this man's work - his hero, Jesus, dies a cruel, unwarranted death. For Flusser, the resurrection was a dynamic tool for the disciples to continue the message of the 'Kingdom' along with the many other worth principles for living that Jesus taught. And in spite of Flusser's efforts otherwise, there is a great sense of defeat as you come to the end of the biography.
Perhaps you are thinking that now I am going to liken Flusser to the blind man at the beginning of this piece. Well, I'm not. Throughout Christian history, the Jews have often been condemned to the role of the 'blind man' and that role has often been assigned with bitterness and hatred; the perpetuation of that role down through the millennia has been one of the root causes of anti-Semitism/anti-Judaism. I will, however, liken Flusser to all those who, like the young woman, either politely or annoyed, side-step the blind man, even stepping into the gutter to do so.
I am the blind man. I am the one Jesus did not side-step to avoid. I am the one He went to the cross for. I am the one He loved and laid down His life for. I am the one He was resurrected from the dead for, so that I might walk in the newness of His life. I am the one to whom He sent the Holy Spirit to comfort when He ascended to the Father. I am the reason He went to Golgotha 2000 years ago. I am the one He healed.
Now T'oma (the name means "twin"), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Yeshua came. When the other talmidim* told him, "We have seen the Lord," he replied, "Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, put my finger into the place where the nails were and put my hand into His side, I refuse to believe it."
A week later, his talmidim were once more in the room, and this time T'oma was with them. Although the doors were locked, Yeshua came, stood among them and said, "Shalom aleikhem!"* Then he said to T'oma, "Put your finger here, look at my hands, take your hand and put it into my side. Don't be lacking in trust, but have trust!" T'oma answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Yeshua said to him, "Have you trusted because you have seen me? How blessed are those who do not see, but trust anyway! [John 20:24-29; Jewish New Testament, translated by David H. Stern]"
* talmidim (pl.) - disciple
* Shalom aleikhem (pl.) - Peace be upon you
I hope you are blessed with the gift of true 'self-awareness' this Easter.
Blessings and Shalom
Madelaine is a wonderful friend and writer.
Thanks, Maddie, for your unique perspective! — Grant