Prototype

If Jesus is the Son of God (and yes, He is!), and if He came on an expensive errand to save us (and yes, He did come on such an errand, and the price He paid to save us was infinite!). Then He must have had some "prototype," some example of what He died to accomplish, that He could show to the world to justify His great sacrifice. The Ford Motor Company proposed to build and sell a completely new car that gives 70-80 miles per gallon; they must first build a "prototype," a car that they can demonstrate in a showroom that does that. Before His death on His cross, Jesus must have some "prototype," some human being whom He can demonstrate to the world as an example of the salvation FROM sin that He has achieved. And yes, He had such a person - but not one of His 12 disciples. His "prototype" was a basket case woman who had fallen so low that she is described as being possessed by "seven devils" - the lady who is famous because she washed His feet with tears (Jn 12:1-8). Jesus demonstrated her in His "showroom" as the example of a human being who was the "prototype" of the 144,000 paraded in Revelation 14:4 as something "new" never before demonstrated - they "follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth, . . . in their mouth . . . no guile, for they are without fault." Has there ever been even one sinner who can be seen, demonstrated, to prove to the world that such an astounding accomplishment is even possible? Yes, our hearts are humbled as we "see" one such person, of whom Jesus said words of no other person in all history: "Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she [this woman] hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her" (Mk 14:9). Wonder of wonders! Jesus at last shares the spotlight with someone else, asks the world not only to "behold" Himself but to look at someone whose story must be told side by side with the Good News of His mission. Amazing! The great leaders-to-be of Jesus' church had despised what this woman had "done," but He put her on a pedestal and told us all that we can't proclaim His gospel anywhere, Third, Second, or First worlds, unless we include her story. In other words, the "gospel" must be more than a pie-in-the-sky, after-death transformation of sinners' lives: the world deserves to "see" first-hand how it has "power" here and now. (And yes, the gospel indicates that this "woman" on the pedestal was molested sexually; and yes, her molester is mentioned in the story also as Luke tells it in 7:37-50). Too much for one day; maybe more about them tomorrow.

Have you been blessed?