It was a question Jesus asked his disciples one day. Curious of what others thought of him, he asked, "Who do people say I am?" The disciples one by one answered, "John the Baptist, Elijah, or some kind of prophet." I am sure Jesus paused and then asked, "But who do you say I am?" The responses weren't as quick but eventually Peter spoke up and said, "You are the Christ."
This story asks us an important question. It is a question each of us have to answer for ourselves. Look at the picture on the left. Study it, look beyond the painting and find yourself hidden inside. uestion to is simple: Who is Jesus to you?
When was a time that you felt kindness from someone else? Think about that for a moment. How did that make you feel? Did you find confidence in yourself? Did you discover something for the first time about yourself and life? Overall, what impact did it have on you?
The concept behind the commandment for kindness towards strangers in Leviticus is a result of the questions asked above. Israel expreinced liberation and freedom from Egypt after years of enslavement. This liberation, led by Moses and ordained by God, showed Israel the need for kindness to strangers. Because they experienced such grace and love, they were expected to return that grace.
There is a commercial for liberty mutual that constantly airs in which one person performs a random act of kindness and it passes on contaguiously causing a chain reaction and impact in the lives of others. The ad ends with the word ‘responsibility’. It is expected in the Hebrew community to be responsible for others and it is a responsibility of us who are Christians.
In the movie Evan Almighty, God asks Evan, “How do we change the world?” to which Evan responds, “One single act of random kindness at a time” and God smiles and carves the word Ark saying, “One Act of Random Kindness.” Showing kindness is a small way we can change the world. While changing policies, rules, and structures help; changing other’s attitudes helps alittle more.
Kindness is a gift from God and is closely associated with compassion, love, friendship and hope. Those things cannot exist without kindness and kindness comes from spending time in the presence of God. But for a true example of this, we must look at the kindness Jesus often showed others.
In the story of Zaccueus, Jesus reaches out to someone (not really well liked) and told him that he (Jesus) was going to have dinner with him (Zaccueus). And the most amazing part of the story was that Jesus chose to have dinner with Zac at Zac’s house. And it is the invitation to dinner that is the true extent of kindness. The difference between love and tolerance, between niceness and kindness is that kindness and love involves having dinner with someone in your/their home.
Remember this during this week: Be kind to others for you know not their struggles.
"But Who do you say I am?"