Being considered mad by...
Illustration
Being considered mad by the truly insane is no insult. So with Jesus, as his enemies and even his own family wondered about his sanity because he dared preach peace and hope. Their doubts could only shed favorable light on his work.
If our world creates war, injustice, and oppression and calls it "reality," perhaps we are justified in calling for holy madness. After World War I the saying arose that the only one who came out of the war with enhanced reputation was Jesus Christ. How much more must that be true in our day?
An old doctor, who had lost almost everything in the Civil War, was traveling one night with a faithful driver who had chosen to remain with him. In the night, as the driver kept the horses moving along, the doctor fell asleep. Suddenly he was awakened. The hack had stopped and the driver could be heard outside crying and praying. The doctor peered out. "What's the matter?" he asked the driver.
"Oh, get down here and pray," the driver said. "The world is coming to an end."
The doctor realized what was happening. A shower of meteors was streaking the sky. It did look like the stars were falling. He got down on the ground with the old driver and pointed up into the sky. "Do you see that star?" he asked, pointing to the morning star. "Let's get back into the hack and resume our journey. I'm going back to sleep, and you keep looking at that star. If it falls, then you wake me up."
In days of confusion and fear, we must keep our eyes on that bright, morning star, who is Christ.
-- Gasperson
