Jesus, the Rock Star Antithesis

This past Monday through Wednesday, I participated for the first time in the annual Church of the Nazarene South Texas District Assembly. During the first service on the Monday, the worship band sang, “Even So Come” by Passion. I sat near the back row, while most others stood, and closed my eyes so that I could truly hear the words and take it all in.

A woman behind me sang at the top of her voice. I pictured her with arms raised high to heaven as she sang.

I heard another voice to the right further in front of me praising loudly, “Yes, Jesus. Come, Jesus.”

 

With my eyes still closed, I imagined others bouncing to the rhythm of the Spirit moving within them.

As the band sang the line, “come, Lord Jesus, come,” I pictured Jesus bursting through the back door like a rock star, pumping His fists in the air, mouthing words like “yea” and “come on” while He strutted down the aisle, high fiving and fist bumping His fans as He made His way to center stage.

This image made me laugh inside and faded just as quickly. Jesus would never enter a room like that, but I could tell He had, indeed, come.

If Jesus were to come in the flesh at this moment, and made His appearance here with us this Monday evening when we called, what would that look like if it would not look like a rock star?

I saw it all so clearly. He gives the woman behind me a big bear hug and lifts her slightly off the ground, the way my friend, Dean, greets me every Sunday morning. I see Him with a big grin on His face as pulls away from the embrace and looks at her.

When He reaches the one who cannot stand still, He takes him by both hands and dances with him before pulling him in for an embrace.

The woman shouting praises cannot stay put. She takes off running toward Him. Jesus, in turn, sees her running and runs to meet her. He picks her up in His arms and twirls her around in circles.

Now, Jesus does not walk past those of us who cannot stand or who choose not to stand. Nor does He walk past the wallflowers or others working to make this service run so smoothly.

Before anyone else even notices Him, Jesus stands against the wall next to the wallflower and slides His body along the wall until it nudges her side. When she turns to face Him, He smiles and winks. She rests her head on His shoulder and He rests His head on top of her head.

He greets the man at the sound booth and helps him for a bit, giving him a thumbs up and quick kiss on the cheek.

As Jesus comes upon a man in a wheelchair, He kneels down to face him. Jesus holds this man’s face in His hands, smiles, and rests His forehead against his forehead. He whispers something only he can hear before embracing him.

He slides into the seat next to mine, the one more comfortable with silent worship. Jesus throws His arms around me and squeezes my shoulder. When He turns to face me, He gives me a smile and pulls me into Him, just as a man does for His beloved wife.

I almost cried as I imagined this scene. No. Jesus would not enter the room like a rock star, basking in the praise and adoration, raising His hands with puffed out chest. No. Jesus would come and meet us wherever we were, however we are, and love us. He would love us just as we are. Jesus does love us just as we are. Isn’t that amazing?

I could feel Him in the sanctuary. I knew He sat right beside me, and I knew He also laughed and danced with others.