Week 39—Wednesday John 7:37-38
John 7:37-38
“O GOD, MAKE ME LIKE CHRIST”
We are considering the fact that we can only see the universal through the particular. When Dr. Kagawa, the Japanese saint, read the story of the Crucifixion for the first time he was overwhelmed with emotion. “Is it true that cruel men persecuted and whipped and sat upon this man Jesus?” he asked. “Yes, it is true,” he was told. “And is it true that Jesus when dying on the cross forgave them?” “Yes, it is true.” Then Kagawa burst into prayer: “O God, make me like Christ.” And that became his life prayer. He saw the Universal through that particular. When he was in America, someone heard him speak and as he walked home with a friend he remarked, “Well, he didn’t say much, did he?” For Kagawa was a poor public speaker. “No, he didn’t say much,” said the friend, “but if you are hanging on the cross you don’t have to say much.”
I quoted that to our Sat Tal Ashram group and the Hindu secretary of Mr. Venugopal, the Financial Secretary of the Railway Board who has all the finances of the railways in his hands, and who is perhaps the outstanding Christian of India, thoughtfully said, “Mr. Venugopal doesn’t have to say much, for he too is hanging on the cross.” He is the Word of self-sacrifice become flesh.
A Hindu said this about a missionary doctor: “Dr. Hicks is a saint; no, he is a god.” Some of his employees had stolen powdered milk. They were brought before the court. The judges said they were guilty and must be fined. “No,” said Dr. Hicks, “I am guilty. They are under me. It was my fault. I will pay the fine.” “Nobody but a god could do that,” said the Hindu. The Hindu saw the universal in the particular. When the Universal Word becomes the particular flesh it burns our souls as when a burning glass gathers the scattered rays and focuses them on a single point.
O Lord God, people see you more at the cross than through volumes of the philosophies. They bring us words. But the cross brings us the Word of Love become flesh. We see and our knees bend and our hearts melt. We thank you. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: A God on a cross—what a lowly thing! And what a High God!