Everybody Loves a Good Fight

I’ve gotten into two fights in my life.  I know, hard to believe.  But I can remember them clearly.  One was with Cathy, who lived two doors down from my grandmother’s house.  I was probably around 8 or 9 years old.  Cathy was mean and a thorn in my side.  She was also the only other kid on the block who I could play with.  I don’t know exactly how the fight started, but I can remember the final scene and how it all played out.  I towered over her as she lay on the grass, pinned in a helpless position.  She cried for mercy and I let her go.  She flew home and that was the last time she bullied me.  The other time was in sixth grade.  I was friends with Rosie; at least I thought I was.  She accused me of breaking her compass and told me that she was going to beat me up after school.  I was shaking in my boots the rest of the school day.  I wondered how I could avoid the ordeal.  I wished I had someone that could come to my defense.  When the bell rang, there was no escape.  There were several class mates waiting for the big fight.   I can remember the yelling and pushing and then it all stopped when my little sister showed up and started crying.  Rosie rattled off some crude and threatening comments and suddenly stopped pursuing me.  I was shaken and happy at the same time.  My sister saved the day. 

It is Easter tomorrow and the picture that comes to me is how Jesus fights the fight for me.  I envision a boxing match with Him taking on the enemy of my soul.   It's not pretty.  When the bell rings, the referee lifts the arm of the winner.  As the referee lifts Jesus' arm, He brings me into the ring and raises my arm alongside his.  I too, can live a winning, victorious life.  The battles I fought as a child were fought alone.  I did not have a savior and I didn’t win anything.  Today, I no longer have to fight my battles alone.  Jesus is in the ring with me.  He is there for you, too.  Through his resurrection, Jesus has won the fight for me.  He’s won it for you.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.   John 3:16

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.   

2 Corinthians 5:15

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  John 15:13