A Hint of Jesus?

The events of this past week have hit us all in different ways. I have a good friend who asked me yesterday, “Bob, I never knew who Charlie Kirk was. But when he was assassinated, I was impacted in ways I really don’t understand. Actually, brought me to tears.” This got me thinking. You know, it has hit me in ways I didn’t expect either.

I never knew Charlie Kirk well. One thing I know about him is that he spoke truth. In his case at the expense of his life. I am driven this morning to share my own truth about this unique experience. I fully know this may strike many of you as blasphemy, but I also know one can never shy away from their own truth. Thus I will not shy away from my own. Believing that Charlie Kirk gave us just a very slight “hint of Jesus.”

Charlie was a martyr… much as Jesus was. Charlie Kirk faced his enemies with a disregard for what the consequences would be… as Jesus did. He had disciples. The people he chose? He knew instinctively, knew who would follow him in his quest and who would not. While he didn’t work with the poor. He worked with the young. Those in need of direction. Those in his mind who needed to hear the word of Jesus. Grasp the miracle of faith.

Charlie did not fear death. He knew in his heart what might befall him. But he also knew he was called to his purpose. What God intended for him. And yes,  he was gifted. We know Jesus was the son of God.

There will only ever be one of Him. He launched a movement, a message that has guided Christians around the world for thousands of years. Charlie Kirk will never do this. But still his message may resonate in very unexpected ways.

There is a concept I have embraced for a long time. The concept of Christlikeness. Many times when faced with a difficult issue. Something I don’t understand that I need to resolve. The question I ask myself, “What would Jesus do?” Every time I’ve reached out to Him… the answer to my issue was not far away. Maybe right in front of me.

Don’t get me wrong. Again, Charlie was no Jesus. No one is … or ever will be.
But I cannot avoid acknowledging the parallels here. Indeed, this is a vivid example of someone who not only followed our Lord, but in many ways exemplified what He stood for. My friend reaching out to me as I shared above, represented thousands, maybe millions, who have asked themselves the same question. “Why the impact here. What is this all about?” I guess we will not know until time passes. And like so many other tragedies, it may be forgotten, buried under the darkness that grips our country today. Erica Kirk, Charlie’s wife said so eloquently last night. “We will never surrender. The evil doers who murdered my husband do not know what they have done.”

Erica, in time all of us will see how we respond … to what we need to do.