Let me ask you...What was your first reaction when you first saw this photo? Be honest! I'll tell you mine; I was stunned, a little confused and provoked. Once I settled down, I could relate to it and even see that it is an accurate portrayal of the compassion and love of my Savior illustrated in this 'disturbing' and 'thought-provoking' photo.
So, what does it do either to you or for you?? Does this picture make you feel a little uncomfortable? If so, why? Think about it for a moment.
Jesus has always provoked reactions from people. He always did and He always will. Why? Because He is God and people can have a hard time with that. Jesus has always had a habit of interrupting and challenging our assumptions, beliefs, and values. Just read the gospels (particularly the Gospel of John in the New Testament) and you will see Him confronting and being confronted.
Why does Jesus provoke us so much? Because God is God, He has always been active in human history, and He is also active in our lives today. He is mindful to challenge and confront us and our paradigms with the truth, motivated out of His pure love for us. What is this truth? It is that whether someone is a housewife, teacher, grandmother, manager, student, or even a Nazi; we are all lost and in need of a savior.
To think that Jesus shouldn't be found talking to a Nazi, or anyone else for that matter, regardless of how "good" or "bad" they may seem to be, is to judge Him. Think of it...how can we possibly and accurately judge God and His motives? Unfortunately, we frequently do.
The disciples did! Just read the story in the Gospel of John chapter 4 about the woman at the well and how the disciples were amazed to find Jesus speaking to her. Yet, what was Jesus doing in this story? He sat with a woman, well known as one who "got around", and He set her free from her sins.
The Pharisees and Scribes did too! Just read the story about the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11. The teachers were ready to kill her because she sinned, yet Jesus restored her to life by forgiving her and told her to sin no more. He also rebuked the teachers because they erroneously thought they had no sin. Was their sin less than hers? Obviously not.
How have you and I judged Jesus? When we judge God or others we do so from our own perspective which, because we have been broken by what the bible calls sin, is flawed. We are only to judge based upon His Word and that doesn't allow us to judge Him. Why? Because Jesus is not like us, He is holy and His motives are pure. Therefore, we have to be careful not to think that Jesus doesn't have any right to talk to a Nazi or any other terrible sinner because, in reality, we are all terrible sinners.
Aren't you glad that Jesus reached out to a "Nazi" like you?
John 10:10 -The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
-Ross
This amazing photo of Jesus with the Nazi is actually titled “The Second Mile,” and is a part of the 'Journeys With the Messiah Project' created by Michael Belk, a veteran fashion photographer, whose prior works have appeared in such places as Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ and Elle. You can see the entire portfolio of photos at www.thejourneysproject.com.
There is also a great article with additional information on Michale Belk posted at http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/09/take-the-journey-10320
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