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Divine hunger Marilyn Anderes shares a dimension to intimacy with God.
Gospel in the flesh Boyce A. Bowdon tells of one ministry spreading the gospel to inner cities.
Our working theology Philip Turner examines the theology of the Episcopal Church.
Ready for His return Joel Green reviews what John Wesley taught about the end times.
The cosmic catalystScott T. Kelso revels in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Editorial The gospel of radical inclusion
Next Generation Word becomes real
RENEW Women’s NetworkDo we honestly believe...
The Great Commission A quasi-Bohemian approach to mission
From the Heart The rescuer
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Pastor helps police with stressful job
Judicial Council declines reconsiderations
United Methodists in Indiana focus on Sudan
U.S. churches face crisis, discipleship leaders say
Membership dips in U.S., but increases in other countries
UM lobbyist calls for impeachment of Bush
UMW in financial crisis and membership decline
Culture in View
The Omen
Thirty years ago, in July of 1976, one of history's greatest rescues took place. Air France Flight 139 left Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, only to be hijacked by a branch of the PLO and diverted to Entebbe, Uganda. All Israeli passengers on board became hostages and it was clear that the African dictator, Idi Amin, was a partner in the plot.
The Israeli Defense Force combined several elements to make this rescue a resounding success.
1. Determination. They wanted their people home.
2. Forethought and preparation. They made a mock-up of the Entebbe airfield from blueprints procured from an Israeli builder. And, they practiced their plan.
3. Camouflage. The assault team looked like the culture they invaded, dressing in Ugandan military uniforms and driving an identical match of the black Mercedes limo that Amin used regularly.
4. Surprise. Five C-130 Hercules aircrafts and two Boeing 707's loaded with assault personnel and equipment made their way through the stormy darkness.
5. Swiftness. The operation, which was estimated to take one hour, took 58 minutes.
The risky endeavor was successful because it met the expectations of the commanding officer, Brigadier General Dan Shomron. But, it was costly. Lt. Col. Yoni Netanyahu was fatally shot by a sniper and two hostages were killed in airport terminal crossfire. Passenger Dora Bloch, who tried to protect herself by demanding a hospital visit, was later executed by Amin's henchmen. She was not with the other hostages when the rescue team arrived.
The Scriptures proclaim that Jesus is our rescuer. Colossians 1:13 says: "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves." God's determination brings us home. Through forethought and preparation, he made the way for us to connect with him. He started with the covenant, the law, and the prophets. Then Jesus camouflaged himself. He "made himself nothing" and "though being in very nature God," he "took the very nature of a servant." He was "made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:6-7).
God surprised us with his love. Though we didn't deserve it, he came for us anyway. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). And, he operates with steady swiftness. 1 Peter 3:8-9 says: "With the Lord a day is like a 1000 years, and 1000 years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise.."
Jesus' rescue operation met the expectations of The Commanding Officer and it was costly. We were "bought at a price" (1 Corinthians 6:20) and "purchased with his blood" (Revelations 5:9). "By his wounds [we] have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24).
Yes! Jesus longs to set us free. The question is: What do you need rescue from? And, further, what do you need freedom from? Perhaps you are in financial bondage or spiritual chains. Maybe you need release from darkness, sin, death, trials, mire, deep waters, shame, guilt, pursuers, things that devour, worldliness, or passionless living.
Isaiah prophesied centuries ago about the aim of the Messiah's rescue mission. "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me.. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners" (Isaiah 61:1).
And, what are we to be rescued for? Moses declared the answer before Pharoah. "Let my people go, so that they may worship me" (Exodus 8:1). God wants to dream through us. He wants to make his appeal through us. He wants our hearts to be his home, so he can hug with our arms and speak using our tongues. But, hostages don't do those things easily.
If you haven't been rescued yet, why not? Perhaps you have known Jesus as savior for years, but still you live a defeated life. Sometimes we look to lesser rescuers-things of our own making. Things like sports, shopping, sleeping, busyness, over-work. Sometimes, like Dora Bloch in Entebbe, we try to take care of it ourselves. Or maybe we become sympathetic to our captors-our private "Stockholm syndrome"-and resign ourselves to the fact that no one has it any better.
The truth is clear. Jesus is our rescuer. His record is impeccable. He rescued Zacchaeus from cheating ways. He freed Mary from a life of looking for love in all the wrong places. His touch on one man's heart saved an entire household. He prodded accusers to lay down stones aimed at an adulteress.
God is freeing me, too. He is freeing me from a spirit easily offended, from needing the approval of people, from having to teach anybody anything. He is freeing me from never being able to say "no" and living under the expectations of others. He rescued me in 1972 when he revealed himself to me for the first time and he continues to rescue me today from any empty way of life. It continues to require an admission of need and a desire for his touch. So, what about you? "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).
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