Monday, May 10, 2004
Monday, May 10, 2004
He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and
purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
(Titus 2.14
NRSV)
Today's firemen, or firefighters as we now call them, put out fires. Originally, though, firemen were men who started fires.
The original firemen worked in coal mines, and it was their hazardous job to be the first to enter a mine each morning.
They would wrap themselves in wet rags to make themselves as 'fireproof' as possible and then, grabbing a long, flaming stick, they would go in and ignite any explosive methane gas that had seeped into the mine overnight. Burning off the dangerous gas thus made the workplace safe for others.
Perhaps if the writers of the gospels had known about this tradition, he would have called Jesus 'our fireman.' For as the New Testament church struggled with the reality of Christ's death on the cross, they concluded that it had something to do with our sin and our need to be justified before God. Calvary was God's new thing, they concluded, for that day as well as for all time. By his sacrifice are we saved. By his wounds are we healed. By his death are we brought to eternal life. But only if we respond in repentance and faith.
Dear Jesus, thank you for redeeming us. Amen.
