Last year made me do something strange: A character study of Jesus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I write stage plays and musicals. When I embark on a new project, character studies are the first things I do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who is this character? When I figure out who the person is, the story will, at some point, begin to write itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In all the noise, chaos, and uncertainty of late, I felt like I started losing who Jesus was. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Him<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not politics. Him<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n So I started reading The Gospels. I wanted to see Jesus.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n With every story, interaction, miracle, and parable, I began to write one sentence about what Jesus is like based on what I read. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As my list grew, my eyes filled with tears. My heart was filled with joy and thankfulness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n HE\u2019S AMAZING.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n A few reoccurring characteristics of this Beautiful Savior: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Over and over, it mentions how Jesus SAW people. They weren\u2019t invisible to Him. He took time to gaze at them. Notice them. I had to remind myself no matter what I was facing, He was looking right at me. Always. He sees me.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There were times He spoke \u2018a word\u2019, and people were healed. But far more often, \u2018He touched.\u2019 He\u2019s so personal. He wants connection with me. I\u2019m not alone in this.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a characteristic I hadn\u2019t really ever picked up on before. There were so many times when He was moved with compassion. He saw people hungry and was moved to feed them. He saw people walking aimlessly, and he was moved to teach them. I had to remind myself that His heart is filled with compassion when He sees me, and it moves Him to action. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n One interaction Jesus had summarized all these things:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLord<\/em>,\u201d he said, \u201cif you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.<\/em>\u201d Jesus reached out and touched him. \u201cI am willing<\/em>,\u201d he said. – Luke 5:12-13\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n He\u2019s willing<\/strong>: To see me. To touch me. To move on my behalf. I\u2019m so thankful for who He is and who He longs to be to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m still reading. I should probably be done by now, but I\u2019m trying to take it slowly. The air of this culture is so polluted. It\u2019s filled with fear, anxiety, and hate. So I\u2019m doing my best to breathe Jesus in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n My grandma had a saying: \u201cIf you think, you\u2019ll thank.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n So I\u2019m purposely thinking more about Jesus<\/strong>, and I\u2019m thankful. Gram was right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In these times of uncertainty, it\u2019s His character that is bringing me peace. With every word I read of Him and from Him, I am reminded:\u00a0“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.<\/em>” – Hebrews 13:8<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s the character\u2019s motivation?
What are the character\u2019s tendencies and quirks?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not religion.
Not good Christian work. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHe Sees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
He Touches <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
He Was Moved <\/h2>\n\n\n\n