It Wasn't Easy Being Me
(Rusty Wheelington, Minister of Youth)

     It wasn't easy being Me. I had it all and created it all; set everything in place just so. Each unique planet, star, flower, and insect were all parts of my creation. Then the day came when I had to leave. Leave a place of perfection and joy, next to My Father's side, and trade it for a corrupt world and men who for the most part wanted nothing to do with Me. I would hardly call it an even trade. I took on a form of limited capabilities. The human body is just not the same as a heavenly body.

     My birth was not heralded throughout the world by people, but by angels sent from My Father. It was so good to hear their voices. Looking up, I could see the face of my mother beaming with pride and exhilaration. I came because there was a purpose for me to fulfill. This very purpose was the reason my parents "lost" me for some time and found me in the temple, my Father's house.

     Then came the day when I had to leave my parents and begin a mission that only I could fulfill. Walking along I found what some might call some very unlikely companions, but they were exactly what I needed. There was one, his name was Peter, he was a fireball of enthusiasm and opinion. There were others as well, some fishermen, brothers, tax collectors, and the like. Crowds gathered. So many people, sometimes it would seem as though they would smother Me. There were so many who were sick, diseased, broken, outcast and rejected. Their eyes filled with hope. Each one screaming, "Please help me!" and yet never saying a word.

     There were times when I just had to get away, to be alone with My Father and spend some time in His arms. It wouldn't be long before He would welcome Me back home. Each day, every precious hour, drew Me closer to a fate I knew I couldn't avoid. I can't explain to you how difficult it was to be completely God and completely human. Religious leaders were there who were plotting against Me and talking about Me when they thought I couldn't hear them. I knew their hearts.

     The day I rode into Jerusalem on a donkey people lined the streets cheering me, laying palm branches and their garments in the dusty road for Me. Yet, I knew it was the same cheering crowd that would be screaming to have Me crucified. How hard it was to hear one of My closest friends pledge his undying loyalty to me, willing to sacrifice His life for Mine and yet I knew that it would be just a few short hours before he would deny Me. The hurt and confusion on his face saddened me as I revealed this to him yet he denied me three times.

     There was another who would betray me. It's one thing to be betrayed, but to be betrayed by someone called a friend is something else. I gave him an up close and personal glimpse of God and he sold it. His name was Judas. Once My personal friend, now My betrayer. He came toward me and kissed my cheek as the angry mob followed him. Peter full of zeal tried to defend me. I had to remind him that this was the way I was supposed to go.

     As I turned I realized I was alone. Behind me was emptiness, my friends had run away. After a farce of a trial came the mocking. Every imaginable insult was hurled at Me. My beard was pulled out, I was spit upon, My garment, My only earthly possession was gambled away by the soldiers. I will never forget the beating. One would hit Me until he grew weary, then another would pick up where the other left off. My back was so badly beaten that it looked like raw ground meat. One of the soldiers went to the trouble of making Me a crown of thorns which, like a thousand daggers, pierced my scalp and went all the way to My skull.

     The cross was heavy. With every step it seemed as though the sins of the world were continually heaped on, almost crushing Me. Would I make it up the hill? I knew I had to. I could just barely feel the tip of the spike at My wrist before the hammer came down like a clasp of thunder and drove it into My flesh. I screamed in agony and instead of compassion I heard more insults. A couple of more strikes and it would hold Me to this piece of wood. Slowly, I was lifted up. My body's weight against the spikes made it difficult to breathe. So many people stood by. I could just barely make out the image of John, one of my closest friends. How hard it was for my mother to see her son this way. There was so much pain.

     Yet, even in this place, salvation took place as the one on My right declares Me and becomes Mine. I did what I went to do. Finished. Completed. Three days later I went back to the earth. I had risen from the dead and I wanted to show them that I was alive. Some more readily believed than others. I especially wanted to see my friend, Peter. You see, after he denied Me he thought he had blown it with Me for good. He was wrong and I wanted to tell him face to face. Some of you are like that. You think you've blown it, let me down so badly that I could never give you another chance. You're wrong. You can't sin greater than My love for you. All you have to do is turn around to see Me. At times I feel the scars on My wrists and on My side and I think of you. You are worth everything I went through. My love for you is so much greater than any amount of pain I endured.

As I anxiously wait for the day to return, not in another manger, but in glory, I think about seeing you run to Me as I run to you. Finally getting to embrace you, a moment which I have waited for, a moment that was worth dying for. It wasn't easy being Me.......... but you were worth it.

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