Do You Know Bailey's Jesus?
God recently allowed me to see Jesus through the eyes of someone seeing
Him for the first time. Having the advantage of knowing how the story
ends, we can easily forget the cost of our redemption and the love of
our Savior.
Every year we attend a local church pageant at Christmas time, which
tells the story of Jesus from His birth through His resurrection. It is
a spectacular event, with live animals and hundreds of cast members in
realistic costumes. The magi enter the huge auditorium on llamas from
the rear, descending the steps in pomp and majesty. Roman soldiers look
huge and menacing in their costumes and makeup.
Of all the years we have attended, one stands out indelibly in my
heart. It was the year we took our then three-year-old granddaughter,
Bailey, who loves Jesus. She was mesmerized throughout the entire play,
not just watching, but involved as if she were a player. She watches as
Joseph and Mary travel to the Inn and is thrilled when she sees the baby
Jesus in His mother's arms.
When Jesus, on a young donkey, descends the steps from the back of the
auditorium, depicting His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Bailey was
ecstatic. As he neared our aisle, Bailey began jumping up and down,
screaming, "Jesus, Jesus! There's Jesus!" Not just saying the words but
exclaiming them with every fiber of her being. She alternated between
screaming his name and hugging us. "It's Jesus. Look!" I thought she
might actually pass out.
Tears filled my eyes as I looked at Jesus through the eyes of a child in
love with Him, seeing Him for the first time. How like the blind beggar
screaming out in reckless abandon, "Jesus, Jesus!", afraid he might miss
Him, not caring what others thought. This was so much fun.
Then came the arrest scene. On stage, the soldiers shoved and slapped
Jesus as they moved Him from the Garden of Gethsemane to Pilate. Bailey
responded as if she were in the crowd of women, with terror and anger.
"Stop it!" she screamed. "Bad soldiers, stop it!" As I watched her
reaction, I wished we had talked to her before the play. "Bailey it's
OK. They are just pretending." "They are hurting Jesus! Stop it!"
She stood in her seat reacting to each and every move. People around us
at first smiled at her reaction, thinking "How cute!". Then they quit
smiling and began watching her watch Him. In a most powerful scene, the
soldiers lead Jesus carrying the cross down the steps of the auditorium
from the back. They were yelling, whipping, and cursing at Jesus, who
was bloodied and beaten. Bailey was now hysterical. "Stop it!
Soldiers! Stop it," she screamed. She must have been wondering why all
these people did nothing. She then began to cry instead of scream.
"Jesus, Oh, Jesus!" People all around us began to weep as we all watch
this devoted little disciple see her Jesus beaten and killed as those
first century disciples had.
Going back and forth between her mother's lap and mine for comfort, she
was distraught. I kept saying, "Bailey, it's OK. Jesus is going to be
OK. These are just people pretending to be soldiers. She looked at me
like I was crazy. In my lap, we talked through the cross and burial.
"Watch, Bailey, watch for Jesus!"
The tomb began to tremble and lightening flashed as the stone rolled
away. A super bowl touchdown cheer couldn't come close to matching this
little one's reaction to the resurrection. "Jesus! He's OK. Mommy,
it's Jesus!"
I prayed that she wasn't going to be traumatized by this event, but that
she would remember it. I shall never forget it. I shall never forget
seeing Jesus' suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection through the eyes
of an innocent child.
Following the pageant the actors all assembled in the foyer to be
greeted by the audience. As we passed by some of the soldiers Bailey
screamed out, "Bad soldier, don't you hurt Jesus." The actor who
portrayed Jesus was some distance away surrounded by well-wishers and
friends. Bailey broke away from us and ran toward Him, wrapping herself
around His legs, holding on for dear life. He hugged her and said,
"Jesus loves you." He patted her to go away.
She wouldn't let go. She kept clinging to Him, laughing and calling His
name. She wasn't about to let go of her Jesus.
I think God in heaven stopped what ever was going on that day and made
all the angels watch Bailey. "Now, look there! You see what I meant
when I said, 'Of such is the kingdom of heaven?'"
~ Ginger LaGrone Tucker ~
[ by: Ginger LaGrone Tucker, Copyright © 2007 (http://www.gingertucker.com) -- {used with permission} ]
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