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“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa Retired California Highway Patrol officer Kevin Briggs has been called the “Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge.” Briggs spent most of his time with the CHP assigned to the Golden Gate Bridge. When he started in 1994, he had been trained to deal with traffic accidents but not with people who were suicidal. In time, he learned that “There were four to six cases of suicidal folks on the bridge each and every month.” He developed his approach over time. “. . . I stand back and I’ll just introduce myself. I’ll say ‘Hi, I’m Kevin’ or ‘I’m Kevin with the Highway Patrol, is it okay, is it alright if I come up and speak with you for a bit?’” Briggs has done the same with more than 200 people over the years, sometimes spending 90 minutes or more just talking. He says, Jesus often listened and had conversations. Some of them saved or changed lives. Usually, someone else started them, but sometimes he took the initiative. Some exchanges were compassionate while others were confrontational. Each situation was different. One well-known instance occurred in Samaria (John 4:5-42). Jesus was resting by Jacob’s well while the disciples had gone to buy food (vs. 6, 8). A Samaritan woman approached and Jesus said to her, “‘Please give me a drink.’” (vs. 7b New Living Translation). The woman replied, “‘You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?’” (vs. 9b NLT). Jesus went on to offer her “‘living water’” (vs. 10b). He told her that she had had five husbands, and was not married to the man with whom she was currently living (vs. 17b). She guessed that he was a prophet (vs. 19). Afterward, he said to her, “‘I AM the Messiah!’” (vs. 26b NLT). She returned to her village and told everyone, “‘Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?’” (vs. 29 NLT). On another occasion, many of Jesus’ disciples abandoned him (John 6:66). He asked the ones who were left, “‘Are you also going to leave?’” (vs. 67b NLT). Peter answered, “‘Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.’” (vs. 68b-69 NLT). Jesus challenged the remaining disciples to either commit or leave. Peter’s bold answer should confront us today. After the resurrection, two disciples were walking to a village called Emmaus, talking about all that had happened in the past few days (Luke 24:13-14). Jesus himself began walking with them but they didn’t recognize him (vs. 15-16). He asked them, “‘What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?’” (vs. 17a NLT). One of them, Cleophas, replied sadly, “‘You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.’” (vs. 18b NLT). Jesus asked, “‘What things?’” (vs. 19a NLT). Cleophas described the crucifixion and the disciples’ hopes and subsequent disappointment (vs. 19b-24). Jesus replied, “‘You foolish people!’” (vs. 25a NLT). He went on to interpret the Hebrew Scriptures to show them that the things that had happened had been foreseen long ago (vs. 25b-27). They arrived in Emmaus and invited Jesus to join them for a meal (vs. 28-29). Then they recognized him as he broke the bread (vs. 31). Afterward, they returned to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples what had happened (vs. 34). Several days later, Jesus asked Peter, “‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’” (John 21:16a NLT) and Peter answered, “‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’” (vs. 16b NLT). Jesus asked three times (vs. 15a, 16a, 17a). Each time, Peter answered in the affirmative (vs. 15b, 16b, 17b NLT) and each time Jesus responded, “‘Then feed my sheep.’” (vs. 17c NLT). He concluded by saying, “‘Follow me.’” (vs. 19b NLT). As he did to the first disciples, Jesus challenges us to be faithful, to follow, and to share the Good News with everyone we meet (1 Pet. 3:15). Someone needs a listening ear, someone needs our time. Each day, we come in contact with people whose spiritual and emotional lives are at risk. Let’s be prepared to respond in love. “Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, ‘He told me everything I ever did!’ . . . Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.’” (John 4:39, 42 NLT.) |
