After hearing about Jesus rising from the dead all week long during Vacation Bible School, the kids would finally get to see Him for themselves. During the last 15 minutes of VBS, Jesus would arrive to bless them to demonstrate He truly was alive.
And guess who played the role of Jesus?
Based on the script information, I was supposed to “(b)e prepared for a variety of emotions. Some people might weep with joy, some might fall at Jesus’ feet, and some will likely gasp audibly.” Instead, when I walked onto the VBS stage dressed as Jesus, I heard a boy (it’s always a boy, right?) ask loudly, “Hmmm … Who is it, really?”
The script for Jesus’ character included a blessing, telling everyone how much they were loved, and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Honestly, when I first read the script, I thought it actually sounded kind of boring, so I began thinking of ways to liven it up a little. Maybe a quick joke here, change or add a word or two there.
But as the day approached, I began to realize those tweaks and changes were all about me and what I would say – making Jesus fit my character, not the other way around. If I didn’t act like Jesus and demonstrate His character, if I didn’t represent Him correctly, everyone would be asking the same question as that boy – who is it, really? And the answer would be “That’s just Sean, acting like his typical goofball self.”
Was I Jesus? No; far from it. Did you not see the picture above? But no matter what I’m doing or whether I’m dressed like Him or not, I am supposed to represent Him.
We all are.
Even if we don’t put on a Jesus costume and inhale strands of fake beard hair, each of us might be the only glimpse of Jesus someone will get.
Which is what finally struck me as my 15 minutes at VBS approached. If I was going to truly represent Jesus, I would have to take myself out of it to stay in character, stick to the script I was given, and deliver it with “a sense of joy and friendliness,” as the script stated.
The more I thought about representing Jesus and being in character at VBS, the more I kept coming back to the character traits believers are supposed demonstrate to anybody and everybody: “love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, (and) self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23, Amplified).
Are you in character to represent who you believe in?
Sean – Kudos! as monsignor Bud for so many years, I SO appreciate your effort to step outside of the box and become a “3-D” Jesus for the kids. There are intangibles that go along with a character like this – so don’t underestimate your impact. it’s just i think that Jesus could not have been 6′ 5″ ………..
Blessings, Frank