A wave of cheering flows through the crowd as a man in leather walks on the stage. He grabs a guitar from a stagehand. When he places the strap around his neck, the spotlight shine over the guitar. The crowd awes at the work of art. The man moves his long black wavy hair out of way to seizes the microphone. The crowd stops their chatter as he acts like he is going to speak only to laugh off their compliance before tilting the microphone toward the guitar to maximum its screams. The overhead lights mask the stage as they begin to play. The blinded crowd falls in a trance as the guitar, bass, and drums cast their spell.
Once the instrumental introduction has worked its magic, the man in leather begin to sing. His words are as dark as his eyeliner. He speaks of pain from womb to tomb; yet no one hears his words. They are hypnotized by the sound waves captivating rhythm.
While the man in leather plays his last song, the show's main star joins the chorus. The crowd roars as the man in leather passes the guitar to the main star and jumps in the mosh pit. Many of the audience members rush to get their hands on him as he floats from one pair of hands to another. The band's amps up the volume.
At the height of adrenaline's rush, the main star signals for the security guards to retrieve the disoriented man in leather from the crowd. After he is helped backstage, the main star waves his hand, vanishing the sonic spell. The instrument comes to a screech halt. The crowd awakes from their enchanted sleep and stares down the man at the mic. Waiting to be woe by his words.
When he has their attention, he speaks into the mic and welcomes everyone. He speaks about grabbing life by the horns and getting what is yours. His voice grows more intense as he instructs the crowd to address their pain with their middle fingers. The crowd rumbles as he roars. He seizes the opportunity to begin an old soul's song. His electric guitar sparks their ears like knives. The crowd echoes the singer violence lyrics back to him.
Exhausted from screaming, the crowd loses the rush. So, vendors begin to walk the stairs with pitchers full of strong liquid elixirs and bags of magical powder and pills. The main star shuts his mouth and strikes the strings on his guitar, the drummer booms, and bass raises the waves. The main stair continues to take the crowd on a rollercoaster of emotions. They feel the anger in his fingertips. They fall into the seduction of his puck. The star's manager peeks out from behind the curtain and smiles as he watches the dazed audience. The band wraps up the show and they exit the stage. Their manager says, 'way to rock them!' but the band members doesn't hear him, they go straight to their assigned vendor to refuel. Their manager cracks his knuckles and laughs. Whispers, 'Still my puppets.'
Outside the concert building a middle-aged man with long hair and equally long beard takes a seat on a bench. He removes his plain; yet trusted acoustic guitar from its case and begin to play a soft tune soaked in gentle words as the concert's crowd shuffle out of the building like a herd of animals. Many passed by him without knowing he is even there, others toss their loose change inside his guitar case, some laugh or mock his singing, others throw their trash at him and a few spit on him. Yet, he plays and sings until the last people exits the building.
After, he collects the change and puts his guitar away. He gives the changes away on his way back to his tent next to the other homeless people. He lives amongst playing his songs because he wants to get to know them. He overheard their cries for help and climbed down from his throne to save them. He experienced all the curses brought by the tree of knowledge and he paid the price for its wood.
He loved everyone and long to show each one how much by playing and singing his songs of hope, faith, and love. He promises them a forever home if they follow him. A place where they will never go hungry or suffer again. He hopes they will hear his love and receive his gift.
There are a few who do follow him. He knows each one by their assigned name, but he also calls them his friends. They often speak of him. Many will say that he will meet you between a rock and a hard place; and he will roll the rock out of your way. They will also tell you that he offers His Spirit to help you get through those hard places.
He has walked a mile in many shoes. For he knows the pain from the womb to the tomb. He knows what it is like to be rejected by others who claim to be like you. He knows what it is like to be aware to face death. He knows what it is like to betrayed by a friend and forgotten by another. He knows what it is like to be wrongfully accused of a crime that he did not commit. He knows what it is like to watch a crowd of broken people set a dangerous murder free and pick instead. He knows what it is like to be abused physically with a whip. He knows what it is like to carry the weight of the world on your back and not be able to do it alone. He knows what it is like to suffer alongside others. He knows what it is like to console someone while he is in deep suffering. He knows what it is like to feel abandon in the middle of his pain. He is very aware of the violence that drove him to that tomb.
Nevertheless, he rolled the rock that tried to keep him bound to death. It was The Spirit within him that gave him the strength to rise from death's sleeping spell and break free of death's prison.
So, he would face the rollercoaster again. If could save one sleeping in the crowd, he would go through it all again. I know he would endure it all for you again. He would suffer the pounding pain of the pins again. He would face death again. For if he saves even a few, his suffering will never be in vain.
Because…
He knows what it is like on the other side of that tomb. He knows that it is like to reunite with His creator. He knows what it is like to break- free of suffering, betrayal, violence, loneliness, and rejection.
That is why, he waits outside the places where stage lights blind, where guitars allure, where drums cask spells, where idols are with reach, vendors merchandise maintains adrenaline's rush, and puppets are used to create others. He wants to help them out of their chains. He wants to cover their regrets with mercy. Most of all, he wants to save them from the prison of the tomb by rolling the rock away.
His name is Jesus.
Jesus will meet you between a rock and a hard place. He gives you His Spirit to help you navigate through those hard places. One day, He will be waiting for you when you are put in that tomb. He will be happy to roll that rock out of your way, call your name, and lead you out of that tomb into a beautiful forever.
So, call upon him. He is waiting for you to hear him song. Confess your sins, ask for forgiveness and accept his salvation. Then, you will have His Spirit to help you fight your battles until he calls you to his home.
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