What is a Hero?

A Feb. 24 AP report said:
"LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) — The gunman was walking through a middle school parking lot and taking shots at students with a hunting rifle as terrified teenagers ran for their lives. He had just wounded two students and seemed ready to unleash more violence when a math teacher named David Benke sprung into action.

"Benke confronted the 32-year-old gunman, tackled him and pinned him to the ground with the help of another teacher, stopping what could have been a much more violent encounter in a city all too familiar with tragic school shootings. The shooting occurred less than three miles from where the Columbine High School massacre happened nearly 11 years ago.

"Unfortunately he got another round off before I could grab him," Benke said. "He figured out that he wasn't going to be able to get another round chambered before I got to him so he dropped the gun and then we were kind of struggling around trying to get him subdued."

"The two students survived Tuesday's shooting and one remained hospitalized.

"Meanwhile, Benke became a national hero. A Facebook page called "Dr. David Benke Is A Hero!!!!" quickly grew to more than 14,000 members [within 24 hours], and his actions were discussed on the floor of the state Senate.

"Sometimes that's just what we need. We need someone to be a hero for us," said state Sen. Mike Kopp of Littleton, who lives in Benke's neighborhood." -end of report

Benke showed great courage in confronting & tackling the gunman. That selfless courage reminds me of another One who faced & tackled evil on behalf of others.

In Luke 8, Jesus predicted his suffering & death. He then began leading the disciples to Jerusalem, knowing that He'd suffer greatly & die the horrible death of a criminal. The road to the Cross is a hard road that takes one through hard times, discouragement or depression, & unforeseen roadblocks. This road has a way of seperating curiousity-seekers from dead-serious-disciples. Only the latter make it all the way to Jerusalem with the Master.

I'd like to be able to say that I've followed the Master faithfully through thick & thin, good times & bad. But the genuine truth is that I found ways to avoid the hard stuff. When the going got rough, I left the Master's following & checked out a good restaurant or coffee shop or visited friends. I felt like I had to get away for some rest, relaxation & stress-relief. I didn't realize that meant my missing the intimate conversations with a Hero-turned-terminal-patient.

Oh, I made some sacrifices. But when I meet people like Debbie Chase who followed the Hero to a poor place like Malawi, Africa, or Malawian Eleicer who visited our church last Oct., my sacrifices seem pathetic & small. Eleicer & his wife pay the tuition of 1-2 students every year. I'm sure I make much more than him & live a much richer lifestyle. If I was in his shoes looking at an American Christian like myself, how could I not see such a person as selfish? When I was riding with Debbie Chase to church last month, I was about to complain about Hugo's streets, when I remembered the Malawians were amazed by the streets & roads we have in SE OK.

I recall the words of a man who spoke at our seminary in the 1980s, when he described the sacrifices that believers make in other parts of the world: "We have nothing to teach them about discipleship."

Math teacher David Benke, a husband & father, risked his life to save his students' lives. Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself & take up his cross & follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me & for the gospel will save it." Jesus was & is the Hero who denied Himself, took up his cross, & accepted his Father's will for his life, no matter how much it cost Him in suffering.

Are you & I willing to do the same?

The world needs more heros like David Benke. I hope & pray you & I can take up our crosses, deny ourselves, & follow the Master.

In the Master's service,
Pastor Randy