A Case of Mistaken Identity
It was funny at first. It started with a few people at the office. Then random people on elevators. When it happened at the drive-up window at Dairy Queen I thought, ‘This is crazy!’ Over the past few months no less that 10 people have told me that I bear a striking resemblance to Walter White. If you’ve seen “Breaking Bad” on television you know what I’m talking about. Walter White is a high school chemistry teacher who, when diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, decides to apply his chemistry expertise to cooking methamphetamine. Through a life of crime he intends to raise enough money to take care of his family since he won’t be there to provide for them. Based on his choice to ‘break bad’ his life changes direction radically and follows a different trajectory toward a very dark place.
Due to the recent trend of mistaken identity, I just had to check out the show that everyone was talking about. As advertised, “Breaking Bad” is a very compelling and disturbing drama filled with intensity, suspense and numerous twists and turns in the plot. For me, the show is a window into the soul of a man who has turned to the dark side. When I think of Walter White’s story I can’t help but think of other people who had a very different experience. People who were clearly breaking bad, but through an incredible encounter were given a chance to change direction. Sometimes the people who are most desperate for help are the ones most ready to grab a lifeline.
Caught in the Act
The religious leaders must have been very pleased to present such an open-and-shut case to the cocky, young rabbi from Galilee. You can sense their smug self-righteousness as they dragged the woman to the temple and threw her down in front of the crowd.
“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. The Law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
You can see the woman lying there face down on the ground, sobbing, shaking and terrified. She knew what was coming: the pronouncement of guilt and then stoning. These were the final moments of her life.
“Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. The religious leaders kept demanding an answer, so he stood up and said, ‘All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!’ Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.”
“Then Jesus stood up again and said to her, ‘Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?’ ‘No, Lord,’ she said. And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I. Go and sin no more.’ “ (See John 8:1-11)
Absolutely stunning. The religious law said she should die. But Jesus introduced a higher law that trumped everything else. It’s called love. The law says, ‘Kill her!’ Love says, ‘I forgive you. I’m giving you what you don’t deserve. I’m giving you life. Now stop doing what you’ve been doing. Welcome to my family.’
I can only imagine the overwhelming sense of relief, joy and gratitude that flooded this woman’s heart. Instead of death she was given a whole new life. A fresh start. She knew she was guilty, but this man expressed a kind of love that she had never experienced. She had been dragged to the temple under the weight of a death sentence. She walked out a free woman. This amazing encounter had changed her forever. She was now breaking good.
Show Me the Money
He was not a popular guy. He had lots of money, but friends were scarce. In his line of work you don’t make friends; you make enemies. He was a tax collector for an oppressive government that imposed military occupation on his country and then collected exorbitant taxes to fund their ever-expanding empire. He was corrupt and had lined his own pockets with the money he extorted from fellow Jewish citizens. Everyone hated the Romans and because Zacchaeus helped the evil empire, they hated him too.
One day Jesus decided to pass through Jericho which happened to be Zacchaeus’ home town. Like everyone else, he’d heard about Jesus and was desperate to catch a glimpse of this amazing man. The streets were so crowded he had to run ahead of the procession and climb a tree to get a good view. Zacchaeus, the notorious tax collector, was like a kid waiting for the parade to pass by. He had no idea that this day would be the turning point in his life.
“When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. ‘Zacchaeus!’ he said. ‘Quick, come down! For I must be a guest in your home today.’ Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the crowds were displeased. ‘He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,’ they grumbled.”
Jesus had made an interesting choice. He could have picked some local dignitary or a rabbi from the local synagogue. But he chose to visit the home of the guy despised by most of the people in town. What’s up with that?
“Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have overcharged people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!’ Jesus responded, ‘Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a son of Abraham. And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.’ “(See Luke 19:1-10)
Something happened at Zacchaeus’ home that day. This bad guy had a serious change of heart. Based on his encounter with Jesus, he was a different man. And to prove it he was willing to put his money where his mouth was. The commodity he had previously hoarded now became a means for him to help others. Zacchaeus was overwhelmed with gratitude and was free from the grip of money that had held him for so long. Someone had extended love and forgiveness to man who had done nothing to deserve it. And it changed him. The notorious tax collector was now breaking good.
Breaking Good
There are plenty of stories about people breaking good after an encounter with Jesus, but these are two of my favorites. Notice that it’s the religious people who get offended when the “sinners” don’t get what they deserve. Why is that? I think that religious people like the idea that they can earn things from God. They get uncomfortable when God reveals his true character by expressing love and forgiveness toward people who desperately need it, but cannot earn it because they have no “good works.” In the story of Zacchaeus, Jesus said it plainly, ‘I came to seek and save lost people like him.’
God is all about helping people who are breaking bad. My story is not quite as dramatic as Walter White’s, but I was breaking bad too. When I encountered God’s love a number of years ago, it changed me. In fact, I encountered his love today and I’ll encounter it again tomorrow. What about you? If you’re already breaking good, great! If not, brace yourself for a love encounter with the One who wrote the script for “Breaking Good.” He’s also the casting director and I’ve heard you have a starring role.
Copyright 2014 John H Briggs
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