April 5, 2023

Rescue Me

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done. Moral of the story: If I don’t do it nobody else will!

Keith Smedema was standing on a bridge over the White River in downtown Indianapolis on a balmy February 7th, 2013 afternoon. Thirty feet below him was a helpless woman thrashing in the icy waters below yelling for help. Looking around he saw Somebody, Anybody, Everybody. and as always Nobody helped the drowning woman.

Most people have been in a situation where they realize Somebody needs to do something! Oftentimes Nobody does it and the situation spirals out of control. Occasionally, Somebody is thrust into a situation where action or lack thereof means life or death. David, as a young man, found himself in this very situation. The Philistine giant Goliath had challenged the Army of Israel to send a man out for a one-on-one fight to the death combat (1Sa 17). Whoever wins would be the victor; all the men of Israel when they saw the man, fled from him, and were much afraid (this includes Somebody, Anybody and Everybody, so Nobody went out to meet the giant, 1Sa 17:24). When David stood before king Saul he said, “Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God” (1Sa. 17:36). David understood what was at stake. There was a crisis of leadership; the continued existence of the nation was at stake. God used a youth to save a nation from defeat and oblivion. It was David… “a man after God’s heart,” instead of Nobody who saved the day (1Sa. 17:50 & Acts 13:22)!

Smedema, disregarding his safety, climbed over the railing and jumped thirty feet into the freezing waters of the White River below. Incredibly, he surfaced from the icy water just a short distance from the drowning woman and pulled her to a sandbar and waited for other rescuers to arrive. When asked why he risked his life to save a stranger, he replied: “I looked around and people were calling 911 but NOBODY looked like they were going in. I realized it was me or NOBODY. So I thought, ‘I guess it’s me then.’”

Humanity was in the same predicament. God was looking for Everybody, Somebody, or Anybody who would step up and pay the penalty for sin. Nobody stood up and paid the price God demanded for redemption. So God stood paid the price himself… “but when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross; having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Ga. 4:4, Rom 8:3, Col 1:20, 2:14-15).

Jesus told his disciples he would give his life for the flock! While praying in the Garden, Jesus pondered the action he was about to take. Would he do it? Or would it be Nobody? He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Mt 26:39). Could it be that he looked around and saw that Everybody, Somebody, and Anybody was nowhere to be found? Was it: “I realized it was me or Nobody. So I thought, ‘I guess it’s me then?’” Jesus brought to life the words spoken to his disciples, Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). No writer ever captured the love of Christ like the apostle John did in his writings; “in this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins” (1Jo 4:10). If Jesus didn’t die for you, then who did—Nobody?
Happy Easter!