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| Marty Norman |
To Love Another
Person Is to See The Face of God By Marty Norman
Recently I saw a student production of “Les Miserable” at a local community theatre in For Worth,
Texas. All I have to say is wow - the power of this production. And these were high school students. As surely as I
stand, I testify that their voices rivaled those of Broadway stars. It was amazing.
A long time has passed since
I last saw the production. I had forgotten the depth of the story, how pertinent and timely its message for today. Seeing
it again touched the deep places in my heart. It helped me remember what is really important in life.
The story
takes place in France in the late 1770’s, during the time of the French Revolution. The plot revolves around a number
of mini-plots with the common denominator the transforming power of love.
Love permeates everything, the love
of a mother for a child, a man for a woman, a man for his god, and a man for his country. Sound familiar? Almost every song
or conversation was about God, prayer, forgiveness, redemption, salvation or un-forgiveness.
Biblical, isn’t
it?
What struck me most was the contrast between the two main characters, Jean Val Jean and Javert. If I
didn’t know better I would have thought, in a different time and place, that these two could have been Peter and Judas
or at least representatives thereof. In addition, they both were symbolic of everyman, for there isn’t a man or
woman who, when he comes to the end of his life, does not have to make the same choice as they: God and his plan for salvation
or eternal damnation.
This contrast between light and dark, good and evil, was highlighted in song and drama. The
first character, Jean Val Jean, was a thief clearly a sinner and he knew it. In the middle of his sin he came face to face
with a priest who, acting as the hands and mouth of Jesus, poured out unconditional love in the midst of sin. This encounter
was life-changing, forcing him to take a deep look at himself. In so doing he recognized his sin and cried out to God for
forgiveness. He then turned his life around, experiencing a “metanoia” not unlike Paul’s on the road to
Damascus. He then dedicated the rest of his life to serving God and his fellow man. Sounds like a Peter to me.
The
second man was also a sinner. Javert, a policeman, spent his entire life following the law. But his eyes and ears were closed
to truth. Only when faced with the truth of himself did he make a choice. Encountering the unconditional love and self-sacrifice
of Jean Val Jean, his large ego and even larger pride would not let him receive the forgiveness offered. He commits suicide
rather than face the truth about himself - eternal damnation. Sounds like a repeat of the Judas story, doesn’t it?
So what is the lesson learned?
I believe it is more a question than a lesson. The question being,
which are you -Judas or Peter, Jean Val Jean or Javert?
As believers we are all probably Peter’s
in this hurting world. If not, we should be. As a Peter, our job is to be aware of the many Judas’ and Javerts that
are out there. Knowing their plot and their end, we should all be spurred to reach out a helping hand, one that offers the
transforming power of a loving father who reaches down from heaven through the gift of his Son, to meet each of us in the
middle of our sin and reconcile us to himself.
Just like “Les Miserables” this Jesus play has a powerful
ending. No longer students, no longer “miserable”, we, his people, his disciples are now “joyous”
as we join the cast of thousands who enter into the great drama of heaven. As we cross over the threshold of darkness into
light, let us receive the applause and congratulations. Let us take the curtain calls with humility, as we accept the sweet
fragrance as of a bouquet of roses from the Master himself.
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