Enjoy this true story from Reader’s Digest (May 26, 2023) about what a loving dad did for his son.
My dad shaved his head for me.
A little over a year ago Will Checketts, then seven years old, was playing with his younger brother when he hit his head. His dad, Nate Checketts, took him to the hospital to get checked out, just to be safe. But a CT scan found that what had appeared to be just a goose-egg was in fact a serious head injury; Will had suffered a skull fracture and his brain was bleeding. The doctors said the boy had mere hours to live unless he got emergency brain surgery.
Will understood that the surgery was necessary but he was understandably terrified, and he was especially concerned about having to get his head shaved. Nate assured his son that it would be OK and, to prove it, he shaved his head too.
“Seeing my dad’s bald head made me laugh and also feel a lot better about my head,” says Will, who is now eight years old and fully recovered. “My dad’s teaching me how to skateboard now and it’s so fun. He is my hero!”
Will’s father was willing to humble himself to bless and comfort his son. Jesus humbled Himself even more for us.
The Apostle Paul declared (Philippians 2:5-11), “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Jesus left the splendor of heaven and humbled Himself to enter our existence – lowly humanity. He humbled Himself even more – to become a servant, to live in humility instead of royalty, a common earthly existence instead of a grand heavenly one. And He humbled Himself even more – unto death upon a cross. We deserved the death He experienced. We deserved the judgment He received. We deserved the suffering he endured – the excruciating agony of the cross. But He took our place! He was willing to become our great substitute. O praise His name forevermore!
The great Bible commentator, A. T. Robertson, in his Word Pictures in the New Testament, wrote this about Jesus’ humbling Himself all the way to death (v8): “The bottom rung in the ladder from the Throne of God. Jesus came all the way down to the most despised death of all, a condemned criminal on the accursed cross.” Jesus humbled Himself for you and for me. He endured our shame so that we might be clothed with His glory. He was rejected that we might be accepted. He was cut off that we might be grafted in. Our sins were laid on Him and His righteousness was laid on us. Hallelujah!
This Sunday, June 16, we will celebrate Father’s Day and Pastor Ron Peer will be our special speaker. All men in attendance will receive a gift and prayer, so don’t miss it. Please invite someone to join you at 10:35am in the building or online for the Live broadcast on either Facebook (HonoluluAG) or our YouTube channel (Honolulu Assembly of God). We livestream every Sunday to both locations and would love to have you join us.
Coming Up: The “Celebration of Life” service for Garret Hashimoto is Saturday, June 22, at 10am at Nu’uanu Mortuary (2233 Nu’uanu Avenue).
Our “Celebration of Freedom” will be Sunday, June 30. A BBQ potluck lunch will take place right after the service and everyone is invited. (Teri-burgers and hot dogs will be provided. Please bring your favorite picnic foods to add to the table.)
Some have expressed interest in being baptized in water. If you would like to join them in this essential step of obedience to Jesus, please let me know.
Aloha ke Akua!
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