Bear Crawls

So when I was a freshman in high school I played on the football team. And before the games started instead of two a days like most teams had we had 4 or 5 hour practices. So it wasn’t the easiest thing in the world to stay focused the entire time. One practice our coach was walking us through a drill or a new play—something that involves us quietly paying attention while he explained everything. I turned to my bud Jon who was on my left and said something, probably a dumb joke or comment to which he didn’t respond. Immediately our coach turned to us and yells, “Maurer that’s 150 yards of bear crawls!” (Bear crawls are when you get on your hands and toes and crawl like a bear, which is super tiring to do in full football gear.) Knowing that I was actually to blame for talking I was shocked and almost relieved that it wasn’t me who got in trouble. I quickly passed that and felt really guilty for what I had done. But despite feeling bad and knowing I was sending my best friend to do something he didn’t deserve I didn’t speak up. I talked myself out of it, figuring I can make it up to him sometime cause I mean he is in better shape than me and can handle it better than I could… He did those bear crawls and never once did he bring it up to me. I don’t know if he was mad about it and told other people but that doesn’t matter, what matters is he never said anything about it to me and never asked me to make up for it. For a long time I would think about how I reacted and wished that I had talked to the coach and taken responsibility… and that may still be but I saw my friend Jon make a sacrifice for me, something only a true friend would do and I am forever grateful for that seemingly small sacrifice. This reminded me a lot of what Jesus did for us.

1 Peter 2:20-24
20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

What Jesus did was no doubt a lot more important and had a larger impact on humanity than what Jon did. But what Jon did for me gives a clearer picture of what Jesus did for us. When Jesus was being insulted he didn’t retaliate even though he could have gotten back at those people whenever he wanted. In the same way Jon could have said “I wasn’t talking, it was Goff!” He could have even complained to me or gotten mad at me when I didn’t say anything. And for Jesus He was perfect, “He committed no sin”(1 Peter 2:22). There was absolutely nothing He did to deserve to be crucified on the cross. Jon wasn’t perfect but in that particular event he was innocent because he didn’t say anything, he wasn’t to blame for talking while the coach was. Someone had to do those bear crawls because someone messed up and justice needed to be served. The difference however, between what Jesus accomplished and what Jon did is infinite. For one Jesus had to do much more than annoying bear crawls and with Jon the bear crawls he did didn't bring him any closer to bridging the gap between God and humanity. Jesus was crucified (which was one of the worst ways to die) to take the punishment for all of our sin. Jesus took all the punishment from our sins upon himself even though we are actually to blame for it.
One thing does stay consistent between both stories and that is Jesus and Jon both did what they did out of love, not out of obligation. Jesus didn't save the people who were putting him on the cross and spitting at him out of duty or because He thought it was the right thing to do, He saved them out of love. In the same way Jon wasn't obligated to do the bear crawls, it wasn't his duty to take on my punishment, but he did anyway because he was a great friend. If there is one thing this situation with Jon gave me a clearer picture of it’s this—Jesus suffered and died for us not because He had to, He chose to—because He loves us.