Paper Characters

I love stories!!! =) Books, movies, TV series, even (some) video games! I enjoy getting to know the characters, and their lives. This week I've had a bit of free time and have been able to sit down with a few books. It's been GRAND! As I was telling Shorty about one of the stories, I said it was really fun because the characters have depth, and dimension-- they seem REAL. You wouldn't be surprised to bump into them as you walked down the street. As compared to the "paper characters" that I see in a lot of the shows that my Crew like to watch. You know the ones. They say their cheesy lines in something close to monotone, and you can't imagine ever MEETING someone like that.

Then I started thinking about Christ. If you've only ever heard the Sunday school stories, he may seem like a "paper character". I mean really, who feeds thousands with a sack lunch?? Or walks on water??? But if you read the gospels in their entirety (and the rest of the New Testament, for that matter), you see Jesus for who He really is: a REAL person. The Greatest character in the greatest story ever!

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Luke 2:52
 
Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
John 4:6
 
And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
Mark 3:4-5
 
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36
 
Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept.
John 11:32-35

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16