Cristo Redentor

Our Jesus extends His arms to men and women, to sinners, to the passersby. There were many passersby this afternoon at the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Río de Janeiro—that towering figure which extends its arms above a teaming city below. In these historic weeks, hundreds of thousands of people have come from all corners of the globe to this coastal place of crowded buildings, jungle foliage and mountain grandeur, and every one finds at least a second to look up and gaze at this wonder of the world.

This afternoon, the distribution team made the trek up the mountain by taxi, on foot, and by bus. Wind whipped and gusted, chilling the crowds which pressed and thronged  around the monument. Our team took a few minutes to drink in the view, walk around the stone enclosure, and snap pictures before we began to hand out books. The landscape stretched out all around, stone rose high into the sky above, and one could only guess at the thoughts which filled each mind at these sights.

The irony of the moment was strong, for here we were, smiling at strangers, begging a few seconds of time, and giving away free books: calling out in the shadow of Christ the Redeemer on behalf of the Christ who came to redeem. We jostled among the flesh and blood which has inherited the curse of Adam’s fall, yet refused the promise of life in the new Adam.

Throngs drawn far from home to watch competitions between the best athletes on this are brought to gaze at Brazil’s most iconic figure, all the while remaining heedless to the Living One who has created and equipped the human body for such feats. “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden,” He said. This Man is not dead, but alive, and the hands which draw in the elect are not hands of stone as those of Cristo Redentor, but hands of flesh which dripped with blood for the sake of those who would believe.

As we give out books, download cards, and brochures, we are keenly aware that the stakes are high, that sooner or later every man will bend the knee in acknowledgement of our Lord and Savior. One day, as Isaiah says, the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together.

Pray with us that the harvest of this sowing would be plentiful, and that many would be gathered into the kingdom as a result of this outreach. May the Word come with power to capture the hearts of many that they might stay and gaze in wonder at the figure of Christ, the Redeemer of mankind.