

I do not in any way want to diminish the amazing and excellent act this woman did to save her students, or be insensitive to the hurt and pain some are experiencing, but I do want to use it as an illustration, to amplify Jesus as the Perfect Hero.
Victoria Soto did the best thing she knew how. She saved her 1st grade students from a man who was obviously dangerous, and ready to kill. He was evil- in the eyes of man and in the eyes of God. What if, after Victoria hid the kids in the closet and after the gunman entered the room, a 6-year old boy opened the closet door and said, "Um, teacher, I can save myself." ? What would have happened? We all can say he would have been ruthlessly gunned down, and perhaps would have revealed that there were more children hiding in the closet. It is obvious to adults that a 6-year old boy could not save himself from an armed, mentally unstable, ready-to-murder, 20 year old.
Jesus did the perfect thing. He went to the cross to save His children from eternal death that is inevitable to all who do not accept His death, forgiveness and love. Jesus was perfect in the eyes of God. Many people- too many people, are like the 6-year old boy in my fictitious illustration. Jesus is the only protection from our death, yet we say to Him, "Um, Jesus, I can save myself." It crushes my spirit to think of all the human beings in this world that are acting like the little boy! Friends, strangers, we are helpless in this fallen world! We can't save ourselves! Our eternal death is inevitable without Jesus. He is the only one who can save us, and you can't save yourself! It's doesn't work that way!
In this illustration, Jesus and Victoria are alike- selflessly and heroically dying so that others might live. Victoria's act of heroism allowed her students to live- but only on this earth. Eventually this life as we know it will end. Jesus is unlike Victoria in that He saves so that others may have eternal life. He wants to save you- He already selflessly and heroically sacrificed His life so that you might have life. He just wants you to trust that He is who He is and He will save you from death, if you choose to believe. The little boy in my illustration didn't believe. In our adult minds, we understand that there would be no possibility for a 6-year old to save himself from an armed and evil man. But what went on in his mind? Maybe he had just watched his favorite cartoon, or read his favorite book that had a hero save the day. Maybe he thought he could be that hero. Maybe he wrestles with his dad and thought he could take a guy down who was younger than his father. A 6-year old mind is innocent, but it is also naive. God is almighty. He knows there is no possibility for us to save ourselves. But what goes on in our minds? Many of us are naive. Unfortunately the naiveness of the 1st graders mind, in my illustration, would have killed him. Don't let it bring you to your eternal death.
Jesus, Almighty God, Savior of the world- I pray for the families of the victims of Newtown, Connecticut. I pray for strength, restoration but most importantly, I ask that you bring these families to yourself that you might divinely heal their broken hearts. I pray that all who read this article would be moved by your Spirit and I beg of you that if any think they don't need you, if any think they can save themselves, I pray Jesus that their eyes would be opened. I pray that you would call out their name, that they might receive you as their Ultimate Hero. Thank you Jesus that in You all things hold together. Amen.