One of the entertaining movies, that I like to watch is The Last Samurai. It is the story of an American military advisor, Captain Nathan Algren (played by Tom Cruise), who embraces the Samurai culture that he was hired to destroy after he is captured in battle and spared by the Samurai leader Katsumoto (played by Ken Watanabe).In the final scenes of the movie, Captain Algren is on his knees (out of respect), in the presence of the Emperor, Emperor Meiji (played by Shichinosuke Nakamura). The Emperor asks Algren about the Samurai leader Katsumoto and the dialogue transpires as follows:
Emperor: The Samurai is gone. The spirit of samurai lives forever. Tell me how he died.
Algren: I will tell you how he lived.
Like the emperor, many today want to think that Jesus, the Last and Only Samurai (whose fought and won against death and the devil) is gone and they are more interested in knowing about his death than his life or resurrection. Are we responding as did Captain Algren and telling all who question, “I will tell you how Jesus lives.” We can respond in such manner only if Jesus lives in us. The Bible says, that if we love Jesus and keep his words, then God the Father will love him and God as Father and Son, would come and live in us (John 14:33). This means we can tell about the life of Jesus in us, only when we love him and keep his words.
Points to ponder:
Do you and I love Jesus and keep his words (commandments)?
Can we resolve to be like Apostle Paul, who said, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ Jesus who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). This way, our lives will be able to tell How Jesus lives (in and through us) and others will stop asking, “Tell me how Jesus died.”
Galatian 2:20 (KJV)
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
John 14:33 (KJV)
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
