Scripture:

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” - Isaiah 53:5

 Devotional:

“Redeem” is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary in the following ways:

• to buy back, or to get or win back
• to free from what distresses or harms
• to change for the better
• to repair or restore
• to free from a lien by payment of an amount secured thereby
• to make good
• to atone for
• to offset the bad effect of, or to make worthwhile 

With that in mind, read on to hear the story of a man named Marco Delarosa. He is a US Marine veteran and Paralympic athlete, and his life is steeped in redemption. 

Mr. Delarosa’s story began in the Marine Corps in the early 1990s. After returning home from a deployment to Somalia, he headed off base one afternoon to a local video store. He walked into an armed robbery, in which he reacted instinctively and intervened. 

His selfless act of goodwill resulted in a bullet penetrating his spine, paralyzing him from the waist down. Not surprisingly, the Marine veteran’s life spiraled down into darkness as he experienced PTSD, depression and divorce. While actively searching for a means to heal spiritually, Mr. Delarosa discovered the world of Olympic-style competition shooting. 

The VA hosts the National Veteran Wheelchair Games annually, and there, he competed for the first time. He eventually joined USA Shooting as a Paralympic shooter and having competed in the 2016 games, he is making plans for the Japan 2020 games as well. 

Mr. Delarosa credits competitive shooting for helping his spiritual healing and finding tranquility and acceptance in his new life, and he encourages other veterans in similar positions to pursue the shooting sports as well.

(sources: "Marco Delarosa Talks Paralympic Shooting & the Olympic Dream" and "Story of Marco De La Rosa, a Paralympian") 

You may be wondering why I included a story about guns and shooting in a devotional about Jesus, the Prince of Peace. The answer is simple: the story is not really about guns or shooting. The story is about a broken person seeking and finding redemption, and finding it in what seems to be a very unlikely place. Mr. Delarosa experienced healing by using the same weapon that birthed his pain and suffering. Though the story above belongs to Marco Delarosa, if we’re being honest with ourselves, it’s not just his. It’s also my story; it’s your story; it’s the story of the entire human race. And, since we’re being honest, I’ll admit I chose this anecdote for two additional reasons. The second is that conversations about guns generally make people uncomfortable. But, so do conversations about Jesus, and in this context, I’m simply inviting you to explore the discomfort rather than opine. 

As a yoga instructor, I frequently coach my students to “lean in to find your edge.” The goal is that each time you reach the edge of discomfort in a stretch, you release tension and pain, and lengthen and “grow” the muscle.  You can’t achieve more flexibility and release without intention and, sometimes, a little pain. This is true in life as well. Often our times of greatest hardship incite the most growth. Of course this growth can happen in the most literal sense, like a woman enduring the excruciating pangs of labor to meet her new child and grow her family. But it also transpires in the emotional, relational and spiritual realms.  

A hurtful argument with a loved one can result in a fresh understanding of their perspective and a deeper connection. An unfair health diagnosis or the unexpected loss of a young person can leave us feeling hopeless, doubtful and desperate, such that we find no other option than to collapse and pray.  Though perhaps unaware, these moments strengthen and grow us, as the Lord’s “power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:8-10).  

Additionally, as we have witnessed throughout history, humans unfortunately have a penchant for mis-using or corrupting what God has given us. Food can be nourishment for the health of our bodies, or it can become an object of gluttony, leading to damage of the Holy Spirit’s temple (1 Cor 6:19). Money can be used to purchase drinking water for communities and people that have none, or it can become a vehicle for greed, poisoning our perception of life’s priorities (Luke 12:15). Even God’s Word has been mis-construed and harnessed as a tool for manipulation and for inflicting violence and hatred. We hear of horrors orchestrated by man,  genocide, murder, child abuse and human trafficking to name a few, and these atrocities are beyond comprehension. As such, they can only be overcome by the incomprehensible - specifically, by one selfless act of unconditional and sacrificial love - that is through the redemptive death and Resurrection of the person of Jesus Christ. 

Which leads to the third and most important reason I re-told Mr. Delarosa’s story. The fact is that God can redeem all things - yes, even guns (Romans 8:28). As without darkness, there is no light. Without a wrong, there is no forgiveness. And, without death, there is no Resurrection. God can make all things good because He already has, and He will meet us wherever we are and with whatever means available to us in order to make us new and whole (Col 2:10). For Mr. Delarosa, Jesus delivered to him the sport of competitive shooting. For me, Jesus met me on my yoga mat. For the Israelites, the immortal, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent Creator of the universe humbled Himself to take human form in order to save His people here on Earth. And, He didn’t appear as an exalted king or a revered superstar (though the musical would have us think otherwise). He came into the world just like the rest of us, as a common and helpless baby. Let me reiterate that He was not revered.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” - Isaiah 53:2-3 

Where did, or where will Jesus meet you to reveal redemption? The answer to this question is likely different for each of us.  

There is a saying that “hurt people hurt other people.”  For a moment, envision a world in which “hurt people heal, and help other people.” That, sisters and brothers, is the power of Christ’s Redemption. It is present in all those moments where we are gifted God’s strength to lean in, grow, heal and triumph over our suffering, not in spite of it, but by using it to help others and inspiring them to do the same. 

So, I implore you now not to allow any more feelings of bitterness, resentment, fear, anger, rejection, regret, shame, pain or guilt, to steal another moment of your life, to kill another abundant relationship or opportunity, or to destroy another ounce of your joy, as “He came that we might have life, and have it to the fullest” (John 10:10). And, when you’re feeling hopeless, mistreated, or undeserving of God’s grace and forgiveness, recall Jesus’ last words on the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30). 

If you are ready to accept this truth, consider reciting this mantra/prayer aloud while looking at yourself in the mirror:

It is finished. It is finished. It is finished. It is finished. It is finished. It is finished.IS. FINISHED.

Thank you, Jesus. Allelujia and Amen. 

Written by Rachel Kearse. Rachel is the nursery childcare provider on Sundays, the leader of the Moms with Littles group and she also teaches YogaFaith here at Arcola. She is married to Matthew and they have two daughters, Stella and Olivia.