Dark Alleys and Dark Coffee

I have to smile when I see some of the paintings of Jesus. Frankly, many of these pictures make him look like he is miserable. They make him look like he's spent too much time in the fields hanging out with those sheep. Now be honest, and take another glance at this pic...Does he really appear to be someone you would want on your side if you were stuck in a dark alley with your life on the line? I'm confident you would also pass on the invitation to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee with this guy. Thankfully, this is not the picture the Scriptures paint of Jesus.

I actually think you would really enjoy having a cup of coffee with Jesus. I imagine he would take his coffee dark and bold (maybe even Folgers!). I could picture him giving you a funny look as he surveys your fluffy Starbucks drink. I also think that if you were really stuck in a dark alley scenario, you would be just fine with him in your corner. I'll start with the coffee explanation...

John 21 is one of my favorite chapters in Scripture. It paints such a wonderful picture of who Jesus is and how much he loves being with people. Just after Jesus was resurrected, he suprises (again) his friends by showing up on the shore as they are hard at work fishing.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[c] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

The first time Jesus performed a miraculous catch of fish, the disciples left everything and followed him. The second time he awed them with a miraculous catch of fish, they sat around a campfire, laughed together, ate together, and shared stories together. If you take a quick glance at the previous twenty chapters in John, you will see that they weren't lacking stories to share. I would have loved to be sitting on one of those logs listening to that conversation.

Secondly, I think Jesus could hold his own in a dark alley. One of my other favorite passages of Scripture comes from Revelation 19:

11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

I get chills nearly every time I read those verses. It's such a mystery that the God who created the universe and leads Heaven's armies would delight in sitting around a campfire with his friends. You know, he hasn't changed. He's just as powerful today. He's just as personal today. And he's still inviting us to know him better. You gotta love it.