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Peter Pan & Christian Maturity | Part III | Sacrificial Love

Lean in close and I'll tell you a Secret. 

My Favorite Character in J.M. Barrie's Beloved Peter Pan is that Spirited little Fairy, TinkerBell. Is she a Good Guy or a Bad Guy? She's quite Dramatic; her Record isn't great, as we've seen. Her Resentment and Impulsivity get the best of her sometimes - it's a Poisonous combination. 

However, her Love & Impulsivity save our Classic Hero, Peter, when she Sacrifices herself.    

Don't take my word for it. Read it for yourself: 

I don't know whether the idea came suddenly to Tink, or whether she had planned it on the way, but she at once popped out of the hat and began to lure Wendy to her destruction.

Tink was not all Bad; or, rather, she was all Bad just now, but, on the other hand, sometimes she was all Good. Fairies have to be one thing or the other, because being so Small they unfortunately have room for one feeling only at a time. They are, however, allowed to Change, only it must be a Complete Change. 

***

He raised the cup. No time for words now; time for deeds; and with one of her lightning movements Tink got between his lips and the draught, and drained it to the dregs.

"Why, Tink, how dare you drink my medicine?"

But she did not answer. Already she was reeling in the air.

"What is the matter with you?" cried Peter, suddenly afraid.

"It was Poisoned, Peter," she told him softly; "and now I am going to be Dead."

"O Tink, did you do it to Save me?"

"Yes."

"But why,  Tink?"

Her wings would scarcely carry her now, but in reply she alighted on his shoulder and gave his nose a Loving bite. She whispered in his ear, "you silly ass," and then, tottering to her chamber, lay down on the bed...

Stay with me. The Story isn't over. 

...she thought she could get well again if children Believed in fairies...

"Do you believe?" [Peter] cried...

"If you Believe," he shouted to them, "clap your hands; don't let Tink die." Many clapped. Some didn't. A few beasts hissed. 

The clapping stopped suddenly; as if countless mothers had rushed to their nurseries to see what on earth was happening; but already Tink was Saved. First her Voice grew strong, then she popped out of bed, then she was flashing through the room more merry and imprudent than ever. She never thought of thanking those who Believed, but she would have liked to get at the ones who had hissed. 

Oh, Tink. But how can you not Adore her? 

Here is a Lovely and Wonderful Thought: What if People, that is - little Boys and Girls, grown up Men and Women, and even, maybe even especially, those In Between - aren't all Good or all Bad? What if they are a bit of Both at the same time, and that's what makes them so Special? After all, if you run into someone who is All Bad and you don't have a bit of Bad in you, you are definitely going to lose.

Of course, People are Bigger than fairies, so they have room for more than one feeling at a time. What if, just like our 74 Illustrated Bible Characters, they seem to oscillate back and forth between Hero and Villain as their Story unfolds?  

You may have noticed I said 74. Yes; and a 75th Character Exists. He is the Biggest of all. Many Know Him. Some don't. His own People hissed at Him. But no matter who tells the Story, if they are Rigorously Honest enough to look at their own Role that they played, and if they really Knew Him, would admit that He had any Bad in Him at all. 

Even Captain Pilate, who eventually handed Him over to the Crocodile's jaws, did not see any Bad in Him. 

Don't take my word for it. Read it for yourself: 

Pilate looked at Jesus and said, "What is Truth?"

A Silence filled the room. 

Pilate went back out to where the Jewish leaders were waiting and said to them, "He's not guilty. I couldn't find even one fault with Him. Now, you do know that we have a custom that I release one prisoner every year at Passover - shall I release your King - the King of the Jews?"

They shouted out over and over, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" (Now Barabbas was a robber and a troublemaker.) 

Then Pilate ordered Jesus to be brutally beaten with a whip of leather straps embedded with metal. And the soldiers also wove thorn-branches into a crown and set it on His head and placed a purple robe over His shoulders. Then, one by one, they came in front of Him to mock Him by saying, "Hail, to the King of the Jews!" And one after the other, they repeatedly punched Him the face.

Once more Pilate went out and said to the Jewish officials, "I will bring Him out once more so that you know that I've found nothing wrong with Him."

So when Jesus emerged, bleeding, wearing the purple robe and the crown of thorns on his head, Pilate said to them, "Look at Him! Here is your Man!"

No sooner did the high priests and the temple guards see Jesus that they all shouted in a frenzy, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" 

Pilate replied, "You take Him then and nail Him to a Cross yourselves! I told you - He's not guilty! I find no reason to condemn Him." 

But the Jewish leaders shouted back, "But we have the Law! And according to our Law, He must die, because He claimed to be the Son of God!"

Then Pilate was greatly alarmed when he heard that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God! So he took Jesus back inside and said to Him, "Where have You come from?" 

But once again, Silence filled the room.

~John 18:38 - 19:9, The Passion Translation (TPT)

Jesus didn't even defend Himself. Then again, maybe Silence was the Right Answer. This Perfect Man without a Problems List walked willingly into the Crocodile's Swamp. Was He afraid? Hell, yes: 

Jesus left the upper room with His disciples and, as was His habit, went to the Mount of Olives, His place of Secret prayer. There He told the apostles, "Keep praying for strength to be spared from the Severe Test of your Faith that is about to come."

Then He withdrew from them a short distance to be alone.

Kneeling down, He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup of agony away from me. But no matter what, Your will must be Mine." 

Jesus called for an angel of glory to strengthen Him, and the angel appeared. He prayed even more passionately, like one being Sacrificed, until He was in such intense agony of spirit that His sweat became drops of blood, dripping onto the ground."

~Luke 22:41-44, TPT

I think He was afraid because He knew that He was about to face someone who was All Bad and He didn't have a bit of Badness in Him. 

Why did He do it? 

Lean in close and I'll tell you a Secret:

"You silly ass." 

Stay with me. The Story isn't over.

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