“…. but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.”
1 Peter 3:15 (NAB)
When Christ is sanctified in our hearts, He is set apart and treated as sacred. In other words, He is enthroned on our heart. Only Kings sit on thrones, so when we give Jesus the throne of our hearts, He reigns in every part of our lives, making us want to talk about the hope that is within us. Jesus said that whatever comes out of our mouths comes from our heart. (Matthew 15:18)
The throne of our heart is never empty. If Jesus isn’t sitting on it, someone or something else will be. Once He is given His rightful place, on that throne, our words will naturally reflect that hope, which is why Peter tells the church to be ready at all times, to give an explanation of the hope that is within us. We each have our own unique story of hope to tell.
Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus, in the Chosen movie series, has told his personal story. It started when he was completely broke, after getting an acting part here and there, but barely able to pay his bills. He once had a small part in a soap opera as well as in a few sitcoms up to that point, but he was basically broke.
One day, he was at a breaking point and dropped to his knees in his tiny apartment, in Queens, NY. He totally surrendered his life to Jesus at that moment, and something mystical happened, which changed his life. In that moment of prayer and surrender, his worry over financial needs was replaced with a new and unexplained sense of peace.
After that, he went out and spent his last twenty dollars on a big breakfast, leaving all financial concerns in God’s hands. When he got home, he found four unexpected checks in his mailbox, which paid all his bills. A few months later, he got a call from Dallas Jenkins, the director and co-writer of “The Chosen” movie series. He was cast as Jesus in that series and just finished season four, to be released this February.
Roumie, half Egyptian and half Irish, portrays a middle eastern looking Jesus, who is so down to earth, friendly and lovable, that everyone who has seen the movie series, is drawn to him. The way he portrays Jesus is like no other film actor ever has. The series has touched many people, and even led to conversions. His portrayal of Jesus in this movie series is similar to the effect of a living icon. Art and media have always been the creative gifts and tools given by God, to help bring us all closer to our faith.
Roumie not only plays the role of Jesus, but he has his own personal relationship with Jesus, and is ready to talk about his faith to any media representatives who interview him.
The fruits of our faith are shared with others through a demeanor of peace, love, and joy. It is also expressed in how we live and show acts of kindness towards others.
Still, there comes a time or a situation that requires our words by sharing our own personal story, explaining the reason for our hope. Today’s scripture refers to our readiness to give that explanation to those who ask us.
I experienced this when I was 19, after surrendering my life to Jesus. I received His forgiveness and was completely delivered from an obsession with any and all possible forms of the occult.
I knew I received amazing grace, but I had no idea that it showed on my face, until one day I was walking home, and a neighbor drove by and actually pulled his car over and asked me,
“Why do you look so different?” I was surprised by his question, but I readily told him how I had recently surrendered my life to Jesus.
I had no idea that my external image could reflect what was happening within my soul. Anyway, that was the first of several opportunities I had to give an explanation of the hope that was within me. We never know how God will use that explanation to change another person’s life.
Sometimes that opportunity comes when we least feel like talking. Paul also wrote to Timothy about this subject. He told him to be ready, whether in season or out, to speak about and encourage others in the faith, with great patience.
(1 Timothy 4:2)
Being ready in season or out of season means that even when things are not going as we would like, or out of season, we can always give an account of the hope that is within us. Whatever our current life situation is, whether in season or out, Jesus is still seated on the throne of our hearts. Since He never changes, our hope is unchanged, and that’s the hope we share with others.
Lord Jesus, we sanctify you and invite you to sit on the throne of our hearts. Help us to be ready to share the hope that is within us, whether it is in season or out of season, so that our mouths will always bring glory to you. Amen