Less Time Than a Movie by Jack Klumpenhower

Less Time Than a Movie
Jack Klumpenhower
3/15/2013
In some Christian traditions it’s common to give up some pleasure during the weeks leading up to Easter. It can be a way to focus attention on what Jesus gave up for us. But in the short time we have left before Easter this year, I propose turning that around. I’m suggesting we add something.

Now, I realize that giving you something to do is tricky. You might do it to feel proud, or skip it and feel guilty. But the particular something I have in mind has so many potential benefits that I’m going to suggest it anyway. Besides, it won’t take much of your time. Less time than a movie.

Ready? My proposal is to read through one of the Gospel books in the Bible, preferably in a single sitting.

The Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—each tell the story of Jesus’ life on earth. Any of them will do, but Mark is the shortest. Even if you’re a slow reader like me, you should be able to get through it in an hour or two.

The idea for this came from a class of church kids I was working with recently. Most of them had never read the Bible except in small pieces. So I suggested they all read Mark straight through like a short book, which it is. One by one, they protested that they didn’t have time for that. Mind you, they all had time for comic books, soccer, dance classes, video games, and—yes—movies. What they really meant was that it sounded boring.

But as a story, the Gospels aren’t boring. They’re fascinating because Jesus is fascinating. We’ve just been conditioned to read them piecemeal, in study mode, which can get boring.

This Easter season, let’s focus on Jesus by reading his story as a story. It may be the first time you’ve read so much of the Bible at once. Well, there’s much to be gained.

You’ll know Jesus better. By reading his story you’ll sense the drumbeat of his life. There’s plenty to absorb, all of it wondrous. The disciple Peter lived with Jesus and saw his glory displayed once on a mountain. Not surprisingly, he said the experience gave him great confidence as a believer: “We were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes” (2 Peter 1:16, NLT). You too can see some of that splendor by reading these stories. If you want your devotion to Jesus to grow, get to know him as a person.

You’ll grow in faith. God works in you through the Bible. He uses it to deepen your faith: “Faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ” (Romans 10:17, NLT). God’s design is to make you a stronger believer as you spend more time in the Bible, letting it soak in as he speaks to you. Getting the story of Jesus into your veins is one of the surest ways to become a more obedient servant of God: “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11, NLT).

You’ll be drawn to the cross. One of the extraordinary things about reading a Gospel all the way through is seeing how Jesus’ life marched, with purpose, to the cross. Instead of disconnected stories and pithy sayings, you’ll discover a loving Savior. The Cross kills pride and transforms hearts. With your eyes set on the Cross you can say with the apostle Paul, “May I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified” (Galatians 6:14, NLT).

This suggestion is good for us and ought to be a bigger priority than most of us make it. That still leaves the problem of feeling proud or guilty. Don’t my arguments just amp up the pressure? Don’t you feel defensive if you’re hesitating? Don’t you feel oh-so-spiritual if you obey?

Well, I’ve done this exercise a few times, and it doesn’t stay that way for long. Once you start to see Jesus, everything changes. He’s so far above us. Who could ever measure up? At some point, you stop thinking about yourself and how good you’re doing to read so much of the Bible. You notice only him.

So I’m reading a Gospel for Easter, even if I have to skip a movie to make the time. Will you join me?

Jack Klumpenhower is a writer and children’s ministry worker living in Colorado.