I imagine he would be a lot like my friend Bob. Brother Bob seemed a lot like Jesus. There have been few Sundays that those that have come to Mt. Zion Road Church of the Brethren haven't been greeted upon entering the Sanctuary by Brother Bob. Handshakes weren't enough for Bob. Handshakes are for those you just meet or barely know. When I came into the sanctuary I was greeted with a big hug. As Brother Bob hugged you he would whisper, "Oh, I needed that."
Now I enjoy good discussion/debate on theology and the finer points of the Bible. Bob and I never had one of those conversations. Instead what I learned from Bob was the power of the hug. When I went away to college I received few hugs (just not cool for guys in a guys dorm to hug each other, I get it). But when I would come home I always looked forward to one of Brother Bob's hugs. Now that I am at Mechanic Grove those hugs from Brother Bob became a precious experience that became too rare. Too often we debate with each other. Theological discussions are good, and they have their place. But the embrace from a brother has power in it that sometimes theology lacks.
I can see Jesus being like Brother Bob. Your soteriology, ecclesiology, escatology, (google them) are all fine and well but without love they are just a lot of noise and hot air (1 Cor. 13:1). Brother Bob's hugs spoke of love in ways theology can't. We called each other Brother because we are family. He may have been the one to say, "Oh, I needed that," but every time my heart said the same. I imagine Jesus often thinks we're silly for trying to figure it all out. I imagine he gets frustrated when our theology gets in the way of showing love to each other. I imagine Jesus would be the kind of person to greet everyone with a giant hug.
Brother Bob passed away this past Wednesday. I will miss his hugs. I look forward to the day I will be able to squeeze him again and whisper "Oh, I needed that Brother." Perhaps we all need to learn the theology of the hug.
