12/23/2025
Why We Cry When Strangers Help Each Other (And What Jesus Knew That We Forgot)
Imagine the disappointment people must have felt when they realized Jesus didn’t come to overthrow the Romans.
Really—sit with that.
They were waiting for a Messiah who would seize power, crush enemies, and flip the political system overnight.
And then Jesus shows up.
No army.
No revolt.
No violent overthrow.
Just love.
Just truth. Just healing. Just service.
For many, that wasn’t enough—until those who got it… got it.
The Power That Doesn’t Dominate
Jesus’ mission was far more profound than replacing one empire with another.
This struck me this morning as I walked through the beautiful home where I’m staying:
Jesus came to demonstrate a power that doesn’t dominate—but transforms.
Isaiah foretold this kind of Messiah:
“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain” (Isaiah 53:3).
Not a conquering king on a war horse.
A suffering servant on a donkey.
When people wanted to make Him king by force, Jesus said:
“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight” (John 18:36).
His kingdom wasn’t of this world—
but its principles were brought into this world.
And we’re still wrestling with what that means.
The Videos That Make Millions Cry
You see this today in viral videos—where someone pretends to be homeless and asks for help.
Someone stops.
Someone who doesn’t have much.
Someone who is struggling themselves.
They help anyway.
Later we learn they’re facing medical bills, job loss, family crises—and yet they were kind, generous, compassionate.
A GoFundMe appears. Millions watch. Lives change.
And we cry.
Why?
Because something deep in us recognizes that the highest thing a human can do is serve someone in need—especially when they themselves are hurting.
That’s what Jesus came to reveal.
That kind of power.
The kind that moves us to tears.
The Kingdom Nobody Expected
Many expected the Messiah to overthrow oppressors.
Instead, Jesus introduced a different kingdom.
When His disciples argued about greatness, Jesus said:
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Mark 10:43–45).
The greatest becomes the servant.
The king becomes the foot-washer.
Paul described it this way:
“He made himself nothing… taking the nature of a servant… even to death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6–8).
This is power reimagined.
Authority redefined.
A kingdom where love is the highest law.
When the Exception Was the Rule
Those viral moments give us a glimpse of something that was once normal.
People said of the early church, “Oh… how they love one another.”
Scripture tells us there were no needy persons among them (Acts 4:34).
Not through politics.
Not through violence.
Through sacrificial love.
They lived so compellingly that people were drawn to it daily.
Why We Still Want This
That’s why generosity moves us.
Why those videos spread.
Why our hearts ache for more.
Deep down, we know this is what we were made for—the image of God in us responding to the image of God in others.
Jesus said,
“By this everyone will know you are my disciples—if you love one another” (John 13:35).
Not theology.
Not politics.
Love.
Yet today, it often feels like the exception.
The world still runs on power-over systems.
Jesus invites us into power-for.
The Question That Remains
So how should we live?
The world’s pattern is domination.
Jesus’ pattern is service.
Accumulation vs. distribution.
Power over vs. power for.
Micah put it simply:
“Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
This is the kingdom Jesus introduced.
This is why we cry when we see it.
Because somewhere deep inside, we remember—
this is what we were created for.
Building What We Were Made For
The early church proved it’s possible.
Those viral moments remind us it still is.
And every time we choose service over dominance, generosity over hoarding, compassion over indifference—we participate in that kingdom.
This is what the Hope & Change Network is about.
Not gaining power over others.
But building a community where no one is in need.
Where sacrificial love is the norm, not the exception.
Jesus didn’t come to overthrow Rome.
He came to overthrow power-over itself.
So tell me—are you ready to get it?
Grace and peace.
Hope and change.
Not through dominance.
Through love.
👉 Join us here:
https://hopeandchangenetwork.com/
