I recently watched the video of a minister sharing about Jesus. He was just an ordinary man in his sixties, but his words and demeanor revealed a passionate love for our Savior and a great desire for everyone to know Him. At one point I thought: “His face reminds me of the picture of someone… who is it?” Then I remembered…
Susan and I watched a movie not long ago entitled Operation Finale which prompted me to re-read a book called Hunting Eichmann. The movie and the book recount the persistent search and eventual capture of one of the most notorious Nazi leaders to escape Europe after World War II.
Adolph Eichmann was one of the key architects of the ‘Final Solution,’ the evil plot to eliminate all Jews in Europe. Tipped off by a resident of Buenos Aires, an eleven man Mossad team made their way to Argentina via various cities from different continents. Their plan was top secret and no one from the Argentine government was informed.
After living with his wife and sons for over ten years on foreign soil under an alias name, Adolph Eichmann was captured near his house on May 11, 1960 and flown to Israel to be tried for the wartime murder of Jews. Despite his claims of innocence, after testimonies of survivors of the Holocaust in a trial that lasted almost four months, Eichmann was found guilty of fifteen criminal charges, including the murder of masses. Since 1948, he is the only person assigned the death penalty by an Israeli court. Adolph Eichmann was hanged on June 1, 1962.
The most common description of Eichmann by his captors and those that observed the trial was: “He just looks like an ordinary man.” Very few photographs were taken of him during the war or during his years of hiding, but a few were included in the book. One of those pictures came to mind as I watched the video of the Christian minister speaking about Jesus.
Besides the eras in which they lived, what is the difference between these two ordinary-looking men? The Christian might say: “But for the grace of God, there am I.” In humility, a repentant man that realizes his need, confesses his sin, and calls on the name of the Lord receives the mercy he knows he does not deserve. Though just an ordinary man, he can then proclaim hope for all sinners. “If Jesus can save me… He can save you!”
The man who refuses to face the truth about himself and surrender his life to the King rejects the grace and love God offers. The Israeli government allowed a Canadian protestant pastor named William Hull to spend many hours with Eichmann after he was sentenced. The pastor knew that God loves everyone and he wanted the convicted murderer to be saved before he was executed. But the ordinary-looking man would never admit he was wrong. He said to Hull: “There is no Hell. I have not sinned. I am clear with God. I did nothing wrong. I have no regrets.”
The devil is the master deceiver; Jesus is the Master Savior. May we live as His humble servants and may we share His extraordinary message of love.
“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace…” Romans 8:5-6
Quote from Hunting Eichmann, by Neal Bascomb; ©2009 Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt Publishing Company, New York, New York; p 318