Dog Overboard!

                   I once read a story, perhaps apocryphal, about the king of Greece traveling to the United States several years ago—by ship.

                   Also on the ship was a gentleman who was bringing along a handsome dog. While they were crossing the ocean, the dog somehow fell overboard.

                   The owner begged the captain to stop the ship and rescue the dog. The captain refused. Considering the king was on board, the captain felt like the dog’s troubles were relatively unimportant.

                   Then, the dog’s owner asked the captain, “Would you stop the ship if it had been a man?!"

                   "Certainly!" the captain answered.

                   Straight away the dog’s owner threw himself overboard. The captain stopped the ship.

                   Ultimately, the human was rescued—and so was the dog. Such was the result of a man who loved a dog and identified with him so much, he was willing to risk his life.

                   Someone has written that is exactly what Jesus did for humans. Surely other beings in the spiritual world were asking 2000 years ago, “What is he doing?”… when Jesus abandoned heaven and entered into our world. Not only did Jesus risk his life, he surrendered his life—for people.

                   He did so because he loved people so much, and he identified with them.