You Are the Man

You are the man! Modern use of this phrase is a positive one. If someone drains a buzzer-beater to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, they may expect to hear praises such as “you are the man”. Well, more commonly it would be “you da man”.

The prophet Nathan approaches King David and tells him a rich man has taken the one thing a poor man loved dearly. Enraged, David responds that the rich man should pay with his life! To which, Nathan replies- you da man. (2 Samuel 12.1-8) Nathans lesson convicts David of his sin, in committing adultery with Bathsheba and killing her husband, Uriah. David’s response is still correct; he deserved to die for what he had done. But someone else will pay the price for his sin; someone blameless and innocent. Rage turns to mourning as the child borne of the sins of David is taken as payment.

This seems so wrong. I get mad at David when I think of this innocent life that never got to grow up a prince in Israel. But my anger quickly gets extinguished when I remember that David is probably a more Godly person than I may ever be (Acts 13.22).

What did Bathsheba’s child do? Nothing wrong! Just like he died for David’s sins, Jesus died for me. That makes Nathan’s words hit like a ton of bricks. I can picture him, standing behind me, reading scripture over my shoulder:

(Mark 15.34, 37) “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”…”And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed His last”. And Nathan whispers, “Hey Trey- you da man”.

“I was not in the garden when He knelt to God and prayed, I did not kiss Him on the cheek when Jesus was betrayed. I was not at the trial when the crowd jeered at His Name, I did not make him bear a cross or walk a road of shame. I was not on the hillside when He gave His life that day, I did not nail His precious hands or take His robe away. I could not do a single thing to hurt God’s only Son, but every time I sin on earth I feel that I’m the one. I’m the one who shouted “CRUCIFY!” I’m the one who made His cross so high, I’m the one who stood and watched Him die. What have I done? I’m the one.” (lyrics from I’m The One)