A man in a monkey costume led the parade that passed in front of the church. He represented the sacharuna, or the legendary bigfoot/mountain spirit of the Andes. He shook my hand right after I took the picture.
Dancing ladies and men followed him. The men wore flesh-colored mesh masks. One man, dressed in a military uniform, carried a doll and a drink.
What was the purpose of this elaborate parade? The people were honoring baby Jesus in an effort to earn grace and mercy from God. After all the dancers, a group of men in business suits marched, with one carrying a doll representing baby Jesus. People in Ecuador will pray to baby Jesus because they think he is more likely to be merciful and kind than an adult Jesus.
These parades will be repeated many time during the month of December. As I write this, I can hear the music of another parade. I want to stop the parades and shout, "Jesus Christ is no longer a baby! He grew into a man, died and rose again. He paid the penalty for your sins, so you don't have to."
When I share the gospel here, people have difficulty understanding God's grace. The fact that He paid it all, and they owe nothing is hard to comprehend. They spend their entire lives paying for a debt that has already been canceled on the cross.
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2 :13-14 (ESV)
2 comments:
That's not a military uniform, thats a police uniform.
Hi Donna...I enjoy reading your blog and just wanted to say Hi!, Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. We think of you often and remember with fondness our times in Ecuador.
Love, The Crowes
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