Tim Tebow: Young People Are Searching for Purpose that Can ‘Only Be Found’ in Jesus
Michael Foust
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By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com
Heisman Trophy winner and television analyst Tim Tebow says his latest book began with a simple question: What would the cross that crucified Jesus say if it could talk?
That question sparked a stream of other reflections, forming the foundation for If the Tree Could Speak (Thomas Nelson), an illustrated children’s book that retells the story of Jesus’ crucifixion from a fresh perspective. It is illustrated by Rommel Ruiz.
The book opens with the tree as a seed and then growing up with dreams of being crafted into something majestic – “dreams of being a door, a table, or maybe even a throne,” Tebow told Fox News Digital.
“And that he hears about this carpenter that everybody's praising. He's thinking, ‘Maybe that carpenter could turn me into a masterpiece.’ And then all of his dreams were dashed when he gets cut into a cross. And he's thinking, ‘No – a cross, that's for criminals. … That's not my purpose. That's not what I meant to be.’”
But the perspective of the cross changes when it encounters Jesus.
“He sees the love of God, and his life is transformed because of this encounter with Jesus. … He’s talking to Jesus – he's just like, ‘Jesus, all these people are mocking You, and they're making fun of You. Jesus, if You just gave me a voice and give me the chance to speak, I would tell them all who You are. I would tell them about Your love.’
“And I can just imagine Jesus saying, ‘Yeah, but that's not your job. You just do your job. And your job is to lift me up high.’”
Tebow imagined Jesus saying about the disciples and the onlookers: “I've commissioned them. It's their job to go tell the world.”
Jesus gave the cross new meaning, Tebow said.
“Ultimately, now, when you look at what God has done, the cross – which in the past was only a symbol of shame, guilt and a place for the worst of the worst to hang and die – now means hope all over the world,” Tebow told Fox News Digital. “God could show up, and He can turn something that feels like only a mess into a message. I feel like that's the story of the cross. But it also gets to be the story of our life – that if the cross is true, then the life, the death, the burial, the resurrection, and the ascension of Jesus are true.”
Tebow played four years for the University of Florida, where he won two national championships and a Heisman Trophy before signing with the NFL’s Denver Broncos. Today, he is best known as a football analyst on ESPN’s networks and an outspoken advocate for numerous causes. First and foremost – he would say – he is a Christian.
He said he is encouraged by the movement of God across college campuses, a trend perhaps best illustrated by the Unite US movement, which has drawn more than 140,000 students to worship gatherings in just over three years.
“I think people are realizing that… the more [social media] followers and likes [they get on various platforms] doesn't matter anymore. You've got to live with who you are on the inside,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Christianity isn't this religion that's like your average – and it makes you a little bit better. It's a relationship that takes you from dead to alive, from lost to found, from orphan to son or daughter.
“There's a weight and a gravity to it. Young people, especially, are looking for that purpose and meaning – and I think it can only be found in the person of Jesus.”
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Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
